Chairman Pai Says Puerto Rico Fund Will Not Benefit Broadcasters

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai has answered a question that broadcasters likely had on their mind. Unfortunately, the answer is "no." On March 6, Chairman Pai had "proposed to direct $954 million toward restoring and expanding communications networks in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands" in the aftermath of the 2017 hurricane season. The initiatives are dubbed the "Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund" (Bringing Puerto Rico Together Fund) and "Connect USVI Fund Would Improve Connectivity for Residents "\

Things got interesting when Juan Carlos Pedreira — a tech reporter for Univision in Miami who also has a J.D. — tweeted the question: "Does the FCC assigned funds to Puerto Rico also includes broadcast facilities? Or only fixed and wireless carriers?" Chairman Pai responded: "I recognize the tremendous job broadcasters do during emergencies, esp. in #PuertoRico. Unfortunately, under the law, our Universal Service Fund only can be applied to fixed/mobile broadband services."