Pai Offers Alternative Proposal for Tackling Digital Divide
FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai Tuesday laid out a vision for tacking the digital divide, backing gigabit opportunity zones in some of the nation’s more economically challenged areas. “Significant tax incentives would be provided to spur private-sector gigabit broadband deployment,” said…
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Pai in a speech in Cincinnati. Businesses would get incentives to create jobs through a tax credit that offsets the employer’s share of payroll taxes. Pai also urged the FCC to move forward on the second phase of a mobility fund, which was a hot topic at CTIA last week (see 1609090016). The new phase should provide” tech-neutral performance metrics,” eliminate duplicative support, maintain “support where it is needed,” and be based on current needs, he said. The FCC should also “increase the build-out obligations of wireless carriers and incentivize rural broadband investment by extending license terms up to 15 years,” he said. “Sadly, there is a real and growing digital divide in this country,” Pai said. “Although gigabit services and mobile broadband are becoming common features of wealthier, metropolitan areas, they aren’t universal. Almost 34 million Americans don’t have access to the broadband networks needed to fully participate in the digital economy.” Pai released both highlights of his proposal and the text of his speech. Pai also urged the commission, working with Congress, to take steps to speed broadband facility siting. "The FCC should use its existing authority under sections 253 and 332 of the Communications Act and section 6409 of the Spectrum Act to remove state and local barriers to deployment, such as unfair and unreasonable fees," Pai said. The agency should reform pole attachments rules and develop a model code for communities that "want to encourage broadband deployment for their citizens and to attract new businesses and startups," he said.