FCC Chairman Pai’s Alternative Personalities, Facts, Economics and Law—Part Two

Okay.  Turn off all electronic devices (except one with the screen on which you are reading this       blog!).  Please answer this one question pop quiz.

Who made the following public statement:

What would be best for consumers? My view is pretty simple. Our goal should not be to unlock the box; it should be to eliminate the box. If you are a cable customer and you don’t want to have a set-top box, you shouldn’t be required to have one. This goal is technically feasible, and it reflects most consumers’ preferences—including my own.

            A)        President Donald Trump;

            B)        FCC Chairman Ajit Pai

            C)        Former FCC Chairman Thomas Wheeler; or

            D)        Harold Feld, Senior Vice President, Public Knowledge (an advocacy group)

The answer: B. See https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-16-18A5.pdf.

Perhaps this answer surprises you as the quote would appear to originate from someone with a strong commitment to consumer protection. You might have kicked out answer B) based on Chairman Pai’s removal of the cable set-top box Notice of Proposed Rulemaking without prior notice which he seems to consider necessary in most instances.

Perhaps Chairman Pai will replace the prior set-top box proceeding with one more likely to achieve his stated objectives.  Maybe not.  Chairman Pai appears to send mixed messages.