Pai Eyes FCC Forums on New Tech, Starting With AI; Also Notes His Concerns About Kids and Screens
With "every week, there is some new technology that I am learning about," Chairman Ajit Pai is wondering "how can the FCC overall stay abreast of some of these new developments." One answer: Invite experts to discuss new tech. He…
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will perhaps this year "start with a forum on" artificial intelligence and machine learning, "a huge area of innovation," Pai said in Q&A at an Axios event Thursday, asking what can this mean for communications businesses and consumers. "How will this affect how companies use spectrum more smartly?" Though he's "not sure there is a formal regulatory role" about tech's effects on kids, Pai identified pros and cons to screen use by his two children. "I do worry a little bit about the way it changes how they interact with the world," he said, wondering "are my kids’ cognitive processes changed" via looking at screens. "It’s a challenge for parents." With this busy time on mergers and acquisitions including a court clearing AT&T to buy Time Warner after DOJ tried to block it (see 1806120060 and 1806140041), Pai said his agency takes a case-by-case approach to reviewing M&A. "We don’t start with a premise that vertical integration is good or bad," he said. "We start from the ground up." A goal is to "make sure that there is a competitive marketplace" via a "holistic view" of market structure, the FCC chief said. "The marketplace is changing very, very quickly," he said, citing digital ads. As his agency's net neutrality deregulation took effect Monday (see 1806110054) and includes transparency rules, Pai noted the "FTC has broad authority … to take action" and its Chairman Joseph Simons has told Congress "he is willing and determined to do just that." There's a memo of understanding between the commissions, he noted. "Our agencies are going to work hand in glove to make sure consumers are protected." While "people are going to clash" on policies, Pai indicated one way he wants to be judged is by how much the commission closes the digital divide. "If we can make a dent in that problem, then I think our time will be viewed as a success," he said. "Where our mark is going to be made is helping to get people onto the internet."