Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr spoke in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in what the FCC’s press release called the first major policy speech of his chairmanship.
“It’s time to change things up. It’s time to unleash new growth and opportunity. It’s time to build and I’m here today to do exactly that, to outline my vision for the FCC Build America plan,” Carr said in a speech to communications field workers at VIKOR headquarters in Sioux Falls.
Carr’s plan is a mix of regulatory reforms combined with ideas to streamline internal FCC operations and encourage network construction
The six priorities he outlined include:
- Broadband construction. The top priority will be permitting reform, beginning with speeding up fiber replacement of copper networks. The Commission will vote on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on copper replacement in July, he said. “Back in DC, we have rules on the books that have been forcing providers to continue to invest billions of dollars in those old networks, even when [providers] want to shift those investments over to build new ones,” Carr said. “We’re aiming to free up billions of dollars for investment in new networks.”
- Freeing spectrum. The FCC will continue efforts to clear middle-band spectrum to support more 5G service, Carr said. Carr announced another July vote will clear the way for auctioning AWS-3 licenses: 1695-1710 MHz, 1755-1780 MHz, and 2155-2180 MHz. “That spectrum has been laying fallow for far too long, and it’s time to put it to use,” he said. He also noted that the current version of the “One Big Beautiful” reconciliation bill includes restoration of the FCC’s full auctioning authority.
- Space communications. The Commission is pushing to shrink backlogs of satellite applications, streamline application processing, and eliminate outdated technical rules. Carr said that the FCC has also already begun a rulemaking to open 20,000 MHz of spectrum for satellite broadband services.
- Cut red tape. In April, the Commission took comments on a docket titled “In Re: Delete, Delete, Delete.” Last week, Carr said, the Commission eliminated the first 77 rules through that proceeding. He announced that the next FCC agenda meeting will include an item to streamline the process for cutting out obsolete rules. “Think about it, the FCC right now still has rules on the books regulating telegraph service, rabbit ears for broadcast TV receivers and phone booths,” he said.
- National security. Carr said that the Commission has a long history of bipartisan cooperation on national security issues. He expressed confidence that the Commission will work together to maintain America’s lead in technology development and stop security breaches, especially from China.
- Workforce. The chairman praised broadband providers who are beginning to reform their workforce policies to gather “experienced and well-trained crews.” The growth of highly qualified American crews is making it harder for “foreign fly-by-night crews to sweep in and undercut the security and safety of our communications networks,” he said.
Carr acknowledged that Sioux Falls is an unusual place to announce a federal policy agenda but said that he believes “South Dakota shows what’s possible when we get our regulatory policies right,” pointing to nearby successful precision agriculture and industrial uses of broadband projects he had witnessed during earlier trips to the state.
A recording of the Sioux Falls speech is available.
“…[W]e are going to take a first principles approach. Just because a regulation has been on the books for thirty years, we are not going to keep it there simply out of a sense of inertia. For still another, we will focus on competition as it exists today. The old regulatory silos have been breaking down for quite some time, so the agency must move forward with a keen understanding of today’s converged markets,” Carr said.
“We are going to focus on outcomes, rather than process to nowhere. We are going to have a bias towards action. After all, delay has an unappreciated economic and social cost. We are going to push for simple, clear rules, rather than complex and bespoke frameworks. And we are going to support U.S. businesses and domestic onshoring.”
When Donald Trump was elected president last November and weeks later tabbed Carr to head the FCC, key telecom issues were identified including net neutrality, universal service, and the role that would be played by Elon Musk.
Randy Sukow and Carl Weinschenk contributed to this article.
