Everyones lives been thrown up in the air. Im being interviewed for my bedroom. Just that i was in the nursery at the data press conference from the girls room in the basement with toys everywhere. Everyones a world is in upheaval, and understand why people of more difficult and more different circumstances i do. Host is is a permanent change in our lives . Guest i dont know about that. I have to do defer to somewhat health experts. In terms of some of the work from home issues, certainly conference is being done through this medium is more likely to increase over time. I wouldnt say this is the new normal but its a lot more this way and returning fully to the old style, in my opinion. Host if this is a continuing trend, whats the fccs role in this . Guest it depends on what service were talking about what images from the more practical sense we have a big new building we are building and were getting ready to move into, and its use is going to be much different than the past. We didnt open meeting yesterday via this technology that were able to use, videoconferencing, and it went pretty smoothly. You start to venture out and wonder how much do you have to be physically in the fcc, and what does it mean for policy in general Going Forward . We have role in a lot of these issues, making sure the consumers are protected, they can show the networks are running well but some of the pieces depending on what were talking about are outside our bailiwick. Theres fine lines there. Tremont lets bring Margaret Harding mcgill into this conversation. Thanks, peter. The fcc launched i keep americans connected pledge a few months ago with the idea using broadband providers were promised not to cut off americans who cant pay for the Internet Service because of the coronavirus pandemic. That pledge expires june 30. Do you think the sec needs to extend it . Guest i would defer to the chairman. He worked hard to get established, over 700 Companies Agree to the pledge and they lived through it through to a f months. I have heard from some parties that it is becoming very difficult on the revenue side for them to hold the pledge Going Forward. Well just have to see and ill take my cues from the chairman and his program. Im mindful of what it means for americans that are facing difficulties Going Forward. Theres the tension of how long can you stretch the inevitability . The back fees, do they get exonerated, do they get lost . Were not just talking about penalty fees. More talk about the actual rates themselves. Is that money not going to be collected . Ill be talking about a situation of two more months or 18 months . Those things all matter but ill take my cues from the chairman on this one. Have you been able to track our effect of the pledge has been in terms of customers that are staying online or new customers that are being signed up . Im curious what kind of difference this pledge has made. Guest in fairness, i dont have a lot of data points that i normally would in a regular setting. I have had a lot of anecdotal evidence suggesting its been very beneficial. Use the connectivity issues that americans are facing in their daily lives, on the entertainment side and also on the business side. Weve had some really good successes in terms of people reaching out. Ive also had some complaints in terms of the pledge and that something the chairman will im sure refer to as Enforcement Bureau as needed to see if the living after the commitment that you make to the commission and the public at large. This is an opportunity to, at some point the wouldbe Lessons Learned about this worked, whether there are ways we could made it work more efficiently but we are struggling through this as a point else is at this time. Host what kind of complaints have you heard . Guest people at said they been turned off when they were, unexpectedly, this carrier did this with this provider did that. I get those quite, its not a frequent to have the emails to my account on some of those, turning into legitimate issues and they been resolved. And others turn out not to be, there was some of the problem with why they got disconnected. It wasnt a building issue. It was a network issue. So finding out facts really does matter Going Forward and will just have to see anything materializes. Kind of on the complaint front, do you think the fcc needs to change at all how its tracking complaints or how effective the pledge has been . It sounds like its mostly anecdotal. Do you think there should be more transparency, perhaps database of some sort . Guest i more at the anecdotal level that it would be if im at my office and be able to talk to the Commission Staff in a regular basis. Everyone is scattered throughout washington, d. C. Region. We have folks in gettysburg would a lot of complaints there and handle some of the complaint process. Thats different than normal so im saying im getting some of that anecdotally rather than, and ensure the chairman has a much higher, more efficient mechanism and is able to rely on the data from the different folks. Ive tried to, as best as possible, let staff to the hard work thats been asked of them. But then also try to leave them alone. Everyone has got other issues. I got childcare issues as you can imagine that monopolize my time. Its balancing life and work at the same time. I have tried to be more respectful if i can but hes not issues that are going to go away. There are things that will need to be from Lessons Learned, you know, whenever we get to a more stable point. Host commissioner orielly, has the covid19 crisis put more urgency into developing 5g . Guest yes and no. Weve already had a very aggressive interest and schedule and agenda to deploy 5g and provide the environment for private carriers to extend their networks and build out the new revolutionary, you know, what we are expecting from 5g when it fully matures. The expectations are there. This provides an opportunity to do so. Same thing on a fiber side. Any bigger perspective it does highlight the importance of broadband. Ive been critiqued in terms of how my views towards broadband, ive always said its incredibly vital to individuals. I havent been willing to do the work necessity but ive said so much more, and i spent so much time trying and working hard to get broadband out to all americans. So 5g, wireless peace, what i refer to as wireless fiber, some call it wireless broadband, but that would be a piece of our solution Going Forward in my mind. There is the idea of getting fiber to everyones home, is probably not in the cards for wireless play a heavy role when it is that, mobile or everything in between. Host thomas johnson, general counsel at the fcc recently had an oped in the Washington Post about 5g, the headline, ig conspiracy theories threaten u. S. Recovery. Whats the genesis of this story . Guest i havent talked to tom and i think the genesis comes from a number of individuals who have likened 5g to a number of Health Concerns that just are not realistic or actually accurate. The bogeyman of what you think they come from 5g is the same ones would heard 4g and 3g and everything before that. This is not surprising to me. Theres a group of folks in america and worldwide we shun technology and believe that our nefarious purposes from what is being deployed. We have to be cognizant of that. We have been very mindful of Health Issues at the commission. I worked hard to get a couple items up and for voting so we could have 5g deployed in dealing with the radiofrequency issues. The Health Issues. So i think it is something that is going to be beneficial to americans and its within the Health Status of the experts, which were not at the fcc, we rely on our policy experts, a number of health agencies, and i think thats been a very respectful way, sorry that some individuals have a totally different perspective. And their activity and some of the threats that they laid is problematic. Id like to believe theyre able to debate these issues out in a thoughtful way, for some of the rhetoric ive seen, but well just have to play it out. Host given the fact that broadband has become so vital to so many americans, especially in the last couple of months, is there a chance that broadband will be considered a utility . Guest i does see that in the cards in the near future. It always depends on what the Political Landscape looks like in washington, d. C. When use utility, theres a lot of different meanings that go with it. Is it somebody who wants to regular the rates, some who wants to mandate there be only one provider percolated to . In many communities that are different communities and that competition drives down price. If were heading towards at our company or a water company, i think we far surpassed that and move past that. For most americans there are places where one provider is the best we can get, and we work hard to subsidize a number of those areas so we can at least have somebody to Service Areas who dont have access today. One of my Top Priorities during my time at the commission, so dont believe were heading in that universe. I think the market is much more resilient and responsive. Thats why see the benefits i talked about earlier in terms of how our network has handled the traffic, increases and how it is been diverse traffic, it used to be in urban centers because many of us went to our jobs downtown. And now with funny traffic being distributed in different places and the networks have enabled have all the increases in traffic overall. Thats very respectful and very appreciative in my opinion all the work weve done at the commission, not just the issue of Net Neutrality but it is a ten year effort to make sure a good policy was enacted. And didnt stifle innovation. There were some hiccups along the way, Net Neutrality one of them, very problematic of most general compared to other nations where in a much better situation, in my opinion. Host Margaret Harding mcgill. On the performed at the networks we have heard from Broadband Companies and from their trade groups that the networks are performing well. What kind of work is the fcc doing to validate that, to investigate on its own how networks are performing . Guest we have a whole team that looks at these issues and we of a number of reports as a go forward as we examine the case of Lessons Learned and what does this mean and how those performance numbers of look like. What ive heard from the chairman have been pretty positive data points in terms of what network has respond to all the increases. Thats a testament to how well we have been willing to have good policy lead to investment in the united states, and that should be a feather in our cap compared to other nations around the world. Regards of the performance, one big issue has been, as peter mentioned, people who dont have access to broadband and thats especially important for parents whose children now need to do their school work virtually. And given that some schools might be relying on some form of remote schoolwork and the fall fall, what can fcc do in the coming months to ensure that children have access and the devices they need to do school from home . Guest its a huge issue and discharge from not just education but its how do we get broadband to those areas that are toughest to serve . How do we make sure those consumers that dont have today actually get it . Thats been my focus has been in terms of broadband performance. Some people want to spend the time on affordability, somewhat just been on the number of competitors. I care about those folks have no competitors, still relying on pilot. How do we entice and we done some really good work on that. It will take time. It is not easy slogging to get the hardest part of our nation. That in terms of education to our limitation with the fcc can do with both the statutes that exist today and water programs can do legally and then the funding, how much money do we have, what are the strengths that come with those . I appreciate some of the turn in the debate over Education Funding technology, and a number of providers in the past, a number of the advocates have shifted from, it has to be fiber. Wireless is very important summit i push a for a long while. Wireless will be part of this. I appreciate that debate is maturing as i expect it once with. But it is a heavy lift between now and the fall, to be able to stand up to schools that may not open or that we face the second wave. Im very mindful of that and like i said with some limitations on what we can direct commission and now we will begin tuning to work on this in the months ahead. The commission does have the program that provides funding to schools for broadband connection. Theres been some discussion about could that money be used to make sure students can connect from home. Do you think that something that the fcc should explore, and if not, what concrete actions can be done in the next two months before School Starts back up again . Guest thats an issue for congress to decide and consider because the statute is quite limiting. It references and something i worked on when i was a little bit younger in my days, it actually says classrooms. If we start to view every person some, that was denny our experiences, at the classroom, that means there are no limitations to the statute. A means wherever your landing that can be funded. Its not what congress intended. It may be to want to go there now and thats the option. They have today, they can appropriate money, they can do all the things i used to recommend when i worked there for many years so that something needed to consider. Something i cant overlook because i may agree or disagree with the policy decision that someone would like to make. You cant just ignore the statute. Thats not how it works in my business. It sounds like you want to see some action from congress, and maybe theres not a ton that the fcc can do in these next few months . Guest im not advocating congress to something. Thats up to them. They are elected representatives of the people of america and they decide whats best. I dont try to tell them what to do. I tried to have the responsibility to be opposite. They tell you what to do. I think our hands are tied in some regards and people believe we can have classrooms over. The chairman has been flexible in the number of different covid policy changes that weve done in the last few months, but there are limitations that we face and whether Congress Changes those are not or not are certainly up to them. Host commissioner orielly, it you please explain section 230 of the Communications Act and what the president has signed as an executive order, and for you your view on that . Guest i dont think i can fully go to that in the time that we have for this program it is a legal liability standard and statute cratered in the 1996 act that governs the activity online. Those that offer services and those that benefit from the service. From the mom and pop shop put up a website to the big provider that you can imagine. It provides them certainly in terms of their liability for what is said over the network what is portrayed. That is something thats been a hallmark for 25 years. The executive order you reference comes from the president. Ive had an opportunity to read it a couple of times. I sympathize with his points in terms of i made the argument both here and elsewhere that the president has a full right to review any statute as part of his obligation to propose changes. That was part of my old job was the president proposes and the congress disposes. That was his right to examine any statute to see this being abuse. I think thats completely consistent. Ive been concern as a conservative that my fellow conservatives have been stifled, or their words are being limited on certain tech platforms. I think thats 30 automatic. There are both outstanding debt of point and anecdotal evidence. That does means not having money of the side of the aisle as well but it is definitely, conservatives, something that is fresh in the might and happening pretty regularly from my conversations with folks. Thats problematic. What we do about that is a different story and that gets into the issue that ive had concerns about, what are the limitations in the statute . Did congress provide its authority to act for what the president has asked for, or is it intentional authority, or was it accidental authority, or there is no authority . That something will important. What the president would like to see happen is for the fcc to define certain components of the 230 statute and whats the scope and how it is been handled, and whether we can limit, provide appropriate limitations if necessary. We have to start with its jurisdiction and then First Amendment. And then you get into what are the paths of First Amendment if we were to go down this road. What would happen if we did x, y or z and what does it mean for the future of the internet and communications, digital key medications and ip traffic . I mindful of all of that. I havent taken a position because i have to do my homework. Thats a people expect of a regulator, someone who has a a history of doing the heavy lifting on policy, digging themselves into the weeds, as someone who has a background of writing statutes, thats what you expect from me and thats what im doing right now. I give my concerns upfront and now im in the process of conducting the heavy lifting and talking to some really knowledgeable people here. I want to reach out to those that wrote the statute and those that are continuing to weigh in on the matter. Host your democratic colleagues on the commission, Jessica Rosenworcel said that an executive order would turn the federal Communications Commission into the president st speech place is not the answer. Guest her, i would agree with that but i dont know this does that. Im going to dratted to do the heavy lifting before making, such as that. As it turns, if that were the effect, and i can see her point. I dont think we could make that assertion now. I dont think anyone can rightfully especially since we dont have a recommendation from the administration to ntia of what the petition would look like. I will advocate to the chairman whatever if so comes forward and whatever document comes sword that would put up for Public Notice and that all comers take shots and applaud what use is appropriate in the document, and from there we can see if theres something we should do or not do and will explore all the issues we need to, the thorny issues that are so important in our democracy. Host Margaret Harding mcgill of axios. One issue thats come up with executive order is whether the fcc is in the authorities in this area to enforce or regulate or decline section 230. You have a lot of experience on the hill. He believed congress intended to give the fcc authority here . Guest i think thats what, made the point of whether they intentionally give us authority or accidentally gave us authority. Thats what im exploring and want to talk to some really knowledgeable people about the matter. I was there when a number of te deals were struck. I can remember some of those conversations better than i can the conversation i had yesterday yesterday with my wife. And i remember the votes we had on some of these things in the basement of the capital, in the conference negotiations with my old boss and the house managers who had a different opinion than the Senate Managers we went to conference on the bill. Im not sure, i have deep reservations they provide any intentional authority for this matter but it want to listen to people and see if other memories are different from mine. The were not many people in the room. Some are no longer with us in society and others have moved on and they been a focus on this matter. I want to hear from those of a voice on the matter to see if my memory is right. Sometimes language is as clear as it could be a provides an opportunity for the commission to act given its placement in statute and give its general authority. Ive said this in the past, given speeches on this as a fact that congress does itself but are just as if it rights tighter statutes. These things, ive been through the sausage making process. Its a very difficult one. Theres a lot of tradeoffs. Sometimes language and it isnt as tight as you like it one time or another and respect that and so thats what im going to do Due Diligence on the statute itself for jurisdictional issues. I do not believe its the right of the agency to read into the statute authority that is not very, authority in terms of intention, there are not a lot of people there still serving in congress at the time. Weve got to play all those cards out and see where this goes. Part of that will be putting this out for comment and see what experts not only in congress, not only in d. C. But the route in terms of a lot of academia that will have viewpoints on that as well. The jurisdiction question is an important one but theres also the philosophical question of what the fccs role should be. You have been a strong and vocal support of the First Amendment. Do you believe the fcc should be involved or regulating or defining what Online Platforms like facebook and twitter do when it comes to moderating their content . Guest in general i believe section 230 is function as intended and, therefore, is been incredibly beneficial. But could congress or could the fcc put congress on it and never what to make it more functional and, therefore, not provide some of the wide open opportunities, some of the pieces we may be seeing . That something to explore and something you would expect from a wide open debate were about to have. Theres both parts. It is been very beneficial. Could it be improved . I think there are some sound arguments for that. Is it my responsibility or congresses or some other agencies . Those debates will all have to be had in coming months. I think that gets to the point commissioner rosenworcel made which was the fcc shouldnt be the police. I do draw the line between Speech Police and middling the scope of what these protections provide . Guest i think i just said you can put some guardrails if necessary and thats a debate to be had but if necessary you can put guardrails on 230 and thats for congress to decide who they would like to have, see that happen. You can set up different structures. You can have it at either agency itself such as the fcc, if you solve the jurisdictional issue but they can get the sec or you can set up and require private boards and everything silica some of these things. There are different ideas if people want to go down this path. Im not saying that we should. Im just saying there are different options if thats what becomes necessary and the debate plays out that way. And if host i apologize were at a time. You are being renominate next week. Would that be for another fiveyear term and you see any landmines ahead . Guest i been renominated. This is part of the commission process and have a hearing next week schedule. Im very grateful to the committee for holding that hearing. Theres always landmines in the nomination process. Its a tough process. I have lived through it as a staffer and different nominees, so well have to see the place up. If its meant to be it is meant to be, if not ill go find Something Else to do. Host michael orielly, one of three republican federal Communications Commission others, and Margaret Harding mcgill of axios. She covers tac for the publication. Thank you both for being on the communicators. Guest thank you. Today house education and Labor Committee held hearings on the impact of budget cuts due to the quantify risk of public education. Live coverage starts at 12 noon eastern on cspan. Coming up in congress, the Senate Returns this afternoon to continue work on the Great American outdoors act that would permanently fund the land and Water Conservation fund for National Parks and public lands projects. They will take votes to pass the bill at 5 30 p. M. Eastern. A final vote possible by midweek cspan has unfiltered coverage of congress, the white house, the supreme court, and Public Policy events. You can watch all of cspans Public Affairs programming on television, online or listen on our free radio app and be part of the National Conversation through cspan state of Washington Journal Program or through our social media feed. Cspan, created by americas cabletelevision companies as a public service, and brought to you today by your television provider. Next, hearing on the Veterans Affairs departments response to the coronavirus. We are about how telemedicine has been used during the pandemic and a testing at v. A. Facilities can be increased. 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