Pai and Trump Administration aiding telecom oligarchs with their oligopolies and digital dystopia
Tony: Sure. Is there a role for the FCC to play in fake news? I think a lot of people think there’s a role for the FCC to play, but what’s your thought?
Pai: “We don’t engage in content regulation. I know there’s a big debate about that. What I’ve consistently said is that’s more of a political debate that lies outside of the FCC’s bailiwick. We are focused, first and foremost, on making sure that we have a competitive marketplace that allows everybody — newspapers, broadcast TV, broadcast radio and others — to continue to thrive in the digital age. We’ll let the chips fall, in terms of content, wherever they may.”
When your positions are already known, there is no need to ask!
Long live oligopolies and oligarchs!
Tony: Are you worried about interference from the Trump administration when it comes to some of these deals? I mean, you guys aren’t looking at the AT&T-Time Warner merger. That’s in the hands of the Justice Department, but the president has been incredibly outspoken on that. He’s very close to the likes of Rupert Murdoch. Are you worried about independence here?
Pai: I’m certainly not. I’ve never gotten any hint from him or from anybody else that they wanted me to make a certain decision. To the contrary, the consistent message they’ve given me, starting on the day I got the phone on call January 23rd when I was designated as chairman, was we have now made the decision that you are the appropriate person to lead this agency. Lead this agency. Do what you think is right, and we will back you up. We are not going to sit here and interfere with you or micromanage you in any way whatsoever.