Mike O’Rielly has been the radio industry’s No. 1 point person at the FCC under the leadership of Chairman Ajit Pai, largely due to his fierce efforts to silence pirate radio operators. Then, there is his anti-payola efforts.
But, O’Rielly is also a key voice at the Commission on TV industry needs, and he’ll be at the Grand Hyatt in Washington in March for a big cable industry event.
The Republican Commissioner is confirmed as a Keynote speaker at the ACA Connects 27th Annual Summit on March 18. There, O’Rielly will address hundreds of communications executives who are in the forefront of the effort to deploy broadband networks and close the digital divide in rural America.
Ensuring that all Americans benefit from high speed Internet access is a touchy subject when it comes to FCC policy. While 5G build-out is largely welcomed, a small group believe it is harmful to humans on a large-scale rollout. Then, there is the removal by the Pai Commission of Title II classification of internet service provider, which effectively ended “net neutrality.”
Nevertheless, the FCC has focused on such developments as the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF), designed to bring high-performance broadband to unserved areas in the U.S.
These areas include largely rural areas of New York State, where RBR+TVBR in 2017 witnessed first-hand the challenges of living with limited data and mobile connectivity.
The RDOF offers resources to providers committed to increasing digital technology to small and medium sized communities.
In a hearing last week before the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee focusing on “Industries of the Future,” O’Rielly addressed issues such as 5G wireless, spectrum resources and the communications workforce.
