By John Eggerton, Broadcasting & Cable Online, 3-24-17
FCC chairman Ajit Pai Friday praised Charter for its announced $25 billion infrastructure investment pledge over the next four years, which came at an Oval Office photo op Friday with President Donald Trump and even took some credit for the new regulatory climate Charter’s Tom Rutledge said had made and would make that investment possible.
“The FCC’s top priority is making sure that any American who wants high-speed Internet access, or broadband, is able to get it,” he said in a statement. “To do that, since January, we have been working to set rules of the road that encourage companies to build and upgrade broadband networks across the country. I’m pleased to see that our investment-friendly policies, along with the Administration’s overall regulatory approach, are already producing results.
“I applaud Charter Communications for its announcement today that it intends to spend $25 billion in broadband infrastructure and technology over the next four years. I am optimistic that this massive investment will help to close the digital divide and to strengthen our economy.”
Closing that digital divide is a Pai priority, the new chairman said soon after taking office Jan. 23. He has argued that his predecessor’s policies had discouraged that investment, particularly the reclassification of ISPs as common carriers, something Pai is expected to roll back if Congress does not beat him to it. » Read More