Closing Statement of FCC Commissioner Clyburn

In the remainder of this statement, allow me the opportunity to highlight a number of consequential decisions: 

Decisions I was honored to make, or influence, in order to safeguard consumers and competition: Title II classification of broadband providers and the enactment of strong open internet rules in 2015; Enhancing access to affordable communications services; Inmate calling reform; Enhancing wireless competition through interoperability; Encouraging small businesses to enter the commercial wireless industry; Allocating more licensed and unlicensed sp ectrum to fuel wireless competition; Circulated proposal to eliminate Sports Blackout Rule; Formation of the Connect2Health Task Force; Modernizing AM Radio; Infrastructure siting ; Enhancing access to diverse and independent programming; Supporting landmark broadband consumer privacy protections; Championed the collection of better media ownership data to support policies to promote media diversity.

Decisions I wish came out differently: Repeal of the Commission’s 2015 Open Internet Order; Repeal of rules limiting media consolidation; Reinstatement of the UHF Discount; Launched review of the National TV Ownership Cap; Deregulation of the Business Data Services market; Proposed “reforms” in the Lifeline program that jeopardizes our efforts at ubiquitous and affordable services across the country; Adopted a mobile competition report using flawed and truncated analysis which erroneously concluded that the market for commercial mobile wireless services was effectively competitive; Eliminated the main studio rule that has ensured those entrusted with use of the public airwaves have a local presence in their community; Other actions that do not put consumers first.

On my trips around the country, I saw where the policies we put in place are making a real difference in peoples’ lives and what is clear is this: that this agency can either be an enabler of opportunities or it can stifle opportunities. I have seen firsthand where our policies have done much good, but I have also witnessed where inaction or bad decisions have created undue hardship. Fulfilling these obligations requires the Commission to strike a sometimes difficult-to-achieve balance between making sure that consumers are protected and trying not to get in the way of market-driven innovation—but at the end of the day, the public interest must be served. That is non-negotiable. Thank you all for the opportunity to serve for nearly nine amazing years.