The public notice Thursday seeking “focused comment” on...

The public notice Thursday seeking “focused comment” on E-rate modernization (CD Mar 7 p16) “bodes poorly for real reform,” FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai said in a statement Friday: “Reform should mean eliminating the priority system that arbitrarily favors some technologies over others. Yet the Public Notice doubles down on it. Reform should mean abolishing the discount matrix that encourages wasteful spending by well-funded districts and consistently underfunds small, rural schools and libraries. Yet the Public Notice builds on it. And although the Public Notice mentions streamlining the administrative process, the proposals to do so (such as making ’simple changes’ to the existing forms or changing ‘invoicing deadlines') are overwhelmed by proposals that would saddle our nation’s teachers and librarians with more paperwork.” Pai suggested the FCC advance a “concrete proposal” in a further notice of proposed rulemaking. “If the Commission needs to focus comment on an issue,” it should do so in a way that complies with the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act, he said: “The Wireline Competition Bureau cannot propose new rules."