FCC Chairman Pai, Rep Scalise talk net neutrality, lighter rules in New Orleans visit

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai swung through New Orleans on to brief local technology sector leaders on how the city and Louisiana stand to benefit from what he called the "light-touch regulatory approach" in the era of President Donald Trump. Chairman Pai was joined by US Rep Steve Scalise (R-LA), who reiterated that he's a "strong supporter" of Pai's push to end rules governing net neutrality. Few specifics were given about what was discussed during the closed-door meeting with Chairman Pai and Rep Scalise. Speaking after the meeting, Rep Scalise highlighted talk about how local industry could attract more high school and college graduates to engineering and computer-science professions. Chairman Pai added that looser federal regulations ought to spur broadband infrastructure build-out in rural Louisiana and continue the pace of tech growth in New Orleans, which most recently has hauled in a potential 2,000 jobs with the arrival of DXC Technologies. Chairman Pai wrote that the meeting touched on "building fixed & wireless boradband, advancing broadcast & enabling innovations by New Orleans-based companies like" Ochsner Health System, DXC Technology, Geocent and GE Digital. Rep Scalise said they discussed "the future of communications and expanding broadband access."