Acting FCC Chair: Regulate With a Light Touch, but Touch When Necessary

Mignon Clyburn, the acting head of the Federal Communications Commission, said that she wants to work to protect rural carriers and consumers while making sure that efforts to increase available spectrum remain on track.

Chairwoman Clyburn said healthy competition is key to continued innovation. “We have taken a light regulatory approach, but have touched when necessary,” Chairwoman Mignon said, speaking at the opening of the CTIA 2013 show in Las Vegas. She praised smaller, regional carriers that she said provide excellent customer service and help connect rural America. Chairman Clyburn said that an incentive spectrum auction remains on track, with rules to be issued this year and the bidding itself to take place next year.