Non-Discriminatory AI, Facial Recognition a Priority, FCC's Starks Says
FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said one 2020 priority is looking at ways the agency can try to ensure artificial intelligence and facial recognition technologies respect privacy and aren't discriminatory in application. At a Congressional Tech Staff Association/Congressional Black Associates event…
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Wednesday, Starks said it's "a moral imperative" to look at broadband connectivity beyond just the existence of infrastructure but also as an affordability and digital literacy issue. He said his criticisms of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund -- as reflected in his partial dissent (see 2001300001) -- included it not prioritizing "future-proof" connections at speeds that will be relevant a decade from now. The approved RDOF order hasn't been released; Starks said some issues are "still getting tweaked." He said the agency has to put more priority on holding connectivity providers accountable when they decide not to build out networks after all, pointing to more than 10 percent of Connect America Fund Phase II auction winners defaulting. He said federal dollars for rural broadband providers should come with requirements for offering low-income service options. Starks said the FCC "has done good work" tackling supply chain vulnerability with its USF supply chain rules adopted last fall (see 1911220033), but there also needs to be attention paid to Huawei and ZTE technology already in U.S. telecom networks. He said forthcoming enforcement actions announced by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai for carriers seemingly disclosing consumers’ real-time location data (see 2001310058) are "long overdue." Starks again supported the Expanding Broadcast Opportunities Act (HR-3957) sponsored by Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C., which would restore the minority tax certificate. He called the nearly nonexistent full-power TV station ownership by women and minorities "a shame."