FCC Commissioner to speak on expansion of 5G technologies at free UF event

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Brendan Carr will present at the University of Florida on October 6 about the national impact of 5G technologies as part of a speaker series from the Warrington College of Business Digital Markets Initiative (DMI) and the Bob Graham Center for Public Service.

The free event, with a complimentary lunch for in-person attendees, will be held at Emerson Alumni Hall from 11:45 a.m. – 2 p.m. Attendees are also welcome to participate virtually. University of Florida students, faculty and staff as well as members of the local community are invited to hear Commissioner Carr speak about what the FCC is doing to accelerate 5G buildout and the importance of U.S. leadership. A response panel of experts will follow Commissioner Carr’s presentation.

“Commissioner Carr has been at the forefront in developing regulatory policies that promise to make the U.S. a world leader in 5G networks,” said Mark A. Jamison, director of DMI. “5G is an important technology for Florida, so we are excited for our students and faculty to hear from Commissioner Carr.”

While the event is free and open to the UF and Gainesville community, registration is required by noon on October 5 and is limited to a first come, first serve basis. To those choosing to attend virtually, a link will be provided via email prior to the program.

Commissioner Carr’s event from the Digital Markets Initiative (DMI) follows a presentation last month by Former FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn about closing the digital divide. Housed in the university’s Public Utility Research Center, DMI examines the business and regulatory implications of the growth of digital markets. The speaker series helps in accomplishing the initiative’s goal of transforming how researchers, policy makers and practitioners consider the business, regulatory and antitrust implications of the new economy.

In his role as an FCC Commissioner, Carr focuses on regulatory reforms that help create jobs and grow the economy for the benefit of all Americans. He is leading the FCC’s work to modernize the infrastructure rules governing the buildout of 5G and other next-gen networks, with his reforms predicted to cut billions of dollars in red tape and having already accelerated 5G builds, helping to bring more broadband to more Americans.

Carr also works to expand America’s skilled workforce, including the tower climbers and construction crews needed to build next-gen networks, by promoting community colleges, technical schools and apprenticeships as a pipeline for good-paying 5G jobs. In addition, Carr is leading an FCC telehealth initiative, which is designed to drive down healthcare costs while improving outcomes for veterans, low-income and rural Americans.

Carr was first appointed to the FCC in 2017. And in 2019, he was nominated and confirmed to serve a new five-year term.