Near-Universal Chorus of Agreement Greets National Broadband Plan; Parties Seek Their Good in Blueprint
Broadband's Impact, FCC, National Broadband Plan, Wireless
March 15th, 2010
WASHINGTON, March 15, 2010 – An executive summary of the Federal Communications Commission’s forthcoming National Broadband Plan drew near-unanimous praise from stakeholders on the eve of the full plan’s release, with industry groups, public interest advocates and lawmakers all weighing in positively as they became aware of the agency’s intentions.
Genachowski Pledges New Commitment to Broadband for Indian Country
Broadband Data, Broadband's Impact, National Broadband Plan
March 3rd, 2010
WASHINGTON, March 3, 2010 – Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski on Tuesday announced a new initiative to remedy the low penetration and adoption rate for broadband among Native Americans. In previous remarks on the subject Genachowski had characterized the status of broadband in Indian Country as a “disgrace” and vowed to include a fix in the FCC’s National Broadband Plan.
Spectrum Bills Move Quickly Through House Subcommittee
Wireless
January 21st, 2010
WASHINGTON, January 21, 2010 – The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet approved by voice vote legislation to inventory and help reallocate the nation’s wireless spectrum.
Zucker, Roberts to Testify Before Senate Antitrust Panel on Comcast-NBC Deal
Broadband's Impact, Net Neutrality
January 20th, 2010
WASHINGTON, January 20, 2010 – The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights will convene a hearing on February 4 to examine the proposed merger of Comcast with NBC Universal and its potential for negative consequences for consumers and competition, Chairman Herb Kohl, D-Wis. said on Wednesday.
Google, Verizon Laud FCC Principles, But See No Role for Agency in Internet’s Future
Net Neutrality Comments
January 15th, 2010
WASHINGTON, January 15, 2010 – Verizon and Google submitted a rare joint filing to the FCC on Thursday. The two communications giants praised the agency for its principles while stinging it by saying that communications laws and regulations should not apply to Internet applications, content, or services.
New York Senator Wants Rural Broadband Action
Broadband Updates, Universal Service
December 23rd, 2009
WASHINGTON, December 23, 2009 – Proponents of Broadband over Power Lines got a boost last week as Sen. Kristen Gillibrand, D-N.Y., introduced the Rural Broadband Initiative of 2009, to amend the Rural Electrification Act to include programs meant to bring broadband to areas where BPL might be most effective.
Rockefeller, Snowe Praise Obama Cybersecurity Pick
Broadband's Impact
December 22nd, 2009
WASHINGTON, December 22, 2009 – Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller, D-W.V. and Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, praised President Obama’s selection of former Bush administration official Howard Schmidt to be the administration’s new Cybersecurity coordinator.
Sen. John Kerry Wades Into Retransmission Consent Spat
Broadband's Impact, Wireless
December 22nd, 2009
WASHINGTON, December 22, 2009 – The annual dance between broadcasters and cable providers gained a new player on Tuesday as Sen John Kerry, D-Mass., sent a letter to executives at Fox and Time Warner Cable urging the companies to resolve their respective issues over retransmission consent between now and December 31, when the current agreement expires.
Mark Lloyd, FCC Diversity Chief, Defends Role and Writings
Broadband's Impact, FCC
December 15th, 2009
WASHINGTON, December 15, 2009 – “I am not a Czar,” Federal Communications Commission Chief Diversity Officer Mark Lloyd declared on Monday, while delivering the keynote at a Media Access Project event on the impact of new media, net neutrality and journalism’s future.
Lloyd, an attorney based out of the commission’s Office of General Counsel, devoted a great deal of his speech to rebutting criticism and accusations regarding his role at the FCC, which began when some right-wing oriented blogs and commentators, including Glenn Beck, began critically examining his prior academic writings on media ownership and diversity of expression.
Rockefeller, Hutchison Would Expand Lifeline Program to Broadband
Broadband's Impact, Universal Service
December 11th, 2009
WASHINGTON, December 11, 2009 – The Broadband Opportunity and Affordability Act, which would direct the FCC to expand the Universal Service Fund’s Life Line program to support broadband service, as well as explore programs to subsidize computer ownership for low-income Americans, was introduced in the Senate late Friday with bipartisan support from members of the Senate Commerce Committee.