WASHINGTON, December 15, 2017 – The Federal Communications Commission’s Thursday vote to repeal the “open internet” rules classifying broadband services as common carriers represents the most significant regulatory shift in the internet in more than a decade. Critics in Congress, at the agency, and even on late-night TV wasted no time in blasting it. These… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, December 7, 2017 — Tom Wheeler, the Federal Communications Commission chairman under President Obama, wasn’t coy in expressing his feelings about his replacement’s “abomination” of a plan to gut the open internet rules he put in place two-and-a-half years ago. “This is the culmination of a grand plan which started back in 2013,” Wheeler… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, May 19, 2014 – The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the Federal Communications Commission’s last two efforts to enshrine network neutrality. So what makes current chairman Tom Wheeler feel as though he can succeed where two of his predecessors failed? The answers lie in the details of the 85-page order – called a “Notice of Proposed Rulemaking” in the legalese of Washington telecommunications bureaucrats – released late on Thursday. At its core, Wheeler aims to regulate broadband providers without having to treat them as regulated entities. [...] Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, January 14, 2014 - The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a setback for the Federal Communications Commission, on Tuesday stuck down the agency's Open Internet Order, issued in 2010. The open internet rules built upon a prior policy statement issued by the FCC in 2005. In 2010, former agency chairman Julius Genachowski attempted… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, May 23, 2013 -- Wireless provider MetroPCS moved last Friday to dismiss its claims in the lawsuit challenging the Federal Communication Commission’s net neutrality laws. In the motion, MetroPCS, which recently merged with T-Mobile, noted that the FCC and the Department of Justice had already consented to the dismissal. Additionally, Verizon Communications, which is… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, May 16, 2013 - On Thursday, Democratic Representatives Henry Waxman, Anna Eshoo, and Doris Matsui of California, plus Edward Markey of Massachusetts, Diana DeGette of Colorado, and Mike Doyle of Pennsylvania issued a letter to outgoing Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski, responding to Republican members of the Energy and Commerce Committee. Republicans on… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, May 3, 2013 - It's springtime across the country, the flowers are blooming, and Gigabit fever must be in the air. Within the past month, several major companies and communities have announced plans for Gigabit-level deployments within their communities. Several major conferences have featured the Gigabit theme, including the Schools, Health and Library Broadband… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, March 27, 2013 – This week BroadbandBreakfast.com continues its series of profiles of many of the top prospective candidates that might be selected to serve as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. Julius Genachowski, the 29th chairman, on Friday announced on March 22, that he would step down within a few weeks. Many credited Julius… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, March 27, 2013 - “If we build super-fast networks, the innovators will come,” said Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski on Wednesday, in his first public statements since his announcement last Friday that he would leave the agency in a matter of weeks. While speaking at an FCC workshop on the development of gigabit-speed… Keep Reading
President Barack Obama issued the following statement on Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski announcement that he is stepping down: I want to thank Chairman Genachowski for his dedicated service on behalf of the American people. Over the last four years, Julius has brought to the Federal Communications Commission a clear focus on spurring innovation,… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, March 22, 2013 - In a hurriedly-scheduled Federal Communications Commission meeting on Friday, agency Chairman Julius Genachowski formally announced his resignation from the agency. Genachowski’s resignation, which was expected, puts forward the details of his timing: he will leave the agency in a few weeks. Genachowski has overseen the agency since he was confirmed… Keep Reading
From Consumer Electronics Association President and CEO Gary Shapiro on the announced departure of Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski: As I named him at the 2013 International CES®, Chairman Genachowski is the ‘Spectrum Chairman." Consumers and industry alike will benefit for years to come thanks to Genachowski’s service at the FCC. Said CEA Vice… Keep Reading
Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Henry A. Waxman issued the following statement on Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski’s announcement that he will be leaving the Commission: Chairman Genachowski has been a brilliant chair of the Federal Communications Commission. He has transformed and energized the agency. Under his leadership, the FCC protected consumer access… Keep Reading
IIA Honorary Chairman Rick Boucher and Founding Co-Chair Bruce Mehlman On Julius Genachowski’s departure as Chairman of the FCC, from IIA Honorary Chairman Rick Boucher: Chairman Genachowski has provided a valuable service as FCC chairman. He oversaw the adoption of a comprehensive reform of the federal universal service fund. He has set the stage for… Keep Reading
From Rob Atkinson, President of ITIF: We commend Chairman Genachowski for his leading role in spurring tremendous advances in broadband innovation and the Internet economy, while assisting the United States in transitioning to an advanced wireless world. During his tenure, the U.S. has made major advances in the speed of our broadband networks and expanded… Keep Reading
By Michael Powell, CEO of NCTA: As a former FCC Chairman who appreciates the incredible privilege and immense responsibility of overseeing the nation’s telecommunications sector, I want to thank and congratulate Chairman Genachowski for his outstanding leadership and remarkable accomplishments during his tenure. During a period of tremendous economic turmoil and marketplace uncertainty, Chairman Genachowski… Keep Reading
By Drew Clark and Doug Barclay WASHINGTON, March 22, 2013 - President Barack Obama’s law school classmate and friend Julius Genachowski plans to announce his departure from the Federal Communications Commission in a briefing at the agency on Friday morning. Among the key accomplishments during Genachowski’s tenure at the agency include: The issuance of a… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, March 13, 2013 - At Tuesday's oversight hearing of the Federal Communications Commission, Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.V., on Tuesday put the focus on the portion of the Universal Service Fund designed to provide connectivity to schools and libraries, as well as on the public safety network described as FirstNet. The Senate and the agency,… Keep Reading
February 5, 2013 - Now that I've had a chance to read the front-page Washington Post story on so-called "Super Wi-Fi," I have to confess to being extremely disappointed in the Post. Like many others, I was taken in on an allegedly new development repackaged in an exaggerated fashion. It is another re-affirmation for me… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, January 13, 2013 - Starting the New Year off by attending the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas provides a wonderful lens with which to focus on the year ahead in technology. Today, broadband is the driver for almost all of today's digital technologies. Of the hundreds of examples of digital technologies that I… Keep Reading
LAS VEGAS, January 9, 2013 - When President Obama came to office nearly four years ago, the transition to digital television hadn't yet been completed. Now, airwaves once used by broadcasters have been cleared for use by wireless companies. And the Federal Communications Commission is going forward on the next stage of this transition. The… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, Thursday, July 26, 2012 - Last week, the fourth year of the Broadband Breakfast Club Series came to an end with a timely panel on “Bringing Broadband Adoption to the Nation’s Underserved Population.” Panelists from the private, nonprofit and state government sectors came together to discuss what can be done to promote broadband usage in… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, July 23, 2012 – The existence of the Federal Communications Commissions Broadband Lifeline Pilot, and the emergence of national public-private organizations focused on computer training could herald the beginning of a new age of broadband adoption and use, said panelists at the Broadband Breakfast Club last week. BroadbandBreakfast.com released the video of the event,… Keep Reading
July 12, 2012 – If 2008 marked the dawn of our national “broadband moment,” this summer and fall may well be the beginning of a new era of broadband adoption and usage. A major national initiative, dubbed “Connect2Compete,” is just beginning to find its footing. In a webinar two weeks ago, this collaboration of corporate, philanthropic and community leaders delineated their mission, goals and timetables. It is to use the “power of the internet to improve the lives of low income Americans and their ability to thrive in the global economy.” Additional, the Federal Communications Commission is in the midst of launching an exciting Broadband Lifeline pilot program. This $25 million pilot program could help pave the way for a Universal Broadband Fund. Such a fund could do for internet connectivity what the Universal Service Fund, in an earlier era, did for making the telephone an anchor of American life. [...] Keep Reading
WASHINGTON March 5, 2012. Since our Broadband Breakfast Panel Discussion on “Cybersecurity Legislation in Congress: Where Does it Stand” a couple of weeks ago there have been some notable cybersecurity headlines that we wanted to update you on. Since the panel, GOP Senators John McCain (R-Ariz.), Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Tex.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Saxby… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON February 20, 2012. Broadband Breakfast will host its February Breakfast Panel, Cybersecurity Legislation in Congress: Where Does it Stand?, the day before FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski delivers his remarks on cybersecurity at the Bipartisan Policy Center. Broadband Breakfast's panel will focus on the efforts to move cybersecurity on the Hill after years and years… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, January 27, 2012 – A couple weeks ago, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski announced the FCC's Order to modernize the Universal Service Fund’s Lifeline Program. In a week where almost all of the media’s attention was focused on new technologies and innovative gadgets at the International Consumer Electronics Show, Genachowski reminded the public… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, November 25 2011 – As we all sit and digest post Thanksgiving, Broadband Breakfast can finally wrap up some stories that we have been interested in over the past couple of weeks but have not had time to get around to. We wanted to draw attention to a couple of the stories below and… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, Thursday November 10th 2011, The Federal Communications Commission’s Chairman Julius Genachowski announced what the Commission is touting as the “Biggest effort ever to help close the Digital Divide.” Following up on the launch of the Connect to Compete private and non profit sector partnership a couple of weeks ago, yesterday’s announcement at Langley Education… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, Friday October 28, 2011. The Federal Communication Commission unanimously voted to overhaul its outdated the Universal Service Fund and reform its intercarrier compensation fund at yesterday morning’s Open Commission Meeting. The FCC predicts that an effort to expand high speed internet to rural America over the next six years, will increase economic growth by… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON Monday October 17, 2011 - FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, CTIA The Wireless Association’s President and CEO Steve Largent and Consumers Union’s Policy Counsel Parul Desai held a press conference at Brookings Institute yesterday morning to announce new “Wireless Consumer Usage Notification Guidelines.” Building upon their Consumer Empowerment Agenda, the FCC has been working with… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON July 18, 2011- Two congressional subcommittees called on the heads of several government agencies late last week to inquire how each addresses Internet privacy issues. The panel, assembled by the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade and the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology included the heads of the Federal Communications Commission, Federal Trade Commission and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON July 13, 2011 - The Federal Communications Commission approved a Notice of Proposed Rule Making that would aim to improve the ability of first responders to locate mobile and Voice over IP (VoIP) callers who contact 911 during its July meeting on Tuesday. The Commission passed by a unanimous vote a Notice of Proposed Rule Making on improving the accuracy of location information for wireless and Voice over IP (VoIP) services. The NPRM seeks to establish a standard for VoIP location information. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, July 7, 2011 – What was originally billed as a federal agency confessional before House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations on Thursday turned into a search to create American jobs and economic growth. Monday, the subcommittee held its fourth hearing to improve the regulatory review system. With the national unemployment rate at 9.1 percent, burdensome regulations from federal agencies are seen by both sides of the aisle and agency representatives to contribute to the problem. An Executive Order the President issued in January sought to streamline federal agencies by having them do a retrospective review of existing regulations and discard those they determined outdated and unnecessary. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON April 28, 2011 - The Federal Communications Commission gathered key industry experts on Wednesday to explore the different ways that the Universal Service Fund can be modernized to effectively deploy high speed broadband to rural America. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, April 6, 2011 - The Federal Communications Commission unveiled a major update to its website for the first time in 10 years on Tuesday, incorporating many Web 2.0 technologies such as blogs and social media tools that the commission has been embracing since the appointment of Chairman Julius Genachowski in June, 2009. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON February 17, 2011- The National Telecommunications and Information Administration in conjunction with the Federal Communications Commission unveiled the National Broadband Map along with an update to the Digital Nation report this morning. The map is available at http://www.broadbandmap.gov/. The map is the result of over 2 years of work and $350 million government funding. All 50 states, the District of Columbia and 5 territories provided the NTIA with data. The map brings together 25 million pieces of data to provide consumers, policy makers and business with an accurate picture of broadband deployment and availability. Over 1600 unique internet service providers were identified. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON - The Federal Communications Commission announced Tuesday afternoon that it had come to an agreement with Comcast and NBC Universal to approve the merger of the two companies. The Commission gave the merger the go ahead after the companies agreed to a number of conditions, among them adherence to the FCC's recent Open Internet… Keep Reading
LAS VEGAS, January 10, 2011 - FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski highlighted the Commission's successes in the 111th Congress and looked to its goals in the 112th during a discussion with at the Consumer Electronics Show on Friday. The conversation between the Chairman and the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) CEO, Gary Shapiro, took place in front of a crowd of hundreds of tech industry representatives, analysts and journalists at the Las Vegas Convention Center and focused almost entirely on the need for sound, progressive mobile broadband policy. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, December 22, 2010 - In an uncommon split vote on Tuesday, the FCC handed down an order requiring network providers to abide by certain rules intended to maintain network neutrality. Keep Reading