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NCTA

Broadband Mapping/Broadband Roundup/Broadband's Impact/Congress/FCC/Fiber

Broadband Roundup: Consumer Groups Oppose Project Libra, Comcast on Shapefile Mapping, Windstream Goes Wireless

The Hill reports that dozens of consumer advocacy groups have called for congressional committees and regulatory agencies to impose a moratorium on Facebook’s cryptocurrency project. Among the 33 groups include Public Citizen, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, the Economic Policy Institute and the Center for Digital Democracy. In their letter the groups wrote that the… Keep Reading

Broadband's Impact/China/Rural Telecom/Senate

Broadband Roundup: Trump Reports Progress on China Trade, Buildout Act in Senate, and Comcast Debuts Robocall Blocking

Trade negotiations with the U.S. and China are “right back on track,” said President Trump this Saturday at the G20 Summit in Japan. The Guardian reports that after the president met with Chinese general secretary Xi Jinping, he announced that the U.S will not impose further tariffs against Chinese products. “We were very close but… Keep Reading

FTC/Privacy/Senate

Sen. Marsha Blackburn Scolds Big Tech For Extracting Data and Calls for Greater Transparency

WASHINGTON, June 27, 2019 – The framework for federal privacy regulation is emerging as another flashpoint in some conservatives’ political battles with Silicon Valley powerhouses. In particular Tennessee Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn said Wednesday that technology companies are using the complexity of their platforms to justify lack of transparency regarding how they are using consumers’… Keep Reading

Fiber/House of Representatives/Infrastructure/Press Releases

Industry Groups and Non Profit Advocates Offer Encouraging Words about House Energy and Commerce Broadband Measure

BROADBAND BREAKFAST INSIGHT: Telecommunications industry and advocacy organizations on Wednesday and Thursday reacted to the introduction of the LIFT America Act, H.R. 2741, which stands for Leading Infrastructure for Tomorrow's America Act, by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, R-N.J. The measure includes $40 billion, over five years, to deploy broadband. A hearing… Keep Reading

Broadband Data/Broadband Mapping/FCC/NTIA/Rural Telecom

AT&T and Verizon Spearhead Granular Broadband Mapping Program With Address-Level Availability

WASHINGTON, March 21, 2019 - The nation's leading telecommunications companies on Thursday announced a new broadband mapping pilot initiative that aims to geolocate each address in the country, and link each location with broadband providers that offer service to that address. At a launch event joined by Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai, the broadband… Keep Reading

Broadband and Democratization/Broadband's Impact/Congress/FCC/Net Neutrality

The FCC Proposal to Overturn Net Neutrality Leads Congress to Express Support for Internet Rules

WASHINGTON, November 23, 2017 – Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday praised plans by Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai to roll back the network neutrality rules put in place by his predecessor, but pledged to work towards some sort of legislation that would outlaw blocking and throttling internet content currently… Keep Reading

Education/FCC/Fiber/Net Neutrality/Rural Telecom/Wireless

Rural Broadband Focus Increasingly Necessary in Infrastructure Package, Say Blackburn and Panelists at Brookings

WASHINGTON, July 25, 2017 – Rural areas of Tennessee have lost business because they don’t have access to high-speed internet, Tennessee Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn said Monday at a panel on broadband infrastructure hosted by the Brookings Institution. Trump was aggressively pushing new infrastructure, said Blackburn, the chairwoman of the House Energy and Commerce Communications… Keep Reading

FCC/Privacy/zBroadband News

House Rules Committee Approves Vote on Internet Privacy Measure on Tuesday; All Parties Expected to Weigh In

BROADBAND BREAKFAST INSIGHT: With the House Rules Committee's decision to press for a House vote on internet privacy on Tuesday, it's an "all hands on deck" sort of moment, as multiple parties weight into the pros and cons of approving the Senate's use of the Congressional Review Act to overturn Obama administration privacy rules.  ISPs, Advertisers… Keep Reading

FCC

Federal Communications Commissioner Ajit Pai, in Statement, Confirms Appointment as Agency Chairman

WASHINGTON, January 23, 2017 — In a statement released on the web site of the Federal Communications Communications, and emailed to reporters at 4:48 p.m. ET, Federal Communications Commissioner Ajit Pai, a Republican announced his selection as Chairman of the agency, a nominally independent agency whose chairman is designated by President Donald Trump. Pai said:… Keep Reading

Broadband's Impact

While Universal Service Reforms Show Promise, Politics Clouds Fund’s Future

ASPEN, Colorado, August 19, 2015 - In spite of several positive efforts to reform the complex and dated rules that govern the Federal Communication Commission's universal service fund, key decisions surrounding the $8 billion annual fund remain ineluctably political. That was the message shared by panelists, including a commissioner at the FCC, speaking at a session on Tuesday at the Technology Policy Institute's annual forum here. For example, the panelists -- which also include two economists, a cable industry lobbyist and the former director of the National Broadband Plan -- applauded efforts to bring greater economic efficiency to telecom network construction through a system known as a "reverse auction." They also supported efforts to promote broadband adoption by providing income-based vouchers for the purpose of internet services. But decisions about the allocation of funds within the USF -- and the key question of how the fund is to be paid for -- remain political hot potatoes. Embedded image permalink Moderator Scott Wallsten of the Technology Policy Institute, with panelists Mignon Clyburn, James Assey, Blair Levin, Gregory Rosston, and Bradley Wimmer. [more...] Keep Reading

Broadband's Impact/FCC/Infrastructure/Net Neutrality/NTIA

Broadband Roundup: White House and Wheeler Together, Cable Industry Group, and Commentary on NTIA Broadband Report

WASHINGTON, October 20, 2014 – Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler said that he and President Barack Obama agree in their opposition to paid prioritization, Multichannel News reported. Obama stated his objection to the practice during his remarks at an innovation forum in California on October 9. Although the two haven’t discussed it directly, Wheeler… Keep Reading

FCC/Media Ownership/Net Neutrality

Broadband Roundup: Incumbents Defend Data Caps, Comcast Cites Competition for Merger, and Wheeler Seeks Diversity of Media Ownership

WASHINGTON, September 24, 2014 –Verizon Communications and AT&T are urging the Federal Communications Commission to include the use of data caps in the agency’s definition of broadband. Including usage-based pricing in its definition is important because companies that use universal service funds to build networks in rural areas must accept the standards laid out in… Keep Reading

Broadband Roundup/Broadband's Impact/FCC/Net Neutrality

Broadband Roundup: Battle of the Lobbyists, Holding Comcast Accountable and Satellite Reauthorization

WASHINGTON, July 23, 2014 - Broadband providers are outspending internet search and content firms on lobbying lawmakers and regulators, Recode reported. However, among single companies, Google spent more than any internet provider in both of the past two quarters. ISPs and their trade associations have collectively spent $42.4 million this year. Content creators spent only… Keep Reading

Broadband Data/Broadband Roundup/FCC/Infrastructure

Broadband Roundup: Internet Tax Freedom Act, Report on Broadband Speeds, and AT&T on Gigabit Networks

WASHINGTON, June 19, 2014 - The House Judicary Committee on Wednesday approved the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act this week by a vote of 30-4, according to a press release from the committee. The act banned state-imposed taxation of internet access or discriminatory taxes on e-commerce. Originally enacted in 1998, the bill had previously been… Keep Reading

Broadband Roundup/Net Neutrality

Broadband Roundup: FCC to Police Dispute Between Netflix and Verizon, Michael Powell Defends FCC Chief

WASHINGTON, June 16, 2014 - In the midst of Netflix's quarrels with Verizon Communications, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler said in a statement Friday that the commission will investigate slowdowns in traffic to ascertain whether there's harm to consumers. “To be clear, what we are doing right now is collecting information, not regulating. We… Keep Reading

Broadband's Impact/FCC/Net Neutrality

Critics on Both Ends of the FCC’s Net Neutrality Rules, With a Few Supporters in the Middle

WASHINGTON, May 19, 2014 - The Federal Communication Commission's effort to thread the needle on net neutrality with regulations that will withstand legal scrutiny while also satisfying open internet activists led to starkly divided responses to the Thursday measure. In the camp expressing disappointment that agency Chairman Tom Wheeler didn't go further, Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., a member of the Commerce Science and Transportation Committee, said that innovation over the internet in America could unless broadband were to be reclassified as a common-carrier telecommunications service. "Internet access today is like traditional phone service decades ago - we can't live or work without it," Markey said. "We must stop broadband behemoths from setting up fast and slow lanes and picking winners and losers. Start-ups and small business would suffer, slowing our economy and job growth throughout Massachusetts and around the country." [...] Keep Reading

Spectrum/Wireless

Obama Launches Plan for More Efficient Federal Spectrum Use, Trumpets Improvements in Broadband Over Past Four Years

WASHINGTON, June 17, 2013 – President Barack Obama on Friday introduced several new initiatives to facilitate more efficient use of radio-frequency spectrum in order to encourage further development of wireless broadband. In addition to investments totaling to $100 million in the development of spectrum-sharing technologies and advanced communications, Obama also directed federal agencies to make… Keep Reading

Broadband's Impact/FCC/Net Neutrality

Creating Innovation-Friendly Environment and Promoting Seemless Transition to Internet Protocol Services Discussed at The Cable Show

WASHINGTON, June 11, 2013 - Creating an innovation-friendly environment and facilitating the internet protocol transition were featured as two Federal Communications Commission legal advisers spoke Tuesday at the National Cable and Telecommunications Association’s Cable Show. The panel consisted of Matthew Berry, chief of staff for FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai and Alex Hoehn-Saric, policy director for… Keep Reading

Congress/FCC/Net Neutrality/Rural Utilities Service/Universal Service

Congressional Panel at The Cable Show Highlights Spectrum, Net Neutrality, and Universal Service Issues

WASHINGTON, June 11, 2013 - Spectrum policy, net neutrality, and Universal Service Fund reforms were among the topics discussed by congressional staffers at The Cable Show panel entitled “Capitol Perspectives: Commerce Committee Staffers on Communications Policy.” The panel, held at the annual convention of the National Cable and Telecommunications Associations on Monday, consisted of eight… Keep Reading

FCC

Industry Reactions to Tom Wheeler’s Nomination to Be FCC Chairman: CCIA, NCTA, CTIA, NTCA, CEA and MPAA

WASHINGTON, May 1, 2013 - The following are reactions from President Barack Obama's Announcement that Tom Wheeler would be Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission from several of the leading major telecommunications, media and technology industry trade groups. Ed Black, President and CEO of the Computer and Communications Industry Association:  “President Obama has nominated the right… Keep Reading

Congress/FCC/People/Wireless

Profiles of Prospective Candidates to be FCC Chairman: Mignon Clyburn and Tom Wheeler

WASHINGTON, March 27, 2013 - This week BroadbandBreakfast.com will begin a series profiling 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 that he would step down within a few weeks. Mignon Clyburn joined Genachowski as one… Keep Reading

Broadband Data/FCC/Net Neutrality/Spectrum

Cable Industry Group Criticizes Sen. Ron Wyden’s Data Cap Integrity Measure

WASHINGTON, December 21, 2012 - The Nation Cable and Telecommunications Association, the trade group representing cable operators serving more than 90 percent of the nation's households, on Friday released a statement criticizing the Data Cap Integrity Act introduced by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. “Regrettably, this ill-conceived legislation ignores the substantial pro-consumer benefits of usage-based pricing," according to the NCTA… Keep Reading

Broadband Data/Broadband TV/Mobile Broadband/Universal Service

Video on Reforming the Universal Service Fund Tackled Connect America Fund and Mobility Fund

WASHINGTON, October 19, 2012 – The internet policy news and events service BroadbandBreakfast.com held its October 2012 Broadband Breakfast Club “Reforming the Universal Service Fund: What's Changing?" on Tuesday, October 16th, 2012 at Clyde’s of Gallery Place, 707 7th St. NW, Washington, DC 20001 from 8 am – 10 am. Nearly one year ago, the Federal… Keep Reading

Broadband Data/Broadband Mapping/Broadband TV/FCC/Transparency

Cable and Telecom Providers Warm to Broadband Measurement, Speak at Broadband Breakfast Club

WASHINGTON, Thursday, September 20th, 2012 – The internet policy news and events service BroadbandBreakfast.com held its September 2012 Broadband Breakfast Club event “Measuring Broadband Performance: What Have We Learned in Four Years?” on Tuesday, September 18th, 2012 at Clyde’s of Gallery Place, 707 7th St. NW, Washington, DC 20001 from 8 am – 10 am. You can see highlights… Keep Reading

Broadband Calendar/Broadband Data/Broadband Mapping/FCC

BroadbandBreakfast.com Hosts ‘Measuring Broadband Performance: What Have We Learned in Four Years?ʼ Broadband Breakfast Club of Tuesday, September 18th, 2012

  WASHINGTON, Monday, September 17th, 2012 – The internet policy news and events service BroadbandBreakfast.com will hold its September 2012 Broadband Breakfast Club event “Measuring Broadband Performance: What Have We Learned in Four Years?” on Tuesday, September 18th, 2012 at Clyde’s of Gallery Place, 707 7th St. NW, Washington, DC 20001 from 8 am –… Keep Reading

Broadband Data/Broadband Mapping/FCC/Fiber/National Broadband Plan/NTIA/Recovery Act/Rural Utilities Service/States/Universal Service

How to Tackle Broadband Adoption by the Nation’s Underserved Populations

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

Broadband TV/Broadband's Impact/Education

Broadband Poised to Change the Fabric of Higher Education, Say Panelists at The Cable Show

WASHINGTON, May 15, 2012 – The increasing prevalence on high-speed internet is beginning to have a major effort on universities and they way that they approach the creation and dissemination of the "content" created in higher education, said panelists speaking at a special event of BroadbandBreakfast.com at The Cable Show in Boston. BroadbandBreakfast.com released the… Keep Reading

Congress/FCC/Fiber/Mobile Broadband/Net Neutrality/NTIA/Recovery Act/Smart Grid/Spectrum/States/Universal Service/Wireless

Broadband Breakfast Serves a Thanksgiving Leftover Wrap-Up

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

Broadband Data/FCC/National Broadband Plan/Press Releases/Smart Grid

Will Consumer-Friendly Smart Meters Pave the Way to Smart Grid Adoption?

November 14, 2011 – When the Federal Communications Commission identified six concrete goals in the national broadband plan, the one specific application highlighted by the agency was energy consumption: “To ensure that America leads in the clean energy economy, every American should be able to use broadband to track and manage their real-time energy consumption.” This goal – tracking and managing energy consumption – is right at the intersection of two trends that will be explored at the Broadband Breakfast Club on Tuesday, November 15: "The Smart Grid and Broadband." Click here to register for this event. Keep Reading

Broadband's Impact/Education/FCC/National Broadband Plan

FCC and Connect to Compete provide solutions for Cost of Broadband Adoption

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

Expert Opinion/FCC/Universal Service

Expert First Impression from Steve Morris, Vice President & Associate General Counsel of the National Telecommunications & Cable Association

WASHINGTON, Friday October 28, 2011.  Vice President & Associate General Counsel of NCTA, Steve Morris gave Broadband Breakfast his first impressions on yesterday’s USF Reform Proposal. Morris told us: The Chairman, the commissioners, and the FCC staff, all deserve a great deal of credit for bringing this item to completion.  Universal service and intercarrier compensation… Keep Reading

Broadband's Impact/FCC/National Broadband Plan/Recovery Act/Smart Cities/Smart Grid

Smarter Cities Need Better Broadband to Realize Their Networking Potential

September 19, 2011 - America’s unique concept of federalism – joint sovereignty between the states and the federal government – sometimes obscures some on-the-ground realities when it comes to the all-important topic of economic growth and development. The simple fact is that cities serve as the engine of life, commerce, culture and sociality. Tomorrow, at the Broadband Breakfast Club event on September 20, 2011, at 8 a.m., we’ll engage on this subject. The discussion will feature Gale Brewer, a New York City Councilmember who has been one of the country’s leading advocates of better broadband. Gail has represented the Upper West Side of Manhattan, and currently chairs the Committee on Governmental Operations, where she has worked to make better use of technology to save money, improve city services, and bring residents, businesses and non-profits closer to government and their communities. Gale Brewer will keynote this event, which is titled, “Making Cities of the Future Smarter Through Broadband.” Keep Reading

Broadband Mapping/Broadband's Impact/Education/Expert Opinion/Health/Recovery Act

Expert Opinion: Broadband Adventures in Wunderland: The Myth of the $7 million home

If it were a piece of classical music, the “study” by Navigant Economics’ Jeffrey Eisenach and Kevin Caves could easily be titled “Variations on a False Narrative in the key of F.” They claim, after a review of three (count ‘em, 3) of the hundreds of broadband grants, the broadband stimulus cost too much for too little ROI. The most misleading of the claims, though, is the alleged $349,234 spent per un-served household. Well, I should say the $7 million per un-served household, but I’ll come back to that in a bit. Keep Reading

FCC/Universal Service

Rural Telecom Associations Raise Concerns Over USF Reform

WASHINGTON, July 18, 2011 – The FCC should consider costs and service areas of rural broadband customers as it reforms the Universal Service Fund (USF) to include broadband expansion, urged members of congress and rural telecom associations Thursday. The rural telecom associations announced at the Capitol building the inauguration of a DC-based print advertising campaign to highlight the economic harm of the FCC’s current proposal. The associations believe that USF reform as it is presently being considered would result in lost jobs, poor health care coverage and stifled innovation due to blocked access to global markets. Keep Reading

Broadband's Impact/Universal Service

Free State Foundation Panel Calls for USF, Intercarrier Compensation Reform

WASHINGTON, July 14, 2011 - The Free State Foundation, a free-market think thank, assembled key industry experts Wednesday and pressed for the immediate need for reforms to the Universal Service Fund and Intercarrier Compensation systems. For the past year, the Federal Communications Commission has worked on updating the Universal Service Fund to handle the demands of broadband expansion rather than voice service. Keep Reading

FCC/People

Baker to Leave FCC to Lobby for NBCUniversal

WASHINGTON, May 12, 2011 - FCC Commissioner, Meredith Baker, announced Wednesday that she will resign her post on June 3, after which she will begin her tenure as a lobbyist for NBCUniversal. Baker's served as one of the five FCC commissioners for less than two years, after being sworn in by President Barack Obama in July, 2009. Previously, she spent five years during the second Bush administration at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, where she rose to the top spot in that agency. Keep Reading

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