COVID
House and Senate Tackle Semiconductor Chip Shortages and Seek to Boost U.S. Production
How COVID and supply chain woes are driving $52 billion in incentives for domestic production of semiconductor chips.
Ashlan Gruwell
Reporter Ashlan Gruwell studied political science at Brigham Young University. She has immersed herself in principles of American politics and voter behavior. She enjoys traveling internationally.
Apple CEO Against App Legislation, Russian Cyberattack Thwarted, European Telecoms Exit Russia
Apple CEO is not a fan of the legislation that would allow third-parties to bypass Apple store payments.
Benton
Infrastructure Bill Money Will Help Push Universal Broadband Goal Within Five Years: Rep. Clyburn
Clyburn’s Rural Broadband Task Force aims to close the digital divide within five years.
iija
High Speed Thresholds Could Pull Infrastructure Funds Away from Poorly Connected Areas
Sarah Oh Lam of the Technology Policy Institute says high speed thresholds could shift funds toward better-connected areas.
Lifeline
FCC Device Partnership, TracFone Settles Lawsuit, New FCC Leadership Hires
The FCC announced a partnership with a trio of companies to deliver devices under the Affordable Connectivity Program.
Broadband Mapping and Data
Completed Maps Will ‘Absolutely’ Be Available This Fall, FCC’s Rosenworcel Says
‘It is all systems go,’ the chairwoman said at a House Energy and Commerce hearing Thursday.
Digital Divide Impacting Access to Justice, Conference Hears
Some lawyers say their clients are having a difficult time getting access to the legal system without connectivity.
TikTok and Snapchat Parental Control, DOJ Endorses Antitrust Legislation, Senate Passes Competes Act
Forty-three state attorneys general signed a letter urging TikTok and Snapchat to have friendlier parental control policies.
Innovation
Incentives Crucial to Domestic Semiconductor and Chip Production, Senate Committee Hears
Technology companies, including Intel, are lobbying for legislation incentivizing domestic production of chips crucial to many sectors.
Adelstein Departing WIA, Ransomware Still ‘Ongoing Threat,’ USCellular New Board Nominees
Adelstein will be joining DigitalBridge Group in June.
COVID
Sen. Wicker Asks for Broadband Spend Review, Starlink Speeds, WIA and Ohio State Partner on Curriculum
Senator Wicker is asking for a review of how funds set aside for broadband during the pandemic are being used.
Joe Biden
Biden Says Infrastructure Bill Will Transform America in First In-Person DNC Winter Meeting in 2 Years
President Biden received a standing ovation during address.
DHS
Google Cyber Buy, DDoS in Russia/Ukraine, Emergency Connectivity Fund Latest
Google’s purchase of Mandiant comes after the company’s cloud business was the subject of cyber breaches.
Social Media
Senator Markey Pleased with Pressure on Companies to Protect Children Online
Senator Edward Markey has been a proponent of increasing the age group in child privacy laws for years.
State of the Union, 5G Connections Continue to Rise, Georgia and America Pledge Telecom Collaboration
President Joe Biden commented on closing the digital divide in his first State of the Union address.
FCC
FCC Equity Council Approves Working Group to Broaden Definition of ‘Anchor Institution’
The Equity and Diversity Council will study broadening anchor institution to include LGBT organizations.
