Infrastructure
Pandemic Possible Inflection Point in States’ Move Away from Restrictions on Community Networks
The number of states restricting municipal broadband networks has dropped during the pandemic.
Jericho Casper
Reporter Jericho Casper graduated from the University of Virginia studying media policy. She grew up in Newport News in an area impacted by the digital divide and has a passion for universal access.
Infrastructure
Population Center in Chautauqua County May Be First City in New York With Municipal Fiber
Jamestown is hoping an open access network would make internet more affordable.
ARPA
FCC’s Emergency Connectivity Funds Ineligible for School and Library Self-Provisioned Networks
The FCC’s May 10 order said schools and libraries could not use connectivity funds to build self-provisioned networks.
Infrastructure
Vermont House Backs $150 Million Broadband Plan Creating New State Office
A bill dedicating $150 million of anticipated federal funding to create a new state broadband office to coordinate and accelerate the expansion of high-speed Internet access throughout Vermont passed the State House of Representatives last week with overwhelming bipartisan support. On March 24th, th
Open Access
Bills In Washington State Legislature Would Allow Public Utility Districts into Retail Broadband
Though Washington is home to one of the nation’s fastest growing tech hubs, many communities throughout the state lack adequate broadband infrastructure. The stark divide between those Washingtonians with reliable home broadband connections, and those without, became especially salient last year, wh
Biden-Harris Administration
Slaughter Named FTC Chair, Combatting Disinformation with Community Media, Kimmelman Departs Public Knowledge
January 22, 2021—President Joe Biden designated Rebecca Slaughter as acting chair of the Federal Trade Commission on Thursday. Slaughter has served as an FTC Commissioner since May 2018. As a commissioner, Slaughter championed aggressive use of the FTC’s authorities to combat the abuse of consumers’
FCC
Biden Appoints Jessica Rosenworcel as Acting FCC Chair
January 22, 2021—President Joe Biden appointed Democrat Jessica Rosenworcel to be the acting chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission Thursday afternoon, making the lawyer hailing from West Hartford, Connecticut, the second woman to be appointed to that role in the commission’s 96-year hi
Social Media
Trump Blasts Big Tech and Takes No Responsibility For Inciting Deadly U.S. Capitol Insurrection
January 12, 2021 — President Donald Trump on Tuesday reacted to the content moderation practices that digital platforms exercised since the events of January 6 – including banning him from Twitter — before departing Andrews Joint Base in Prince George’s County, Maryland, onboard Air Force One. The P
1996 Telecommunications Act
Twitter Bans Trump, Parler Sues Amazon, Congressional Democrats Question Big ISPs
January 11, 2021 — On Friday, Twitter permanently banned President Donald Trump from the platform, citing the “risk of further incitement of violence” should he be allowed to continue to use the service. “After close review of recent Tweets from the @realDonaldTrump account and the context around th
FCC
FCC Chair Ajit Pai Says U.S. Sentiment Towards China Changed Under Trump
January 8, 2021 — Outgoing Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai recalled a shift in American views towards China, which he says largely occurred over the course of his past four years in office, during an interview with the Center for Strategic and International Studies on Wednesday.
Social Media
Mark Zuckerberg Announces Donald Trump Ban from Facebook and Instagram
January 7, 2021 — Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced in a statement posted to his personal page Thursday that Donald Trump will be blocked from using both Facebook and Instagram “for at least the next two weeks until the peaceful transition of power is complete.” The company blocked his acco
12.2-12.7 Gigahertz band
FCC Adds Items to January Agenda, US Telecom on Broadband Emergency, Fiber Broadband Board
January 7, 2021 – The Federal Communications Commission’s January 13 meeting will be Commissioner Nathan Simington’s first and Chairman Ajit Pai’s last. As Pai has opted not to place any Section 230 action on the January meeting agenda and Simington’s office has issued a statement saying “no grounds
Congress
With Mike Pence Presiding, Joint Session of Congress Confirms Electoral Votes for President-elect Joe Biden
January 7, 2021 — The joint session of Congress began on Wednesday afternoon, was delayed by a mob incursion incited by President Donald Trump, continued on Wednesday evening and concluded early Thursday morning. After it all, Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election was confirmed. The
Free Speech
UPDATED: Twitter Locks Account of President Donald Trump and Deletes Three Inciting Tweets
Update, 7:07 p.m. ET, January 6, 2021 – Twitter has deleted both of the Tweets identified in the story below. They also deleted a third Tweet, sent soon after 6 p.m. ET, which read: “These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciousl
American tech companies
Democrats Lead Georgia Senate Races, France Imposes Digital Tax, Annual IP Report, SHLB New Board Directors
January 6, 2021 – Voters in Georgia showed out to polls in record amounts on Tuesday, surpassing the state’s all-time voting record set in 2008, with over 4 million votes counted in the Georgia Senate runoff elections so far. While about 65,000 votes remain uncounted as of Wednesday morning — mainly
Infrastructure
Building Better Broadband Underscores Joe Biden’s Top Policy Initiatives
January 5, 2021 — The digital divide afflicting the United States has become even more apparent throughout the pandemic, repositioning the issue of universal broadband access to the forefront of many Washington policy agendas, including that of President-elect Joe Biden. The Biden presidential campa
