FTC
Lina Khan Pitches Ideas For Regulating Big Tech In Nomination Hearing
Senate Commerce Committee considers nominations for Lina Khan, Bill Nelson and Leslie Kiernan.
Antitrust
Lawmakers And Newsmakers Tackle Google and Facebook Market Power
Sen. Klobuchar, Rep. Cicilline and experts discuss antitrust, big tech and local journalism.
FCC Asked To Include States In Mapping, Maryland’s $300M For Broadband, Energy-Saving STB Agreement
April 6, 2021 – Senate Democrats and independents are pushing the Federal Communications Commission to include state, regional and tribal governments in its development of more accurate broadband maps, according to a letter dated April 1. “We strongly urge you to incorporate the voices of state, loc
EBB
Experts Concerned About Connectivity After Emergency Broadband Benefit Fund Runs Dry
April 1, 2021 – Experts are concerns about the long-term implications of the $3.2-billion Emergency Broadband Benefit program (EBB) running out of money without a plan for what happens after. The fund, created by Congress in December, provides up to $50 in a monthly internet discount for families an
ECF
3 House Bills Would Create New Speed Tiers For Broadband, Dole Out Up to $100 Billion in Funds
March 22, 2021 – Three bills, worth $100 billion dollars and introduced in the House, will change the nation’s definition of served and unserved by dramatically upping the threshold for broadband speeds. The bill will create new categories including unserved, low-tier and mid-tier for federal fundin
FTC
Former and Current FTC Commissioners Laud Efforts At Greater Resources For Antitrust Cases
March 17, 2021 – A new antitrust bill by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn, is receiving high praise from current and former commissioners of the Federal Trade Commission for its focus on enhancing resources required to tackle competition issues. “I think we could use more money still,” Noah Phillips, comm
Section 230
Section 230 Reform Requires Citizen Participation, Says Sen. Amy Klobuchar
In the conversation to reform Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which governs liability for internet intermediaries, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn, said Tuesday the public must get involved. “We can’t fight Google and other million-dollar companies with duct tape and Band-Aids,” Klobuchar
California Net Neutrality, Georgia Broadband Maps, New House Antitrust Bill
February 24, 2021 – A California judge has rejected an attempt by internet service providers to prevent the state from enforcing its net neutrality rules, paving the way for its enforcement. Judge John Mendez, in the Eastern District of California, issued the ruling Tuesday. The law provides Califor
Poverty
Commissioner Geoffrey Starks Says FCC Eyes Emergency Broadband Benefit Program as a Priority Item
February 16, 2021 – Federal Communications Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said the $3.2 billion Emergency Broadband Benefit program is currently a top priority for the regulatory agency. The FCC has 60 days to determine how best to allocate the money from the program intended to reach “more disconnect
FCC
Biden Justice Department Withdraws Net Neutrality Suit, Section 230 Changes, Community Digital Infrastructure
February 9, 2021 – The Justice Department on Monday withdrew its lawsuit against California for proposing net neutrality laws in the wake of a 2017 vote by the Federal Communications Commission that repealed those rules. The move signals a shift in how the White House and the new FCC could approach
FCC
Klobuchar Drops Big Antitrust Bill, Raimondo’s Nomination Advances, Suicide Hotline Location Data
February 5, 2021 – Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, unveiled sweeping new antitrust legislation on Thursday to address the growing market power of companies in technology and other industries. Concern over big tech companies like Google and Facebook has been increasing on a bipartisan basis in Congr
FCC
America Facing Consequences From Years of Inaction on Antitrust, Says Former FCC Chairman
January 28, 2021—America is now facing consequences resulting from years of inaction on antitrust, said former Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler during Wednesday’s antitrust session at the State of the Net Conference. America has waited too long to act on antitrust and regulatio
FTC
Sen. Amy Klobuchar Calls For More Aggressive Competition Policy Action
January 28, 2021—Senator Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, said the administration of President Joe Biden needed to address competition and privacy in a speech concluding the State of the Net Conference on Wednesday. In the middle of stating that large U.S. corporations are growing at an unprecedented rat
AI
Coronavirus Stimulus Omnibus Also Includes Consumer Protection Provisions, Elevating the Definition of ‘Broadband’
The House of Representatives passed an end of the year omnibus bill on Monday, which included six provisions from the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee. The legislation aims to help protect consumers from harmful products and COVID-19 scams. One of the provisions, the COVID-19 Consumer P
Broadband's Impact
Reactions to Broadband Provisions Being Included in the COVID-19 Relief Bill
December 22, 2020 – Late Monday night, Congress approved a $900 billion coronavirus relief package sending desperately needed aid to Americans reeling from the global pandemic. The bill, which sets aside $7 billion for broadband initiatives and includes legislation introduced by Reps. Anna Eshoo, D-
Benton
Building a Bridge over the Digital Divide: Explaining the Affordable, Accessible Internet for All Act
December 11, 2020 – Last week we began our broad overview of the Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act, sweeping legislation that calls for a $100 billion investment in broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved parts of the country, as well as federal funding and coordinated support
