
As Biden’s Antitrust Chief Exits, Will Trump Keep the Momentum?
The DOJ’s antitrust division saw record enforcement under Kanter.

Trump Taps Gail Slater for Justice Department Antitrust Head
The department reviews major telecom deals but isn't seen as a bottleneck for currently pending transactions.

FTC Opens Microsoft Antitrust Investigation, Trump Must Decide Whether to Keep
It's the latest action of more than three years of aggressive antitrust enforcement shepherded by FTC Chair Lina Khan.

Justice Department Seeks to Break Up Google by Forcing Chrome Sale
Justice Department's antitrust division is proposing the punishment as a 'remedy' in case against the search engine giant.

November 19, 2024: Demystifying BABA Compliance in the BEAD Program
A webinar that will help explain the ins and outs of Build America Buy America compliance.

Chart of States Accepting BEAD Grant Applications
Braodband Breakfast is tracking each state's BEAD grant application window.

Chart of Fixed Wireless Access Subscribers
Braodband Breakfast is tracking fixed wireless access subscriptions.

Chart of Wireline Broadband Subscribers
Braodband Breakfast is tracking wireline broadband subscriptions.

Chart of Wireline Broadband Subscribers By Technology
Braodband Breakfast is tracking wireline broadband subscribers by technology.

Democratic Senators Concerned About T-Mobile-UScellular Merger
'Additional consolidation in the market would have far-reaching effects, reducing choices for consumers,' Senate Democrats say.

Beeper CEO Draws a Crowd at the FCC
The dispute has been described as the Blue Bubble (iPhone) vs. Green Bubble (Android) debate.

April 2, 2024: Public-Private Broadband Partnerships
The digital infrastructure is evolving at exponential rates and the demand for smarter systems and a more connected world is imperative to the progression of our communities.

March 26, 2024: Fiber and Wireless Solutions for 'Always On' Deployment Strategies
The digital infrastructure is evolving at exponential rates and the demand for smarter systems and a more connected world is imperative to the progression of our communities.

Google Loses to Epic Games, $120 Million Idaho Broadband, New Google Fiber Exec
Google has been found guilty in an antitrust trial brought on by video game company Epic Games.

Premium Shipping and Anti-discounting Policies Central to FTC’s Amazon Lawsuit
The FTC may be able to convince the district court that Amazon is sustaining a monopoly markup, said Herb Hovenkamp.

FTC Chair Warns Artificial Intelligence Industry of Vigorous Enforcement
The FTC’s statute on consumer protection that ‘prohibits unfair deceptive practices’ extends to AI, said Kahn.

Biden Overstepped First Amendment, Google Antitrust Case Tuesday, Gigi Sohn Joins Tucows Board
The Fifth Circuit ruled that the administration overstepped in coercing social media platforms to take down misinformation.

Broadband Breakfast Webinar on Broadband Geospatial Planning
A tutorial for investors, broadband providers, and political leaders

FTC Funding Request Harshly Criticized by Republican Lawmakers
The agency’s aggressive approach to antitrust under Chair Lina Khan has sparked controversy.

Google CEO Promotes AI Regulation, GOP Urges TikTok Ban for Congress Members, States Join DOJ Antitrust Suit
Widespread AI applications could lead to a dramatic uptick in online disinformation, Pichai warned.

NTIA Seeks AI Insight, Legislative Tracking Maps, Florida’s $22M for Broadband
The NTIA is seeking comment in light of the quickly growing potential of generative AI chatbot technology.

Panel Disagrees on Antitrust Bills’ Promotion of Competition
Panelists disagree on the effects of two antitrust bills intended to promote competition.

Preview the Start of Broadband Breakfast’s Big Tech & Speech Summit
Watch the start of the Big Tech & Speech Summit from March 9. Sign up for full webcast.

Sole FTC Republican to Resign, Faster Decisions from Meta Oversight Board, High Variance in 5G Performance
Wilson accused Chairwoman Lina Khan of defying legal precedent and abusing her power.

Apple and Google Called ‘Gatekeepers,’ Huawei Trade Restrictions, Meta’s Antitrust Win
The NTIA claims that Apple and Google take advantage of their app stores to put unfair limitations on their competitors.

Broadband Breakfast Preview Session for Big Tech & Speech Summit on March 9
Summit moderators will set the stage for timely discussions on content moderation, privacy and competition.

TikTok to Testify Before House Committee, Tech Association Warns on Antitrust, US Telecom Board Adds
It will be the first time TikTok’s CEO will appear for a congressional hearing.

Justice Department Sues Google, Big Tech’s White House Ties, TCPA Compliance Deadline
The lawsuit accuses the company of abusing a monopoly over the technology that controls the digital advertising market.

Broadband Breakfast Announces Big Tech & Speech Summit on March 9
The summit, live in Washington, will address Biden’s recent challenges to Big Tech: Section 230, privacy and competition.

Key Republican: Anticompetitive Practices of Big Tech Present a Threat to Innovation
Rep. Ken Buck said tech companies’ practices are anticompetitive and threaten innovation, free speech and national security.

Biden Calls for Anti-Big Tech Action, CCIA Shows State Privacy ‘Patchwork,’ FCC Continues Robocall Fight
Biden’s call for federal privacy legislation aims to address an increasingly splintered state privacy landscape.

More Big Tech Regulation, Tim Wu Leaving White House, Microsoft Antitrust Hearing
Legislators from both sides of the aisle are calling for increased regulation of Big Tech.

New AT&T Fiber Venture, Mixed Outcomes for Big Tech Bills, Capping Predatory Prison Phone Rates
AT&T’s new Gigapower joint venture will build fiber outside the company’s current footprint.

White House on IoT, Google Antitrust Lawsuit, Lit Communities Hire
White House effort seeks to implement a universal label to verify meeting U.S. cybersecurity standards.

Kenosha Gets Fiber, Judiciary Committee Advances Journalism Bill, Rosenworcel Touts Women in Tech
SiFi Networks will construct an all-fiber network for 40,000 households in the city of Kenosha, Wisconsin.

A White House Event, Biden Administration Seeks Regulation of Big Tech
Participants voiced concerns over alleged abuses by big tech companies.

Carr Speaks Out on Starlink, ECF Awards $42 Million, FTC Drops Zuckerberg as Defendant
Federal Communications Commissioner Brendan Carr doubled-down on previous criticism of the agency’s exclusion of Starlink.

Tech Policy Conference Panelists Tackle Challenges of Federal Privacy, Antitrust Laws
Academics were concerned about an anti-preference bill, while one state AG said he’s ‘pragmatic’ about a federal privacy law.

FTC Phillips Stepping Down, Chips Act Now Law, Alaskan Entities Getting $50M in Broadband Grants
Phillips told Politico that he is leaving the competition watchdog this fall.

Proposed Antitrust Legislation Not the Way to Regulate Big Tech, Panelists Say
Legislation currently before Congress will hurt American tech’s global competitiveness, event hears.

‘Time is Now’ for Separate Big Tech Regulatory Agency, Public Interest Group Says
‘We need to recognize that absolutely the time is now. It is neither too soon nor too late.’

Young American Views on Social Media Regulation Shaped by Use, Panelists Discuss
A March Gallup and Knight study found young Americans are less concerned about hurtful online discourse.

Antitrust Changes, Ookla SpeedTest Results, Electric Cooperatives Form Alliance for Broadband
Amy Klobuchar released revisions last week to antitrust legislation that would strengthen prohibitions on anticompetitive conduct and mergers.

FTC Commissioner Concerned About Antitrust Impact on Already Rising Consumer Prices
Noah Phillips said Tuesday he wants the commission to think about the impact of antitrust rules on rising prices.

Critics and Supporters Trade Views on American Innovation and Choice Online Act
American Innovation and Choice Online Act is intended to protect fair competition among businesses, but panelists differed on its impact.

Watchdogs Cannot Allow Another T-Mobile/Sprint Merger Under New Consolidation Guidelines, Event Hears
A Yale economics professor called on the FTC and DoJ to make it easier for them to pursue harmful mergers.

Republican FTC Commissioner Criticizes Biden Economic Officials as Detrimental to Agency
Commissioner Christine Wilson attributes poor results of FTC staff satisfaction surveys to the officials’ leadership.

Trade Groups Drop Net Neutrality Suit, Ericsson Builds Wireless Testbed for Utilities, Think Tank’s Antitrust Approach
ISP challenge was holdout after Department of Justice dropped a similar suit.

Dish Partners with Samsung on 5G, EU Targets Apple on Antitrust, Mediacom Extends Fiber in Iowa
Dish enlists Samsung for 5G deployment.

Coalition Voices Dissent on Antitrust Bills, NYC Communities to Receive Free Broadband, Tesla Stock Takes Hit in Twitter Wake
Letter claims antitrust bills would cost the economy $319 billion.

Twitter Reportedly Considering Musk Offer, Verizon on 5G Transition, FTC Investigating Broadcom
Twitter’s board is reportedly re-considering Musk’s $43 billion cash offer.

Panelists Urge Government Resist Getting Involved in Content Moderation
Google’s Chief Internet Evangelist Vint Cerf warned against government intervention in online moderation.

Direction of Antitrust Enforcement Could Harm American Global Competitiveness, Says Head of Think Tank
The head of the ITIF criticized DOJ and FTC antitrust enforcement that he said could impair American’s global position.

Relationship with Federal Trade Commission ‘Never Been Better’: Justice Department’s Kanter
The DOJ and FTC are working together to enforce antitrust laws.

In Wake of Antitrust Review, Lawyers Say Current Laws are Adequate
Antitrust lawyers are concerned about a chilling effect over-regulation could bring.

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.

Alleged Ad Collusion Probe, E.U. Crypto Bill, YT Ad Bypasser Shut Down, WISPAMERICA Launches
Meta and Google face allegations that they coordinated advertising practices to lock out their competition.

CIA Data Collection, India Bans Chinese Apps, Korea Slaps American Tech With Fines
Senators released declassified material on the CIA’s bulk data collection program.

Senate Judiciary Passes Open App Act, North Korea Hacked, Ford Pushes Electric Vehicles
Targeting Apple and Google Play stores, bill forbids 50 million+ user marketplaces from requiring developers to use in-app payment options.

Former Federal Trade Commission Chairman Says Biden is Inappropriately Exhorting the Agency
Former Chairman William Kovacic said that Biden’s direction of the FTC raises expectations for the agency.

Consolidation, Bloat, and a Waning American ‘Brand’ Hurt the Economy, Says Tim Wu
He argued that fundamental changes must be made to restore peoples’ faith in an American system that works for everyone.

FTC Mum on Microsoft-Activision Deal, Proposes Review of Merger Guidelines
The deal would elevate Microsoft in an even more favorable position in the games-as-a-service market.

American Innovation and Choice Online Act Advances to Senate Floor With Bipartisan Alliance
Klobuchar was able to rally Democrats and Republicans to support her bill, but its future depends upon a shaky alliance.

CES 2022: Patreon Policy Director Says Antitrust Regulators Need More Resources
To find the best way to regulate technology, antitrust regulators need more tools to maintain fairness in the digital economy.

Year in Review: With Key Hires On Antitrust and Looming Regulation, A Look Back at Big Tech in 2021
Big technology companies faced hurdles in 2021 — and it’s only the beginning of a Biden administration crackdown.

Jason Boyce: Washington Cannot Let Amazon Water Down Consumer Protection Legislation
It is in Amazon’s interest to twist the arm of lawmakers and prevent protections against internet scams.

Former FTC Commissioner Calls for Increased Antitrust Enforcement Resources
An American Enterprise Institute panel proposed Congress increase regulator resources rather than actively try to hinder Big Tech.

Federal Trade Commission Will Likely Not Be Able to Implement Competition Rules, Panelists Say
Panelists at TechFreedom event said judiciary will prevent the FTC from developing proposed antitrust policies.

New Senate Antitrust Bill Reaction, Charter Making Executive Changes, T-Mobile, Verizon Top Charts
Trade association doesn’t like new antitrust bill, Charter makes changes at the top, T-Mobile leads wireless, Verizon on wireline.

Repealing Section 230 Would be Harmful to the Internet As We Know It, Experts Agree
While some advocate for a tightening of language, other experts believe Section 230 should not be touched.

LightBox’s Broadband Map, Epic Suffers Setback in Apple Case, 2021 Community Broadband Winners
Lightbox publishing new broadband map, Epic Games suffers loss in Apple antitrust case, 2021 Community Broadband Awards announced.

FCC and FTC Announce Open Meeting Agendas and AT&T Signs Deal with OneWeb
The FCC outlines September meeting agenda, the FTC will review big tech mergers this month, AT&T signs deal with OneWeb.

Public Interest Groups Urge Passage of Six Antitrust Bills Targeting Big Tech
Nearly 60 public interest groups signed a letter to House leaders to call a vote on six antitrust bills.

FTC Commissioner Phillips Warns About Shifting Direction of Agency
Noah Phillips voiced concern about the scope and practices of the Biden administration’s FTC.

Dish Buying Gen Mobile, DOJ Asked to Review Alleged Facebook-Google Collusion, STL’s New CEO
Dish wants low-cost prepaid business Gen Mobile, Members of Congress want investigation into Facebook-Google, STL appoints Paul Atkinson.

Infrastructure Bill Hangs in Balance, 2.5 GHz Licenses to Alaska Tribes, TechFreedom Hires Bilal Sayyed
Democrats divided on when to move infrastructure bill, FCC awards 2.5 GHz licenses, antitrust lawyer Sayyed to TechFreedom.

T-Mobile Class Action, Google Wants Info Hidden in Antitrust Case, UTOPIA Expands
T-Mobile sued over breach, Google hopes judge reconsiders data reveal, UTOPIA Fiber expands into Syracuse City.

FTC Complaint Against Facebook, Amazon Warns of Antitrust Reforms, Tesla Under Investigation
FTC mounts another complaint against Facebook, Amazon warns third-party sellers about antitrust, Tesla autopilot investigated.

Antitrust Experts Zero In on Big Tech and Consumer Welfare Standard at Aspen Forum
At Aspen forum, a red-hot focus on Big Tech, antitrust and consumer welfare.

Daniel Hanley: Federal Communications Commission Must Block Verizon’s Acquisition of TracFone
Verizon sees an opportunity to acquire and neutralize an important competitor, but the FCC should stop that.

Democrats Criticize FTC Recusal Campaign, Broadband Price Dissatisfaction, Starlink Speeds Impress
Democratic lawmakers want end to calls to recuse Lina Khan, dissatisfaction with prices, Starlink comparable to fixed-wireless.

FTC Divided Over Increasing Agency Jurisdiction at Congressional Hearing
FTC commissioners were split at a Congressional hearing on Wednesday at the prospects of increasing FTC jurisdiction.

FCC C-Band 5G Licenses, Proposed Antitrust Bill Harms Startups, Klobuchar Bill Takes Heat
FCC prioritizes mid-band spectrum, proposed antitrust bill will damage startups, Amy Klobuchar’s proposed Section 230 reform takes on heat.

Explainer: Antitrust Heats Up as Biden Selects Tech Critic Jonathan Kanter for Top Enforcement Spot
In the fourth in a series of explainers, Broadband Breakfast examines the Biden administration’s intent to bash Big Tech.

FCC Eyes Cuban Radio Interference, Euro Court on Google Antitrust, Blog Says Passive Infrastructure Needed
FCC investigating radio interference on island, Euro court to decide on Google in November, FSF says passive infrastructure access needed.

Facebook Requests FTC Recuse Khan, Entry-Level Broadband Prices, FCC’s Open RAN Showcase
Facebook follows Amazon in asking for recusing Khan, Entry-level broadband prices fell, FCC has Open RAN showcase.

Biden Signs Executive Order on Net Neutrality, Broadband Pricing Policy and Big Tech Merger Scrutiny
Executive order would kickoff new antitrust and net neutrality regulations.

Google Sued, Broadband Issues Not Just Rural, LA Times Suggests Future-Proof Priorities
Google faces another antitrust lawsuit, ILSR calls for state lead on broadband, LA Times suggests focus on network future.

Federal Trade Commission Expands Antitrust Enforcement By Rescinding Obama-Era Policy
In a party-line vote, the agency rescinded a 2015 statement that limited the scope of antitrust enforcement.

Experts Disagree Over Need, Feasibility of Global Standards for Antitrust Rules
Legal experts and economists disagreed over the feasibility and necessity of a global standard for antitrust enforcement.

Federal Judge Tosses FTC’s Antitrust Case Against Facebook
A federal judge tossed the FTC’s antitrust case against Facebook out of court Monday.

Exclusive Drew Clark Column on Antitrust and the Politics of Bashing Big Tech
Democrats have decided they’re against Big Tech. A smarter GOP would sense the opening and take it.

House Judiciary Committee Clears Six Antitrust Bills Targeting Big Tech Companies
An inside look at the package of antitrust bills marked up this week by the House Judiciary Committee.

Head of Big Tech Lobby Group Says Repealing Section 230 Unconstitutional
CTA CEO said abolishing intermediary liability protections violates private industry protections against government interference.

Experts Say Congress’s New Antitrust Package is Philosophically Flawed and Politically Motivated
Antitrust and technology experts say that Congress’s new antitrust package is legally flawed and politically motivated.

Technology Groups Speak Out Against Proposed Antitrust Package
Tech execs have begun to speak out against a new package of proposed antitrust bills in Congress.

Experts Disagree Over Effectiveness of Amy Klobuchar’s Antitrust Bill
Legal and policy experts are split over how effective Klobuchar’s proposed antitrust legislation could be.

Institute for Technology and Innovation Foundation Panelists Defend Big Tech Against Antitrust Charges
During a panel hosted by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, three expert discussed the effect of antitrust legislation on big tech. The panelists all defended big tech from antitrust laws and urged many to be cautious about claiming they have the solution to regulating these compl

Biden Lowers Broadband Spend, Republican Infrastructure Plan, Gigabit Opportunity Zones, Ige Under Fire
Biden willing to go $65B on broadband, Republican infrastructure plan, gigabit opportunity zone bill, David Ige’s telecom past.

Lina Khan Advances In FTC Bid, Biden Signs Executive Order On Cybersecurity, And Commits To Combatting Extremism
Lina Khan continues toward FTC role, Biden makes cybersecurity order after Colonial Pipeline, and U.S. joins the Christchurch call.

Section 230 Has Coddled Big Tech For Too Long, Says Co-Author of Book on Amazon
Co-author of “The Amazon Jungle” says Section 230 has allowed Big Tech to get away with far too much.

Josh Hawley Wants To Break Up Big Tech And Revisit How Antitrust Matters Are Considered
Senator Josh Hawley talks Section 230, antitrust reform, and the Capitol riots.

NY Sued Over Low-Cost Internet, Apple Antitrust Allegations, CETF Concludes Surveys, 5G Device Growth
New York sued over $15 internet, Apple faces EU antitrust allegations, California surveys conclude, and 5G device adoption grows.

Lina Khan Pitches Ideas For Regulating Big Tech In Nomination Hearing
Senate Commerce Committee considers nominations for Lina Khan, Bill Nelson and Leslie Kiernan.

Lawmakers And Newsmakers Tackle Google and Facebook Market Power
Sen. Klobuchar, Rep. Cicilline and experts discuss antitrust, big tech and local journalism.

Hawley Calls For Ban On Large Corp Mergers, Chip Shortage Coming For Routers, Big Telecom Breakup
April 12, 2021 – Senator Josh Hawley, R-MO, shared with Axios a new proposal that would bar corporate giants from acquisitions and strengthen century-old antitrust laws. “This country and this government shouldn’t be run by a few mega-corporations,” Hawley told Axios. The Republican Party “has got t

T-Mobile Wins on Infrastructure, Lina Khan FTC Nomination, Open Source Collaboration
March 23, 2021 — A federal judge ruled Friday that the San Francisco city leader unlawfully denied T-Mobile permits to upgrade infrastructure during the pandemic. The ruling was made under the 2012 Spectrum Act, which prevents State or local government from denying improvements and upgrades to exist

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

House Committee Hears of Big Tech’s Alleged Anticompetitive Behavior in New Hearing
WASHINGTON, March 2, 2021 – A House committee on Thursday heard of the need for strengthened antitrust measures to stem the influence of big technology companies, which are alleged to have increased its stranglehold on data on the internet. The committee heard of Google’s and Facebook’s overwhelming

Parler Returns Online, Shawnee Gets $22 Million for Illinois Build, Clubhouse’s Quantum Leap
February 16, 2021 — After being abruptly removed from web servers by tech giants on January 10, the controversial social network Parler returned online on Monday. Parler is a social network dominated by right-wing users which, following the removal of former President Trump from Twitter, grew in p

Broadband Breakfast Live Online on Wednesday, February 24, 2021 — Antitrust, the Consumer Welfare Standard and Big Tech Platforms
Panelists include: Maureen K. Ohlhausen, Avery Gardiner and Geoffrey Manne. Moderated by Drew Clark, Editor and Publisher, Broadband Breakfast

25 Years After Passage, Architects of the Telecom Act Say Congress Should Revisit the Law
February 8, 2021—On the 25th anniversary of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, D-Calif. and Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., said that Congress should revisit the law to address modern demands for broadband and bringing service to underserved communities. The Telecom Act had many

Sen. Ed Markey Celebrates Telecom Act as Telecom Lawyers Tell Congress to Be Specific
February 2, 2021 – Democratic Sen. Ed Markey’s communications policy focus this Congress will be on net neutrality, children and climate change, the long-serving Massachusetts lawmaker said at a Federal Communications Bar Association event Tuesday to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Telecommuni

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

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

Antitrust Enforcement Certain to Rise as Left and Right Agree Big Tech Has Too Much Power
January 27, 2021 – With a focus on the power of big technology platforms, antitrust and competition issues faced by the Biden Administration are at the highest levels of hyperpolarization ever, observed panelists from the left and the right at the State of the Net event on Wednesday. The insurrectio

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’

‘My Whole Soul is in This,’ Joe Biden Says During Inauguration as 46th President of the United States
January 20, 2021—“We must look forward to the future in our uniquely American, bold and optimistic way,” said President Joe Biden during his inauguration on Wednesday. Recalling the words Abraham Lincoln uttered after writing the Emancipation Proclamation, Biden said “my whole soul is in this.” “The

Data Policy is Central to Antitrust Litigation, Say TPI Experts
January 20, 2021—When data gathering and usage are the lifeblood of the digital ecosystem, combating monopolies in the big tech industry will take more than just antitrust lawsuits, said industry experts during a Technology Policy Institute panel on Tuesday. Antitrust litigation undervalues how much

Google Hit With Third Antitrust Lawsuit, This One by Both Democratic and Republican Attorneys General
December 17, 2020 — As many as 38 state attorneys general filed the latest antitrust suit against Google on Thursday. The suit alleges that the company has operated an illegal monopoly in online search and search advertising markets. This will be the second antitrust lawsuit filed against Google in

FTC and Almost All States Launch Antitrust Suit Against Facebook, Seek Divestment of Instagram and WhatsApp
December 9, 2020 — Facebook has used illegal monopoly power and an “unlawful scheme” to stifle competition, degrade personal privacy, and crush rivals, according to two separate antitrust lawsuits filed Wednesday by 46 state attorneys general and the Federal Trade Commission. In particular, the FTC

Biden Administration Should Take a Trial-and-Error Approach to Antitrust, Say Brookings Panelists
December 1, 2020 — Experts recommended the incoming Biden administration take a trial-and-error approach to antitrust policy, during a Brookings Institute webinar on Tuesday. The new administration should “use litigation as a tool for learning,” said Matt Perault, associate professor and director of

In Discussing ‘Broadband and the Biden Administration,’ Trump and Obama Transition Workers Praise Auctions
November 22, 2020 – In the event that the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden seeks substantial funding for broadband infrastructure, there is a strong likelihood that such monies would be channeled through a reverse-auction mechanism, said panelists at the Broadband Breakfast Live

INCOMPAS Predicts Prompt Action on Net Neutrality
November 16, 2020 – Officials associated with INCOMPAS, the Internet and Competitive Networks Association, on Thursday predicted that there would be action on net neutrality sooner than expected with the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden. Predicting that the new administration wou

The Techlash May Be Due for a Comeuppance, Say Gigi Sohn and Techdirt Founder Mike Masnick
November 9, 2020 — Two technology policy intellectuals said on Friday at the Reboot conference that the “techlash” may due for a comeuppance. Gigi Sohn, distinguished fellow at the Georgetown Law Institute for Technology and Policy, and Techdirt Founder Mike Masnick critiqued the techlash movement a

Debaters Consider Whether a New Agency to Regulate Tech Platforms Would Do More Harm Than Good
November 9, 2020 – At a formal debate on whether technology platforms require a new regulatory regime, two well-established experts also clashed over how seriously policy-makers should take the recent House Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee report on breaking up big tech companies. In the Technology

Panel of Antitrust Experts Assembled by AEI Slams House Judiciary Antitrust Report as ‘Political’
October 30, 2020 — An American Enterprise Institute webinar on Monday criticized the House Judiciary Antitrust Committee’s recent report, calling it politically-motivated and criticizing it for lacking sources and transparency. “If you believe that there should be a much more politically motivated a

Federal Trade Commissioners Disagree About Role of Antitrust Lawsuits Against Big Tech
October 20, 2020 — In the midst of the largest lawsuit against a tech giant in decades, Google, the Technology Policy Institute hosted a conversation with two current and two former Federal Trade Commissioners discussing the state of antitrust in the United States. The Tuesday event aired as part of

Justice Department Antitrust Division Sues Google, FCC Calls for Changes to Media Regulations, AT&T on Spectrum Sharing
The Justice Department’s antitrust division plans to sue Google today for engaging in anticompetitive conduct to preserve monopolies in search and search advertising, senior Justice officials said today. When officials began investigating Google last September, the case was focused on Google’s adver

Is House Judiciary Report a Fix for Big Tech, or a One-Sided Political Document?
October 17, 2020 – Responding to the landmark report of the House Judiciary Antitrust Committee on October 6 about how to deal with big tech companies, two panels addressing the report on October 9 reprised significantly different perspectives. At an event hosted by Public Knowledge that featured th

Biden Administration and GOP Critics of Big Tech Create ‘Perfect Storm’ for Antitrust Action
October 13, 2020—A presidential administration led by Democratic Party presidential nominee Joe Biden would bring substantive changes to the enforcement of antitrust law, panelists predicted at a Brookings Institution event on October 6. Bill Baer, an expert in antitrust law and visiting fellow of g

Recent Supreme Court Decision Likely to Help Big Tech if Charged With Antitrust Violations
October 12, 2020 – Because the network effects of digital platforms makes it hard to prove harm to consumers, it is difficult to rein in the monopoly power of big tech companies. That was the message at Georgetown Law Center event on Tuesday included as part of the 14th Annual Global Antitrust Enfor

House Democratic Report Proposes ‘Structural Separation’ of Big Tech, GOP Minority Report Wants to Gut Section 230
October 11, 2020 — House Democrats on Tuesday proposed a massive overhaul of U.S. antitrust laws that could make it easier to break up giant tech companies. If elements of the 449-page proposal are implemented in legislation, it could be a profound re-writing of the relationship between Big Tech and

Once Characterized as an Antitrust Strategy, Data Portability May Not Be the Competition Remedy Many Believe
October 6, 2020 — As technological advances allow for more data to be generated on consumers, the public has become more attuned to the need for national data privacy legislation. Yet there is a countervailing trend: Data portability as possible antitrust remedy against dominant tech platforms. On M

Google Grilled on Anticompetitive Digital Advertising Practices During Senate Subcommittee Hearing
September 16, 2020 — Both Republican and Democratic senators on Tuesday grilled a top Google official at a hearing just weeks before the U.S. Justice Department is expected to file an antitrust lawsuit against the search engine giant. Throughout the antitrust subcommittee hearing, senators focused o

Antitrust and Data Protection Emerge as Top FTC Priorities During Senate Hearing
August 5, 2020 — The five leaders of the Federal Trade Commission testified together before a Senate panel for the first time in nearly two years on Wednesday. The FTC is charged with maintaining a competitive marketplace and protecting consumers’ personal information, and members of the U.S. Senate

Brookings Panelists Call For Breaking Up and Breaking Open Big Tech Powerhouses
August 4, 2020 — Panelists in a Tuesday Brookings Institution webinar discussed their takes on the historic House Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee hearing on July 29. The hearing brought the CEOs of four of Silicon Valley’s most affluent businesses — Facebook, Amazon, Apple and Google — together to

Daniel Hanley: Google and Facebook Are Essential, Let’s Regulate Them That Way
Google and Facebook have extraordinary control over information and communications systems in the United States. These two corporations dominate internet search, social media, and digital advertising, and each one serves as the gateway to the internet for billions of people. Google and Facebook have

Big Tech Must Be Broken Up, says House Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman
July 30, 2020 – Several of the companies featured in Wednesday’s blockbuster big tech hearing need to be broken up, House Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman David Cicilline, D-R.I., said at the conclusion of the nearly six-hour hearing. “This hearing has made one fact clear to me: These compa

Big Tech CEOs Prepare to Defend Alleged Anticompetitive Practices
July 28, 2020 — The CEOs of four of the world’s biggest technology companies are preparing to defend their rapidly-expanding businesses in a blockbuster hearing Wednesday. The meeting of the House Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee will see members grill the heads of Amazon, Facebook, Google and Apple

Broadband Roundup: Companies Impact Global Tech Standards, Accelerating C-Band Clearing, Experts Debate Antitrust
June 16, 2020 — U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced a new rule on Monday which he claimed will ensure the country’s telecommunications industry is able to fully contribute to global standards development activities. The new Bureau of Industry and Security rule allows licenses previously

Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman Vows to Hold Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and Other Tech Executives to Account
May 7, 2020 — Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., head of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law, said Thursday that he will not lessen the intensity of his investigation into anticompetitive practices potentially committed by big tech. Cicilline expressed concern

Information Technology and Innovation Foundation Brings Global Antitrust Experts Together in Videoconference
March 26, 2020 – Washington groups focusing on broadband and technology policy are beginning to adapt to the all-livestream format – and recognizing some unique benefits – such a fluid global interconnectedness. For example, in the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation’s Thursday antitrus

Witnesses at Senate Hearing Criticize Google and Say Antitrust Case ‘Could be Brought Today’
WASHINGTON, March 22, 2020 – Google took several punches at a March 10 Senate Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights. Sally Hubbard, director of enforcement strategy at Open Markets Institute, conceded that big tech companies like Google “started on their paths to dominanc

Deputy Attorney General Blames Big Tech for Using Section 230 to ‘Enable Harm’
WASHINGTON, March 12, 2020 – “Is this third industrial revolution over? And if so, why?” That was the question Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen posed to the attendees of the Free State Foundation conference on Tuesday. “Some say innovation in the U.S. has been on the decline for the past two de

Justice Department Official Contrasts Rancher Phone with iPhone to Show Progress in Competition Policy
WASHINGTON, March 4, 2020 – David Lawrence, chief of the competition policy and advocacy section of the Justice Department’s antitrust division, called the telecommunications industry, relative to all other industries, “the goose that lays the golden egg.” Lawrence praised competition in telecommuni

Broadband Roundup: Congress Questions FCC Over Rural Fund, Banning Huawei, T-Mobile/Sprint Merger and Inequality
Over twenty members of Congress sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai on Friday asking for clarification on the changes to the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund announced during the agency’s vote to approve the program on January 30. In a last-minute change, the FCC elim

Broadband Roundup: Judge Approves T-Mobile/Sprint Deal, New York Times on Facial Privacy, CBRS Decision Coming
A New York federal court on Tuesday refused to block the planned $56 billion merger between T-Mobile and Sprint, Law360 reports, rejecting a challenge by 14 state attorneys general to the deal. U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero issued an order siding with the companies, and with the U.S. Justice De

EU Grills Facebook on Third-Party Apps, Google CEO ‘Maps’ the Future, Broadband Now Checks FCC Data
The European Union requested documents from Facebook to determine whether Facebook partially awarded users data to special third-party applications, The Wall Street Journal reports. This action comes in the wake of a $5 billion fine levied against the social media juggernaut by the Federal Trade Com

Justice Department Antitrust Chief Pledges Department is ‘Getting Better,’ Talks Up T-Mobile Merger Approval
WASHINGTON, February 6, 2020 – Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim surveyed the antitrust and merger landscape from the Crystal Room of the Willard Hotel using the example of the T-Mobile/Sprint merger. He defended it for allowing rural communities to have better broadband. Delrahim, who overs

Broadband’s Role in Iowa Caucus Debacle, Facebook as an Actual Community, Makan Delrahim Recusal on Google
The results from the Democratic Caucus in Iowa remained delayed, and the technology snafu is being blamed on an app designed to tabulate results that was made by Shadow, Inc., according to multiple press reports. The New York Times cites a person familiar with the app as saying that concerns about p

Panelists at CES 2020 Disagree About Both the Problem and the Solution in Tackling Big Tech
A tense debate over curbing the power of the biggest companies in high tech broke out at CES 2020 in Las Vegas late Thursday. Speakers agreed that antitrust laws were not well-suited to handle the challenges posed by high tech, but divided over the merits of sweeping regulation. As the presidential

Broadband Roundup: House Democrats Criticize FCC on T-Mobile Merger, Kansas City Broadband, 5G in LA
House Energy Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., sent a letter Monday to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai regarding the lack of transparency in the FCC’s approval of the T-Mobile-Sprint merger. Pallone and Nad

Advocates for Antitrust Enforcement Say Consumer Welfare Standard Only One Layer of Competition Law
WASHINGTON, December 6, 2019 – Antitrust enforcement must adapt to the changing structures of the media market, according to experts at a Capitol Forum conference Thursday. Economic change, said Jonathan Kanter of Paul, Weiss, has introduced questions about the goals of enforcement as well as how to

Broadband Roundup: Texas Reaches T-Mobile Settlement, Closing the ‘Homework Gap,’ Broadcast Ownership
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Monday that his office reached a settlement with T-Mobile, resolving the state’s antitrust claims against the proposed merger of mobile wireless telecommunications service providers Sprint and T-Mobile. The terms of the agreement commit the new T-Mobile to

T-Mobile’s Acquisition of Sprint Passes Federal Muster, But 16 States Press On in Opposition
WASHINGTON, November 14. 2019- Despite the approval of the T-Mobile-Sprint merger by the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice, 16 state attorneys general are still determined to block the acquisition. Policy experts at Thursday’s Capitol Forum conference advocated both the

Broadband Roundup: Bill Aims to Make Social Media Interoperable, Colorado Drops T-Mobile Lawsuit, Indian Country Very Unconnected
Sens. Mark Warner, D-Va., Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., on Tuesday introduced the Augmenting Compatibility and Competition by Enabling Service Switching Act, Public Knowledge reports. The bill would provide interoperability for social media users, promoting competition and ena

Big Tech Gets a Big Lashing by Democratic Presidential Candidates, on Antitrust, Section 230 and Data Privacy
Big technology companies were a big target during Tuesday night’s debate in Ohio of the leading Democratic presidential candidates. No new candidate joined Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s pledge to break up Facebook, Amazon and Google, with the possible exception of billionaire climate activis

Broadband Roundup: Comcast vs. Google, Sprint’s Open 5G Network, Ransomware Rises
Comcast is emerging as an antitrust foe against big tech companies such as Google, according to US News and World Report. Last month, Comcast’s video ads division FreeWheel accused Google of using privacy concerns as a pretext to limit FreeWheel’s ability to resell ads of its customers YouTube chann

Senators Continue to Grill Witnesses About Perceived Lack of Antitrust Enforcement Against Big Tech
WASHINGTON, September 25, 2019 – A Senate Judiciary subcommittee devoted to antitrust on Tuesday grilled witnesses about what appeared to a dearth of startups, and also expressed concern about a lack of antitrust enforcement. Determining which acquisitions are beneficial and which aren’t is not as e

Who’s On First? Congress Upset With Wasteful and Petty Antitrust Squabbles Between Justice and FTC
WASHINGTON, September 17, 2019 – Congress on Tuesday put a spotlight on federal antitrust investigators scrutinizing Google and Facebook, as members of the Senate Judiciary Committee honed in on whether the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission were wasting efforts by investigating the

Addressing the Impact of Big Data Upon Antitrust is More Complicated Than a Big Tech Breakup
WASHINGTON, September 10, 2019 – The political world is all abuzz about breaking up big tech companies, but the overly broad breakup remedies being proposed by many are inconsistent with antitrust law as articulated by the Supreme Court, said Taylor Owings, counsel to the Assistant Attorney General

Broadband Roundup: Everyone (Almost) Gangs Up on Google, Muni Broadband Fact Sheet, SHLB Anchornet Conference
It seems that everyone except California and Alabama wants in on the action, whatever that action is, against Google. Attorneys general for 48 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico on Monday announced an antitrust investigation, although not a lawsuit, against search engine giant Goo

Broadband Roundup: Two Separate State Antitrust investigations of Google and Facebook, and Broadband Mapping
Two separate bi-partisan groups of state attorneys general on Friday confirmed that they are launching antitrust investigations into tech giant companies Google and Facebook. New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, on Friday announced that she and eight other state attorneys general wil

Justice Department Collaborating with State Attorneys General’s Antitrust Investigation of Big Tech, Says Chief
ASPEN, Colorado, August 20, 2019 – More than a dozen state attorneys general have launched an antitrust investigation of big tech giants, and they are working cooperatively with the Justice Department’s antitrust division, said Makan Delrahim, the division’s head. “We come at this with no preconceiv

FCC Finalizes Approval of T-Mobile-Sprint Merger, As States Continue to Oppose
WASHINGTON, August 14, 2019 – Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai on Wednesday issued a final order (PDF) that would approve the proposed merger of T-Mobile and Sprint. But the negotiations over the proposed transaction between the two telecom companies continues at the state level “

Electric Coop Broadband Partnerships, Deepfake Enforcement, Problems with Hipster Antitrust
A recent report from the CoBank Knowledge Exchange detailed new insights into successful broadband partnerships. The report, written by economists Jeff Johnston and Tom Binet, found that partnerships between Rural Local Exchange Carriers and Electric Distribution Cooperatives are uncommon, but can b

T-Mobile/Sprint Merger Settlement Fiercely Criticized by Activists, and Dish Network’s Charlie Ergen is ‘Insulted’
WASHINGTON, July 31, 2019 — The Justice Department’s recently announced settlement on the T-Mobile/Sprint merger has drawn widespread criticism, even though the agreement maintains four nationwide carriers by drawing Dish Network into the marketplace. Dish has fiercely defended its ability to quickl

Big Tech and Big Data Make Privacy Law An Important New Topic for Antitrust Enforcement
WASHINGTON, July 30, 2019 – Privacy legislation and antitrust action don’t normally get discussed together. Yet as big tech firms are increasingly under fire from competition authorities, privacy law becomes a potential tool against social media and search engine giants. At FiscalNote’s Privacy and

Is the Consumer Welfare Standard Sufficient to the Big Tech Antitrust Challenge?
WASHINGTON, July 25, 2019 — The efficacy of antitrust enforcement against big tech companies was energetically debated at an Internet Governance Forum conference on Thursday. The current consumer welfare standard sufficiently supports robust antitrust merger analysis, claimed Keith Klovers, an attor

Justice Department Settles with T-Mobile/Sprint, with Dish Market Entry; Siri Eavesdropping
The Department of Justice announced Friday that it and the Attorneys General for five states reached a settlement with T-Mobile and Sprint regarding their proposed merger. The settlement requires a substantial divestiture package in order to enable a viable facilities-based competitor to enter the m

Continuing Trend of Bipartisan Hostility to Big Tech, Justice Department Begins Antitrust Review
WASHINGTON, July 23, 2019 — Facebook, Amazon, and Apple stocks dropped on Tuesday after reports of a broad antitrust review of big tech by the U.S. Department of Justice surfaced. The review will “consider the widespread concerns that consumers, businesses, and entrepreneurs have expressed about sea

As the Media Landscape Turns, the National Association of Broadcasters Finds New Rivals
WASHINGTON, July 23, 2019 – Television broadcasters’ main bête noire used to be the cable industry, known more formally as “multichannel video programming distributors.” But the changing media landscape is forcing the National Association of Broadcasters to look for new rivals like AT&T, Dish Networ

Democrats and Some Republicans at House Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee Take on Big Tech’s ‘GAFA’ Squad
WASHINGTON, July 16, 2019 – In the House Judiciary Committee’s second hearing putting tech giants under the microscope, both the Democratic majority and some members of the Republican minority attempted to squeeze the companies into greater political compliance. At a Tuesday hearing featured witness

Harold Feld Argues That Increased Regulation Will Be More Successful than Breaking Up Big Tech
WASHINGTON, July 15, 2019 — Rather than seeking to break up big technology giants, Congress should instead focus on ratcheting up regulation of the online platform players to curb their greatest abuses, public interest advocate Harold Feld argued on Monday. Feld, the author of the recent e-book, “Th

American Antitrust Institute Experts Concur That Breaking Up Big Tech Is Hard to Do
WASHINGTON, June 20, 2019 — Talking tough against Silicon Valley may be popular. But breaking up big tech will be hard to do. That, at least, was one of the key messages coming from the American Antitrust Institute’s annual conference here on Thursday. While progressives and populists are resurgent

Gigi Sohn on Wireless Mergers, Utah Ignite Lunch Launch, and New Global Crypto-Currencies
The political turmoil and guess-manship over the proposed T-Mobile/Sprint merger continues, with 10 state attorney generals filing a lawsuit in New York last week in a federal district court. Unusually, the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice did not join the lawsuit. It’s not the first

Among Their Many Ills, Critics Say Google and Facebook Make It Difficult for Digital Media to Survive
WASHINGTON, June 11, 2019 — The practices of Google and Facebook were closely scrutinized at a House Antitrust Subcommittee hearing Tuesday, and the companies’ impact upon the digital news media came in for particularly stark criticism. Some said that these major tech platforms were making it diffic

Sen. Josh Hawley Accuses Facebook of Addiction and Calls Social Media Worth-Less
WASHINGTON, May 2, 2019 – Social media and technology platform companies are wasting the talents of a generation, addicting and impoverishing middle America, and even driving teenagers to commit suicide in record numbers, Sen. Josh Hawley said Thursday. In a blistering speech attacking Facebook, Goo

Alive to New Threats, Google Reorganizes its Public Policy Shop
BROADBAND BREAKFAST INSIGHT: Google is beginning to enter into hunker-down mode. The company is finally alive to the grave new threats that it faces. They are two-pronged: More-intensive antitrust scrutiny, and regulation of privacy/AI/Section 230 free speech. As Drew Clark wrote about for a CATO In

At Technology Policy Institute Panel on AT&T/Time Warner, a Criticism of Trump and Law Enforcement
WASHINGTON, June 25, 2018 – The former chairman of the Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday sharply criticized the president and his Justice Department’s antitrust division for promoting certain outcomes in recent antitrust actions. At a Technology Policy Institute panel on the AT&T/Time Warner merge

Justice Department Weighs in on Whether Politics Motivated the Lawsuit Against AT&T-Time Warner Merger
WASHINGTON, June 13, 2018 – Was a federal district court judge’s decision to permit AT&T’s merger with Time Warner a victory for the rule or law over politics – or was it instead another defeat for the consumer at the hand of ever-consolidating mega-entities? That question permeated Tuesday’s confer

Judge Allows AT&T-Time Warner Merger to Proceed Over Objections of Trump Justice Department
WASHINGTON, June 12, 2018 – A federal district judge on Tuesday ruled that AT&T can proceed with its $85 billion merger with entertainment giant Time-Warner, spurning Justice Department arguments that the allowing the deal to proceed would harm consumers by driving up cable television costs. Distric

AT&T CEO Says Hiring Cohen Was ‘Big Mistake’ As Questions On Trump Administration Lawsuit Are Revived
WASHINGTON, May 13, 2018 – AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson on Friday announced that the company was parting ways with the executive responsible for hiring Trump “fixer” Michael Cohen in an apparent effort to grease the skids for the company’s merger with Time-Warner. The revelations of the AT&T payment

Jonathan Lee: Antitrust Division’s Flawed Case Against AT&T/Time Warner is Simply Too General
Telecom attorney Jonathan Lee takes down the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division’s specious case against the AT&T/Time Warner merger in this detailed blog post, excerpted below. (Click on the link at the bottom for the whole argument.) Here’s the money quote: “This alleged harm is simply t

Mobile
Mobile communication has become a central part internet connectivity.
Democratization
The internet has the potential to impact, and also to enhance, society's democratization.

Section 230
Section 230 is sometimes called the 26 words that created the internet.
Net Neutrality
Whether broadband providers may prioritize delivery of bits by the entities they own is a divisive topic.
Open Access
Open Access networks separate network operations from internet services. Ownership may also be separate from operations.
Funding
The pandemic has prompted a new era of funding for broadband infrastructure.
Rural
Because Rural America is often the least-connected region in the country, ensuring coverage is central to BEAD.
Wireless
Wireless technologies are critical for mobile communications, and for being able to reach remote locations.
Satellite
Satellite broadband remains an option those areas beyond the reach of fiber, terrestrial or mobile wireless.
Universal Service
The Universal Service Fund, codified in 1996 with the Telecommunications Act, remains the foundation of universal access.
Cloud
Cloud computing relies upon robust and high-speed upload and download internet speeds.

Tribal
Tribal leaders say the federal government has failed to uphold its trust responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of Native American tribes.
5G
The 5G wireless standard promises breakthrough in capacity, speed and dynamic spectrum-sharing capabilities.

WISP
Wireless Internet Service Providers play an important role in delivery of fixed wireless broadband.
Digital Inclusion
We need humans to make digital inclusion work.

Education
Technology, particularly broadband access and adoption, plays a vital role in K-12 and secondary education.

Health
The innovations of telehealth and mobile health care has transformed medicine and health care.

Public Safety
Ensuring that emergency communications are enabled with broadband is the next frontier in public safety.
Telework
Broadband internet service allows many people to work from almost anywhere.
Cybersecurity
Digital locks and keys are necessary, but not sufficient, to ensure cybersecurity.

Robocall
The scourge of robocalls is making America's once-vaunted telephone network less trustworthy.

BEAD
The BEAD program is implemented by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration of the U.S. Commerce Department.

Community Broadband
The last three years have seen a dramatic increase in the number of communities building publicly-owned, locally controlled infrastructure.
Privacy
The entire concept of privacy has been transformed by broadband and the internet.
Broadband Mapping and Data
Accurate broadband mapping and data has been central to America's broadband buildout.

Smart Cities
Cities of the future rely on high-speed internet access and advanced fiber and wireless connectivity.
Advanced Energy
The infrastructure necessary for advanced energy also powers the infrastructure necessary for high-speed internet.
Autonomous Vehicles
Self-driving cars are one of many advances to come for smart cities and communities.
Drones
Drones and airborne transportation are one of many advances to come for smart cities and communities.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence is poised to transform humans' relationship with technology, and each other.
Social Media
Social media plays a powerful force in the lives of most adults and teenagers.

Free Speech
Debates about the role of free speech have been transformed by broadband internet services.

Chips
Semiconductors are the world’s new oil.
Spectrum
Whether licensed, unlicensed or shared, radio frequency spectrum is the critical resource for wireless communication.
Everyone Finds Something to Like in FCC Approval of Wireless T-Mobile/MetroPCS Merger
WASHINGTON, March 12, 2013 – The Federal Communications Commission and the U.S. Justice Department on Tuesday announced their approval of the proposed merger of mobile wireless carriers T-Mobile and MetroPCS. Two years after the two agencies nixed AT&T’s attempted acquisition of T-Mobile on antitrus
With AT&T’s T-Mobile Merger All But Dead, It’s Time to Focus on Broadcasters
WASHINGTON, August 31, 2011 – With the Justice Department’s announcement on Wednesday that it will contest AT&T’s proposed acquisition of T-Mobile, the attention should now turn to what some consider the deal’s key driver: getting more wireless spectrum into the hands of broadband providers.
AT&T’s Newly Proposed Economic Model For Merger Riles Opposition
WASHINGTON, July 28, 2011 – Sen. Al Franken (D-MN.) sent a filing to the Federal Communications Commission and Department of Justice Tuesday requesting the denial of the merger between wireless carriers AT&T and T-Mobile.
Less than 24 hours after AT&T submitted its most recent economic model to
Free Press Panel Blasts ‘Broken’ FCC
BOSTON, April 13, 2011 – Panelists at the Free Press National Conference for Media Reform railed on the Federal Communications Commission over the weekend, debating to what extent the Commission has been “captured” by industry and how to fix it. Joel Kelsey, Political Advisor at Free Press, moderat
Broadband Breakfast Club Discusses How To Bring More Handsets to More Wireless Carriers
WASHINGTON, February 22, 2011 – After Apple recently broke its exclusivity agreement with AT&T and brought the iPhone to Verizon, our panel discusses whether consumers suffer from a lack of choice in handsets between carriers what effects that may have on the wireless marketplace. Additionally, the
U.K. Approves Ticketmaster-Live Nation Merger, U.S. Remains Undecided
December 23, 2009 – The United Kingdom Competition Commission said Tuesday (PDF) [http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/press_rel/2009/dec/pdf/56-09.pdf] it will clear the proposed merger of Ticketmaster and Live Nation, but United States and Canadian antitrust regulators are still reviewing [htt
U.S., EU At Odds Over Proposed Oracle Merger With Sun
WASHINGTON, November 10, 2009 – The United States and European Union antitrust regulatory bodies are at odds over whether Oracle Corporation should be allowed to go through with its proposed acquisition of Sun Microsystems. While the U.S. has not found any issues with the proposed merger, the EU has
A Congressional Workshop on Trust
A Congressional workshop will examine the proper application of antitrust policy to the information technology sector and scrutinize the direction the new administration is taking. The workshop will occur on October 16 in the Rayburn Office building. The workshop has the potential to explore how the
Apple, AT&T Deny Collusion in FCC Google Voice Inquiry
WASHINGTON, August 24, 2009 – Apple, Inc. and AT&T on Friday filed responses with the Federal Communications Commission in which both companies strenuously denied that Apple’s removal of the Google Voice application from Apple’s iPhone App Store was for anticompetitive reasons.
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin’s Incredible Silicon Valley Wi-Fi Adventure
SAN JOSE, November 6 – It was Kevin Martin’s day to suck up praise from Silicon Valley.
The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission – for about two more months – came to the Wireless Communications Association’s annual conference here on Thursday to be feted by many Googlers, including company co-founder
House Small Business Subcommittee Chairman Questions Google-Yahoo Ad Deal
WASHINGTON, June 25 – The congressman who represents the headquarters of telecommunications giant AT&T used a Wednesday subcommittee hearing on the impact of online advertising to raise concerns about the recent agreement between Google and Yahoo!
Net Neutrality Disagreement Between Two Former FCC Chairmen
Network Neutrality was the key sticking point in a Tuesday presidential debate, by proxy, between two former chairmen of the Federal Communications Commission chairmen: Reed Hundt and Michael Powell.