Department of Commerce
Consumers Are ‘Subsidizing the Cost of Data Centers’: Senate Dems
Lawmakers press Trump administration on link between Big Tech’s AI buildout and higher household energy bills.
FCC
Protesters Disrupt Carr’s First FCC Meeting Since Kimmel Suspension
Demonstrators denounce ‘Carr, the censorship czar,’ calling for his removal.
mergers
FCC Approves Skydance–Paramount Merger Amid ‘Back-Door’ Deal Allegations
Commissioner Gomez declined to commit to probe
BEAD
Paul Dabbar Confirmed as Deputy Secretary of Commerce
'It is absolutely ridiculous that the secretary can just decide I like this or don’t like that,' said Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev. 'He has no right to rescind our money.'
Digital Inclusion
Black Church Group Supports T-Mobile, UScellular Merger
Organization believes merger will increase network range and affordability.
BEAD
Montana, Oklahoma, and Vermont BEAD Initial Proposals Approved
Three states will receive a combined $1.6 billion in BEAD money.
Chevron Doctrine
Senate Republicans, Democrats Split over Chevron Doctrine
'After years of confusion and uncertainty, the Supreme Court overruled Chevron, restoring integrity, transparency, and constitutional adherence to the federal judiciary,' Crapo said.
Chevron Doctrine
Senate Democrats Offer Bill to Restore Chevron Doctrine
'The Supreme Court’s overturning of Chevron undermines our government’s ability to promote worker safety, ensure clean air and water, and protect consumers,' said Sen. Warren.
Verizon
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.
Community Broadband
Vermont CUD Maple Broadband Moving Quickly To Expand Access
Vermont Community Broadband Board says it has completed the first phase of its network.
Wi-Fi
Rosenworcel Defends FCC's Authority to Expand E-Rate to WiFi Hotspots
The FCCs responsibility is to keep universal services in line with evolving telecommunications, Rosenworcel says.
Infrastructure
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
Abell Foundation
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
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
Big Tech
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
AVs
Broadband Roundup: Tesla Cars Ain’t Driverless, Suspicious Bernie Sanders Facebook Posts, ReConnect Awards
According to a Forbes article by Alan Ohnsman, U.S. safety investigators are calling for greater regulation of Teslas following the release of several investigative reports detailing several Tesla crashes due to the cars faulty autopilot mode. In March 2018 in Mountain View, California, Walter Huang
