Defense
House Passes Ban on Chinese Equipment, 3.45 GHz Auction Reaches Reserve Price, Against a ‘Wi-Fi Tax’
Bipartisan Senate bill clears the House, FCC auction prices climb higher, tech groups oppose newly proposed fee
CCIA
The Computer and Communications Industry Association, founded in 1972, is an international nonprofit trade association that represents major technology companies. from its founding, it has advocated for open markets, open systems, and open networks.
FCC
Tech Sues Texas over Social Media Law, $80 Billion Investment, Broadband and Growth
A coalition of groups argue the Texas law violates the Constitution, US Telecom on investment and Connected Nation on impact.
Antitrust
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In a party-line vote, the agency rescinded a 2015 statement that limited the scope of antitrust enforcement.
Congress
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.
Infrastructure
5G In 12 GHz Band, Vaccine Hotline, NAB On Fox Free Speech Case
Industry groups ask for 5G space on 12 GHz band, new hotline for vaccines, NAB on Fox free speech case.
Expert Opinion
Trevor Wagener: State Regulation of Content Moderation Would Create Enormous Legal Costs for Platforms
Dozens of bills regulating internet content moderation have been proposed in at least 30 state legislatures, and one in Utah currently sits on the governor’s desk awaiting his veto or signature. If enacted, many of the bills would impose prescriptive state regulations governing internet content mode
Infrastructure
Aussie Law Would Make Tech Giants Pay For News, Loon’s Bubble Bursts, Peter Huber Dies
January 25, 2021—Australia’s Parliament is considering legislation that would require certain U.S. internet companies to subsidize local news content producers by imposing obligations such as payment for links to news content. The Australian government announced the legislation last month after an i
Section 230
Crackdown on Online Conspiracy Speakers After January 6 Highlights Need for Platform Accountability
WASHINGTON, January 14, 2021 – The power of big technology companies has been on display in the week since the insurrection of January 6, as platform companies have clamped down on speakers and web sites promoting violence and conspiracies, said panelists in a Broadband Breakfast Live Online event o
Broadband Live
Special Broadband Breakfast Live Online Town Hall on Section 230 on Wednesday, January 13, 2021
See, “Crackdown on Online Conspiracy Speakers After January 6 Highlights Need for Platform Accountability,” Broadband Breakfast, January 14, 2021 Our Broadband Breakfast Live Online events take place every Wednesday at 12 Noon ET. You can watch the January 13, 2021, event on this page. You can also
Antitrust
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
Infrastructure
Congress Can Rewrite the Telecom Act as It Funds Internet Infrastructure, Say Broadband Breakfast Panelists
December 3, 2020 – It is possible to revamp the Telecom Act of 1996 and fund broadband infrastructure simultaneously – and, in fact, a broadband stimulus package will help overcome difficulties intrinsic in rewriting the benchmark law governing telecommunications. That was the viewpoint of panelists
Broadband Live
Broadband Breakfast Live Online on Wednesday, December 2: Broadband and the Biden Administration, Part 2
See “Congress Can Rewrite the Telecom Act as It Funds Internet Infrastructure, Say Broadband Breakfast Panelists,” Broadband Breakfast, December 3, 2020. Our Broadband Breakfast Live Online events take place every Wednesday at 12 Noon ET. You can watch the December 2 event on this page. You can also
FCC
FCC Chairman Under Trump Declares Agency’s Authority to Define Language on Political Speech
October 16, 2020 – The Federal Communications Commission dove deep into political territory on Thursday by declaring that the agency had authority to rule on questions pertaining to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The move was widely criticized by technology industry and public advoca
Justice
Trump Justice Department Says Section 230 Changes Needed to Target ‘Bad Samaritans’ and Enforce Transparency
September 1, 2020 – Justice Department attorney Lauren Willard said that the Trump administration wanted to change Section 230 to incentivize big tech platforms to address criminal activity and to provide transparency when they take down lawful content. Speaking at an American Bar Association webina
FCC
Commerce Department Asks Federal Communications Commission to Reconsider Section 230 Protections
July 27, 2020 — The U.S. Commerce Department under the Trump administration on Monday followed through on the president’s orders and filed a petition asking the Federal Communications Commission to issue proposed rules narrowing the protections of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. “A ha
Section 230
Broadband Breakfast Live Online Launches Series on ‘Section 230: Separating Fact from Fiction,’ in Partnership with CCIA
WASHINGTON, June 29, 2020 – Broadband Breakfast announced that its Broadband Breakfast Live Online webcast series will focus, for the first three weeks of July 2020, on “Section 230: Separating Fact from Fiction,” a series produced in partnership with the Computer & Communications Industry Associati
