broadband roundup
USDA Announces Rural Funding, Public Knowledge Testimony, Robotext Numbers Up
The USDA announced $1.2 billion in rural development funding.
FCC
Senate Approves Anna Gomez as Fifth Federal Communications Commissioner
The Democrat-held Senate voted 55-43 in favor of Biden’s second nominee for the spot, after Gigi Sohn withdrew.
broadband roundup
Community Broadband Bill, USDA Technical Assistance Funding, Brian Vo on Public Knowledge Board
Bill by Rep. Anna Eshoo and Sen. Cory Booker would preempt state laws prohibiting municipal broadband projects using public funds.
Privacy
CES 2023: Federal Privacy Standard Needed for Consumer Protection
Federal regulation is needed since companies often renege on voluntarily accepted agreements, argued Public Knowledge head.
Funding
Industry and Non-Profit Groups Offer Uniformly Positive Views of Broadband Bill’s Passage
Largest single federal investment ever in broadband will enable communities to invest in fiber as critical infrastructure, says industry group.
Funding
Don’t Stop at $65 Billion for Broadband Infrastructure, Experts Urge
Experts call $65 Billion for Broadband a “down payment,” remain skeptical infrastructure bill will accomplish what is necessary.
Open Access
Open Access Networks Key To Affordability Question, House Committee Hears
The House Energy and Commerce committee heard arguments that open access to networks is crucial for competition and affordability.
Privacy
Consumer Privacy Must Rise To Priority In Biden Agenda, Experts Urge
FCBA panelists discuss data privacy and consumer protection challenges for the Biden administration.
Copyright
Public Knowledge Celebrates 20 Years of Helping Congress Get a Clue on Digital Rights
February 27, 2021 – The non-profit advocacy group Public Knowledge celebrated its twentieth anniversary year in a Monday event revolving around the issues that the group has made its hallmark: Copyright, open standards and other digital rights issues. Group Founder Gigi Sohn, now a Benton Institute
Privacy
Silicon Flatiron Panelists Differ in Attitudes on Trustworthiness of Big Tech Companies
February 14, 2021 – A public policy manager for Google defended the search engine giant’s trustworthiness and status during a Thursday panel discussion, even as she reiterated that the company supports a federal privacy law. Speaking at a discussion hosted by Silicon Flatirons, Sarah Holland of Goog
broadband roundup
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’
AEI
Broadband Breakfast Live Online on Wednesday, January 6: Broadband and the Biden Administration, Part 3
Our Broadband Breakfast Live Online events take place every Wednesday at 12 Noon ET. You can watch the January 6, 2021, event on this page. You can also PARTICIPATE in the current Broadband Breakfast Live Online event. REGISTER HERE. Also read “Building Better Broadband Underscores Joe Biden’s Top P
Antitrust
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
broadband roundup
South Florida Fiber-Optic Network, Rural Broadband in New York, Copyright Office’s Sesquicentennial, Internet Honorees
As part of an effort in Longboat Key, Florida to move electrical infrastructure underground, the town is also building a city-wide fiber-optic network, which holds the potential to foster 100 percent internet connectivity within the town, GovTech reported. The project was born out of an ongoing conc
broadband roundup
Broadband Roundup: IBM Pulls Facial Recognition, Public Knowledge Says No to Facebook, Comcast Pledges to Diversity
June 10, 2020 — IBM CEO Arvind Krishna announced Monday that the company would end its facial recognition development programs, CNBC reported. Amid nationwide protests surrounding police brutality and the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, some tech privacy advocates say the police can us
Health
Public Knowledge’s Internet Superfund is a Vaccine Against Toxic Misinformation and Conspiracy Theories Run Rampant
June 4, 2020 — In a video that quickly went viral, discredited medical researcher Judy Mikovits claimed that the novel coronavirus was intentionally unleashed upon the world by Bill Gates’ elite cabal and that wearing masks can worsen COVID-19 symptoms, among other conspiracies. Facebook, YouTube an
