Infrastructure
FCC Commissioner Carr Discusses Benefits Of “Light Touch” Regulation And Open RAN
Carr credited the U.S.’s success in telecom to policies that were implemented by the FCC under the Trump administration.
Infrastructure
Explainer: On the Cusp of Sea Change, Broadband Breakfast Examines the Net Neutrality Debate
In the first in a series of explainers, Broadband Breakfast has hand-picked the debate on net neutrality to bring readers up-to-speed on its history and future.
Social Media
Oversight Board Upholds Trump’s Ban From Facebook
The Oversight Board has sent the decision back to Facebook management, criticizing it for setting a “standardless” penalty.
DISH
Boost Bundles TeleHealth, $100M For South Dakota Broadband, Frequencz Gets Financing
Boost is bundling telehealth services, South Dakota planning $100 million for broadband, Frequencz gets $4 million in capital.
Education
Verizon Selling Digital Properties, Florida Aims To Limit Social Media Bans, Starry Participating In EBB
Verizon is selling Yahoo and AOL, Florida going after social platforms, and Starry is getting in on EBB.
Judiciary
Supreme Court Declares Trump First Amendment Case Moot, But Legal Issues For Social Media Coming
April 5, 2021—Despite accepting a petition that avoids the Supreme Court deliberating on whether a president can block social media users, Justice Clarence Thomas on Monday issued a volley that may foreshadow future legal issues surrounding social media in the United States. On Monday, the Supreme C
COVID
Pressed by Congress, Big Tech Defends Itself and Offers Few Solutions After Capitol Riot
March 26, 2021 – The heads of the largest social media companies largely defended their platforms, reiterated what they’ve done, and offered few solutions to the problems that ail them during a congressional hearing Thursday. But, under harsh questioning from the House Energy and Commerce Committee,
EFF
Changes to Section 230 Might Lead To Removal of Legitimate Speech, Subtract from Historical Record
March 17, 2021 – Changes to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act may not lead to the solution that America wants or needs, said panelists during a South by Southwest event Tuesday. Section 230 grants immunity to social media platforms for user-generated content. It’s an increasingly visible
Social Media
Capitol Riot Was Only A Matter Of Time, Say Experts at South by Southwest
March 16, 2021 – The ease with which social media companies have allowed fringe groups to organize, egged on by then-President Donald Trump himself, made the January 6 Capitol riot an inevitability, experts on a South by Southwest panel said Tuesday. Brandy Zadrozny, investigative reporter NBC News,
FTC
Democrats Introduce Community Broadband Act, Lina Khan for FTC, Facebook Wants Lawsuits Dismissed
March 11, 2021 – Democratic lawmakers have introduced new legislation to ensure their residents have broadband access by removing roadblocks for public-private partnerships and locally-owned broadband systems. Reps. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif. and Jared Golden, D-Maine, and Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J. introdu
Labor Department
Labor Department Official Addresses Apprenticeships at Wireless Infrastructure Event
February 25, 2021—As the demand for broadband continues to grow during the pandemic, so too must the workforce responsible for deploying it. One avenue for growing this workforce is apprenticeships facilitated by broadband providers, often in conjunction with universities or trade organizations, suc
FCC
Former FCC Commissioners Reflect on Changes Since 1996 Telecommunications Act
February 9, 2021 – As 2021 marks the 25-yearanniversary of the Telecommunications Act, former Federal Communications Commissioners Mike O’Rielly and Harold Furchtgott-Roth reminisced Monday on their time in Congress as staff members when the law was passed. The Hudson Institute hosted the conversati
Section 230
Tread Carefully if Section 230 is to Be Changed, Experts Say at INCOMPAS Event
February 8, 2021—Amending too rashly or quickly the internet intermediary liability provision of the Telecommunications Act will harm smaller companies and new entrants but won’t have the intended impact on larger players, according to experts. Former President Donald Trump has often complained abou
Section 230
Social Media Needs to Be Held Accountable to a Higher Standard Than No Standard
February 8, 2021— The spread of disinformation and misinformation can be controlled if the same rules on transparency required of the broadcast industry are applied to social media, an Atlantic Council webinar heard Wednesday. That includes making changes to Section 230 of the Communications Decency
Free Speech
Permanent Suspension of Donald Trump From Facebook Now in the Hands of its Oversight Board Subsidiary
February 7, 2021—After the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, Facebook was one of the first big tech platforms to ban former President Donald Trump from posting, announcing on January 7 that his suspension would last at least until the inauguration of President Joe Biden. Following the i
Congress
Emphasis on Combating COVID-19 and Rebuilding Infrastructure at First Energy and Commerce Meeting
January 28, 2021—During the first organizational meeting of the House Commerce Committee of the 117th Congress, Chairman Frank Pallone of New Jersey welcomed the newest members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The bulk of the Committee’s first meeting was dedicated to discussing best prac
