Infrastructure
UTOPIA Partners with Golden State Connect Authority to Bring Broadband to Rural California
The open access project will span 38 counties.
Benton
Infrastructure Bill Money Will Help Push Universal Broadband Goal Within Five Years: Rep. Clyburn
Clyburn’s Rural Broadband Task Force aims to close the digital divide within five years.
BBLO
Reforming Section 230 Won’t Help With Content Moderation, Event Hears
Government is ‘worst person’ to manage content moderation.
Justice
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.
FTC
Relationship with Federal Trade Commission ‘Never Been Better’: Justice Department’s Kanter
The DOJ and FTC are working together to enforce antitrust laws.
Expert Opinion
John Harrington: The FCC’s Proposed E-Rate Bidding Portal Expands Federal Power, Not Local Decision Makers
This shift away from local autonomy for procurement would be the most radical change to the program since its inception.
Benton
Russian Disinformation, Canadian Big Tech, WideOpenWest Sale, Broadband Emerging Leaders
Facebook has found Russian espionage and disinformation campaigns on its platform.
Infrastructure
Fiber Broadband and Rural Broadband Associations Call on NTIA to Prioritize Fiber in Funding Grants
Gary Bolton and Shirley Bloomfield called on NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson to prioritize applicant investing in “future-proof” fiber.
Infrastructure
Broadband Labels Must Be Simple, Have Comparable Data, Say Industry Observers
When it comes to broadband “nutrition” labels, experts say less is more.
Antitrust
In Wake of Antitrust Review, Lawyers Say Current Laws are Adequate
Antitrust lawyers are concerned about a chilling effect over-regulation could bring.
Energy and Commerce
House Passes Two Bills, Lawmakers Concerned about ReConnect, Elon Musk on Twitter’s Board
The House passed bills about spectrum coordination and the FCC collecting maternal mortality and morbidity data.
Infrastructure
High Speed Thresholds Could Pull Infrastructure Funds Away from Poorly Connected Areas
Sarah Oh Lam of the Technology Policy Institute says high speed thresholds could shift funds toward better-connected areas.
Lifeline
FCC Device Partnership, TracFone Settles Lawsuit, New FCC Leadership Hires
The FCC announced a partnership with a trio of companies to deliver devices under the Affordable Connectivity Program.
Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021
Christopher Ali: How the U.S. Department of Agriculture is Quietly Reshaping Broadband Policy
In the 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act, Congress reversed USDA’s ReConnect criteria in three crucial ways.
Expert Opinion
Nilay Akdemir: How Telecom Companies Can Keep Pace with Digital Transformation
Up to 75 percent of operators will experience significant revenue decline in an “unlimited data world” if they don’t change.
Infrastructure
Sean Gonsalves: Illinois and Possibly New York Are Poised to Fumble Federal Broadband Funds
Some state laws, as written, may run counter to IIJA language and constrain the use of federal funds.
