Funding
Senate Confirms Davidson as National Telecommunications and Information Administration Chief
Bipartisan vote confirms Davidson atop the Commerce Department agency. It has a large pile of money to spend on broadband.
broadband roundup
Universal Service Fund Bill, Private-Public Era, USTelecom Expands Team, Giving Tuesday
A bill introduced this month requires the FCC to investigate the need to expand base of Universal Service Fund.
broadband roundup
Republican Concern Over Sohn, Reservation to Buy Midstate, Pause on Lifeline Phase-out
Republican senators can tolerate FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, but not Commissioner-nominee Gigi Sohn, says Politico.
Infrastructure
Experts Urge Congress to Diversify Broadband Policy Beyond Wired Infrastructure
Congress should invest in wireless and wired broadband to provide resilient, affordable broadband.
broadband roundup
New Anti-Robocall Tools, House Passes 3 Tech Bills, Senate Commerce Clears Others, Is Open RAN Facilitating Protectionism?
The Secure Telephone Identity Governance Authority announced new policies to advance the STIR/SHAKEN protocol in the fight against illegal robocalls. Through STIR/SHAKEN cryptographic system, service providers can mark calls with digital certificates and verify the accuracy of caller ID. The STI-GA
broadband mapping
Senate Committee Simultaneously Praises Broadband Providers and Scorns Broadband Maps
May 13, 2020 — “Among the 10 largest countries in world, the U.S. is the only nation that reported no substantial degradation last month in terms of speed,” said US Telecom CEO Jonathan Spalter at a Senate hearing on “The State of Broadband Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic” Wednesday. The assertion, which
Senate
In Law More Than a Year, MOBILE Now Advocates Say Act Requires Further Implementation for 5G Deployment
WASHINGTON, December 6, 2019 – Even though the so-called MOBILE NOW law has been effect since March 2018, former Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., highlighted ongoing implementation needs at a Thursday hearing. Dubbed the Making Opportunities for Broadband Investment and Limitin
broadband roundup
Comcast Touts 100 Gigabit Service, SHLB Seeks Reconsideration on Telehealth, Senate Clears Emergency Communications
Comcast announced Wednesday that it would begin broadband marketing plans reaching speeds up to 100 gigabits per second to businesses, Post and Courrier reports. The company also announced that it has finished a $14-million upgrade to its fiber network in the Charleston, South Carolina, area. Comcas
Broadband Data
Broadband DATA Act Clears Senate Committee and Dish Network Purchases $5 Billion Wireless Assets
The Senate Commerce Committee unanimously passed the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act on Wednesday, Broadcasting and Cable reports. The bill was introduced in June by Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Gary Peters, D-Mich., John Thune, R-S.D. and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. The
Artificial Intelligence
Senate Hearing Created a Clash With Google Over the Definition of ‘Persuasive’ Technology
WASHINGTON, June 27, 2019 — A Tuesday Senate Commerce Subcommittee hearing, on “Optimizing for Engagement: Understanding the Use of Persuasive Technology on Internet Platforms,” became an open invitation for senators to attack the business model of the technology industry. At the hearing, Google con
Privacy
Bipartisan Group of Senators Stoke Fears About Google’s Neutrality and Influence in 2020 Election
WASHINGTON, June 25, 2019 — Fears about Google’s potential ability to influence the upcoming 2020 election ran rampant at a Senate hearing on Tuesday. That, coupled with allegations that the search engine giant inappropriately benefits from federal protections against liability, created a pressure c
5G Wireless
Congress Considers Plans to Improve Mapping, AT&T Launches 5G Phone
After wide bipartisan acknowledgement that broadband map currently being used by the Federal Communications Commission is wildly inaccurate, Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., has introduced the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act, urging the FCC to halt decisions on broadband
Broadband News
Kelvin Droegemeier Confirmed as the Next Head of the Office of Science and Technology Policy
BROADBAND BREAKFAST INSIGHT: A Senate confirmation prior to the end of the 115th Congress at Noon on Thursday brought a new head to the Office of Science and Technology Policy. The position has been vacant for nearly two years. In a statement, CCIA CEO Ed Black said, “This is a vitally important lin
Democratization
With Senators and Representatives Targeting Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg Likely to Visit Capitol Hill
WASHINGTON, March 23, 2018 – The odds that Facebook Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg will make an appearance on Capitol Hill to explain his company’s actions regarding the misuse of millions of Facecook users’ data by Cambridge Analytica – the “big data” company linked to President Donald Tru
Fiber
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross Discuss Broadband at Senate Hearing
WASHINGTON, March 16, 2018 – Questions about how the federal government will be involved in rolling out the next-generation infrastructure for wireless, known as 5G (for 5th generation) remained after a Wednesday infrastructure hearing of the Senate Commerce Committee. “With the rise of the internet
Infrastructure
Verizon Senior Vice President Peter Davidson Questioned on Data and Science at Confirmation Hearing
WASHINGTON, July 28, 2017 – At a Wednesday confirmation hearing for Peter Davidson to be general counsel of the Department of Commerce and others, Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Bill Nelson, D-Florida, said the country needed data-driven leadership. Chairman John Thune, R-South Dakota, int
