Infrastructure
Infrastructure Bill Delayed, Facebook’s Whistleblower Unveils, GDPR Fines Rise
Infrastructure bill does not see expected vote Thursday, Facebook’s whistleblower reveals herself, GDPR has huge fines.
Apple
Infrastructure Bill Goes to House, Senators Add Crypto to Bill, Apple Tool to Scan for Child Abuse
Infrastructure bill passes the Senate, crypto regulations in the bill, and Apple will scan iPhones for child abuse material.
Infrastructure
Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal Lands on $65 Billion for Broadband
Joe Biden reveals bipartisan infrastructure package during press conference in front of White House.
Infrastructure
Senators Reintroduce Bridge Act With Hope of $40 Billion for Broadband
Three Senators have reintroduced the BRIDGE Act with a proposed $40 billion to expand broadband access across the nation.
Infrastructure
Senators Reintroduce Bipartisan Digital Equity Act
Sen. Murray re-introduces bi-partisan that would provide grants to states pushing for digital equity.
Donald Trump
Biden Revokes Chinese App Ban Order, Chinese Tech Counter Bill Passes Senate, Switch Data Centers
Biden revokes Chinese app ban EO, Senate passes spending bill to counter China, Switch building data centers.
Infrastructure
Senate Committee Hears High Symmetrical Internet Speeds, Up-To-Date Technologies For Future Of Rural America
NTCA’s Shirley Bloomfield on driving improvements for rural broadband.
Christopher Mitchell
Big Bucks for Broadband in the Balance: Explaining the Affordable, Accessible Internet for All Act
If you have been following our series on the Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act, you already know the proposed legislation calls for a $100 billion investment in expanding broadband access and affordability in unserved and underserved parts of the country. In this fourth installment of the
FCC
You Can’t Use an Old Map To Explore a New World: Explaining the Affordable, Accessible Internet for All Act
Without good information from Internet Service Providers (ISPs), the federal government is essentially shooting in the dark when it comes to determining how to best target the allocation of resources for underserved and unserved communities. Even private sector investments are less efficient because
E-Rate
President Trump’s FCC Nominee Grilled on Section 230 During Senate Confirmation Hearing
November 10, 2020 — Members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation grilled President Donald Trump’s proposed nominee to the Federal Communications Commission, Nathan Simington, on his stance on the FCC’s jurisdiction to interpret Section 230, during a nominations hearing on
Senate
Senate Judiciary Committee Subpoenas Tech Giants on Controversial Content, Also Advances Supreme Court Nominee
October 23, 2020 — Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee boycotted Thursday’s executive meeting, during which the committee, led by a Republican majority, advanced Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to be a justice on the Supreme Court. Additionally, the committee voted to authorize subpo
Cybersecurity
Senate Committee Moves to Ban Government Employees from Using TikTok
July 24, 2020 — The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs voted to bar federal employees from downloading Chinese social media app TikTok on government-issued devices, Reuters reported. The “No TikTok on Government Devices Act,” introduced by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., passed
FCC
Federal Communications Commissioner Michael O’Rielly’s Nomination Advanced by Senate Committee
July 22, 2020 — In an executive session held Wednesday, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation voted to nominate Federal Communications Commissioner Michael O’Rielly for another term at the agency. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said he looked forward to advancing O’Rielly’s
Infrastructure
House Republicans Say New Infrastructure Bill Will Be ‘Dead on Arrival’ In the Senate
June 29, 2020 — In a meeting of the House Rules Committee, Republicans said that even if the INVEST in America Act passed in the House, it would be dead on arrival in the Senate. The bill provides nearly $500 billion in funding for transportation infrastructure and broadband construction. Calling it
Senate Commerce
Rural Digital Opportunity Funds Should be Decreased Until FCC Gets Mapping Right, Says Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel
June 24, 2020 — The Federal Communications Commission should decrease the amount of money distributed through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, said Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel in a Senate hearing on Wednesday. The sometimes-confrontational meeting saw members of the Committee on Commerce, Sc
Expert Opinion
Debra Berlyn: Pandemic Reveals Need for Congress to Act on Closing Digital Divide
COVID-19 has highlighted the need for broadband services for consumers across the expanse of our country. The crisis has dictated a protracted stay at home period for most of the country that has required our work, school, and entertainment to move from the outside, to the confines of our homes, rel
