press release

Sen John Kennedy (R-LA) Introduces Bicameral Net Neutrality Bill To Protect Consumers

Sen John Kennedy (R-LA) filed the Open Internet Preservation Act to protect consumers by preventing Internet Service Providers (ISPs) from slowing down and controlling web content.  The legislation also creates transparency by requiring ISPs to make public their terms of service.  The House companion of this bill was introduced in 2017 by House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).

Disconnected: Rural Broadband and the Business Case for Small Carriers

[Press release] Members of the House Subcommittees on a) Health and Technology and b) Agriculture, Energy, and Trade held a joint hearing on the challenges in the current regulatory and operational environment that limit the ability of small carriers to bridge the rural digital divide. The hearing examined the disparities between large, nationwide carriers and small, rural carriers that contribute to the urban/rural digital divide and the challenges inherent in the current regulatory and operational schemes that limit the ability of small carriers to deploy broadband in rural America.

Commissioner Clyburn & SF Mayor Farrell Joint Statement on Broadband Access

We believe that San Franciscans and communities across the country deserve a better internet, with more choice and competition in the market than exists today. We both have been strong advocates for municipal fiber because we know that many consumers feel inadequately served by their private provider, if they are even served at all. This country has a history of allowing communities to take local control of important utilities such as water, electricity and sewer services – the internet should be no different.

House Communications Subcommittee Conducts Oversight of NTIA

The House Communications Subcommittee held a hearing continuing its oversight role of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Chairman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) spoke to the need to maintain America’s status as a global leader in wireless technologies. In his opening remarks, full Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) stressed the importance of accurate broadband mapping in efforts to expand broadband internet access. David Redl, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information, NTIA, U.S.

Chairman Pai Unveils $954 Million Plan To Restore And Expand Networks In Puerto Rico And US Virgin Islands (updated)

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai proposed to direct approximately $954 million toward restoring and expanding communications networks in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands—networks that were damaged and destroyed during the 2017 hurricane season. Specifically, he proposed to create a $750 million Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund (Bringing Puerto Rico Together Fund) and a $204 million Connect USVI Fund.

FCC Chairman Pai Pledges to NRB to Fight Censorship of Religious Viewpoint

The National Religious Broadcasters received encouraging news from the Federal Communications Commission and veteran lawyers commenting on the government entity’s work during Proclaim 18, the NRB’s International Christian Media Convention. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai spoke to the Christian communicators gathered for the annual meeting in a video shown in both the opening session February 27 and an FCC session March 1. He pledged to continue to speak out for free speech and thanked NRB for its instrumental support in the last year.

Chairman Pai Announces Webre To Serve As Chief Of The Consumer And Governmental Affairs Bureau

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced the agency has chosen Patrick Webre as chief of the FCC’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, continuing the work he has been doing as acting chief. During his career, Webre served in several leadership roles at the FCC including as an Associate Bureau Chief and Chief Programs Officer in the Bureau he now leads, legal advisor to the chief of the Media Bureau, and an attorney in the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. Immediately prior to rejoining the Commission last year as acting chief, Webre worked at

Congressional Leaders Announce FCC Reauthorization and Spectrum Agreement

House Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR), Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune (R-SD), and Ranking Member Bill Nelson (D-FL) announced a bipartisan, bicameral agreement on legislation reauthorizing the Federal Communications Commission and spurring the deployment of next-generation wireless services. The legislation, RAY BAUM’S Act (H.R. 4986), will be voted on in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, March 6, 2018. The legislation would:

PayPal Settles FTC Charges that Venmo Failed to Disclose Information to Consumers About the Ability to Transfer Funds and Privacy Settings

The Federal Trade Commission has reached a settlement with PayPal over allegations that the company told users of its Venmo peer-to-peer payment service that money credited to their Venmo balances could be transferred to external bank accounts without adequately disclosing that the transactions were still subject to review and that funds could be frozen or removed. In its complaint, the FTC also charges that Venmo misled consumers about the extent to which they could control the privacy of their transactions.

FCC Announces Payment Of Over $600 Million By Straight Path & Verizon To Satisfy Settlement Terms

The Federal Communications Commission announced that Straight Path Communications and Verizon Communications have paid a civil penalty of over $600 million dollars to the US Treasury in connection with a January 2017 settlement that Straight Path entered into with the Commission’s Enforcement Bureau—prior to the sale and transfer of its licenses to Verizon.

Chairmen Walden, Blackburn on FCC’s Proposed Spectrum Auctions

House Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) and Communications Subcommittee Chairman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) released the following statement on the announcement from Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai on proposed spectrum auctions: "The race to 5G is a sprint, not a marathon, and the proposed spectrum auctions will help ensure the United States remains at the forefront of this emerging technology.

NTIA Identifies 3450-3550 MHz for Study as Potential Band for Wireless Broadband Use

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), in coordination with the Department of Defense (DOD) and other federal agencies, has identified 100 megahertz of spectrum for potential repurposing to spur commercial wireless innovation. This spectrum, the 3450-3550 MHz band, is in the mid-frequency range and could be a key asset in our nation's broadband spectrum inventory.  

Rep Khanna Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Study Effects of Broadband on the Economy

Reps Ro Khanna (D-CA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), and Ryan Costello (R-PA) introduced a bipartisan bill, the Measuring the Economic Impact of Broadband Act, to require the Bureau of Economic Analysis to conduct a study of the effects of broadband deployment and adoption on the US economy. The legislation empowers policymakers to make more informed decisions about broadband, connecting underserved communities and keeping America competitive in a digital world.

What the President’s Infrastructure Plan Will Do to Expand Rural Broadband Access

[Press release] The week of Feb 12, the President released the details of his infrastructure plan which will provide Federal funding to help repair and modernize rural infrastructure, including broadband. The President’s plan dedicates $50 billion to rural infrastructure, accounting for 25 percent of all Federal spending in the plan.

FCC Eliminates Outdated Payphone Audit Rules

The Federal Communications Commission lifted outdated rules related to the payphone industry that are no longer justified as payphone revenues have plummeted due to a changing communications marketplace. The Commission eliminated costly payphone audit requirements as part of an FCC effort to cut unnecessary and wasteful rules so that industry resources can be put to more productive use. Technological and marketplace changes have made these expensive audits unnecessary to ensure that the few remaining providers are compensated fairly.

FCC Proposes to Eliminate Broadcast Mid-Term Report Filing Requirement

The Federal Communications Commission proposed to eliminate a broadcast filing requirement and instead rely on publicly available information in its periodic reviews of broadcaster employment practices.

FCC Resolves Petitions for Reconsideration for Mobility Fund Phase II

The Federal Communications Commission resolved the remaining petitions for reconsideration of Commission decisions in the February 2017 Mobility Fund Phase II Report and Order. In that Order, the Commission adopted rules to move forward with the MF-II auction, which will provide up to $4.53 billion in high-cost support over 10 years to extend high-speed mobile voice and broadband coverage to unserved and underserved areas across the United States. The Commission received seven petitions for reconsideration of the MF-II Report & Order.

FCC Proposes to Open Spectrum Horizons for New Services & Technologies

The Federal Communications Commission initiated a proceeding to expand access to spectrum above 95 GHz. This spectrum has long been considered the outermost horizon of the usable spectrum range. Currently, the Commission has no rules to permit licensed or unlicensed communications use above 95 GHz, other than by amateur operators or on an experimental basis.

FCC Proposes Rules To Speed Availability Of Innovative Technologies And Services

The Federal Communications Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to ensure that innovative new technologies and services that would serve the public interest are encouraged and made available to the public on a timely basis. Specifically, the NPRM proposes rules and procedures to implement Section 7 of the Communications Act, which was passed by Congress in 1983 to require timely action by the Commission to encourage provision of new technologies and services to the public. Clear rules and guidelines on implementing section 7 are long overdue. While the

FCC Updates And Modernizes National Broadband Map

As it works to close the digital divide, the Federal Communications Commission has updated and modernized its National Broadband Map so the map can once again be a key source of broadband deployment information for consumers, policymakers, researchers, and others. The new, cloud-based map will support more frequent data updates and display improvements at a far lower cost than the original mapping platform, which had not been updated in years. Improvements and features in the successor National Broadband Map include:

Chairman Pai Announces visit to Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands in March

[Press release] Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai will visit Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands from March 7–10 to meet with local leaders and communications service providers and review the status of communications restoration efforts after the 2017 hurricane season. He will be accompanied by members of the Commission’s Hurricane Recovery Task Force. This serves as a follow-up to his trip to Puerto Rico last November.

The President’s Infrastructure Plan Will Help Bolster Broadband Access to Rural America

A task force created by President Donald Trump developed recommendations for promoting prosperity in rural America, and one of its key recommendations is to deploy high-speed internet access to this nation’s farms, factories, forests, and small businesses in rural America.

Presidential Message on 9-1-1 Telecommunicators Day

Each year, approximately 240 million 9-1-1 calls are answered by the calm, reassuring, and professional voices of our Nations public safety communicators. These emergency dispatchers stand ready to respond to crisis, ensuring their fellow citizens receive the life-saving assistance they need. On National 9-1-1 Telecommunicators Day, we honor the invaluable contributions made by the dedicated men and women in emergency call centers throughout our great country.

FCC Agenda for Open Meeting February 22, 2018

The Federal Communications Commission will hold an Open Meeting on the subjects listed below on Thursday, February 22, 2018.