Press Release

Congressman Castor Reintroduces Kids PRIVACY Act

Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL) reintroduced the Protecting the Information of our Vulnerable Adolescents, Children, and Youth Act, or the Kids (PRIVACY) Act, which would update the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act with safeguards to keep children and teenagers safe online and hold Big Tech companies who surveil and target children accountable. The bill includes strong provisions to build on COPPA's strengths and expand privacy protections for children and teenagers as well as directives to operators to make the best interests of children and teenagers a primary design consideration.

Representative Baird leads bipartisan effort to prioritize rural broadband access

Congressman Jim Baird (R-IN) introduced a resolution emphasizing the need to invest in broadband expansion. The resolution, if passed, says the House of Representatives finds that:

Sens. Hickenlooper, Fischer Lead Effort to Finish Removal of Chinese Communications Equipment from the United States

Senators John Hickenlooper (R-CO) and Debra Fischer (R-NE) introduced the Defend Our Networks Act. The Federal Communications Commission confirmed in 2022 that the Rip and Replace program was $3.08 billion short in fulfilling eligible applications, disproportionally impacting smaller carriers in rural areas that possess more at-risk network gear.

New "Reach Me" Grant Funding Expands Reliable Internet in 73 Maine Communities

Fourteen Maine counties and 73 communities will benefit from $20 million in grant funding from the Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA) as part of its Reach Me Line Extension Program that will expand reliable, fast and affordable internet.

FCC Adopts New Requirements to Prevent Gaming of its Access Stimulation Rules

The Federal Communications Commission adopted rules to

FCC Looks to Improve Accessibility & Performance of Wireless Alerts

The Federal Communications Commission proposed rules to improve Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) by making them available in more than a dozen

Texas Broadband Development Office Seeks Input from Public for Development of Digital Opportunity Plan

The Texas Broadband Development Office (BDO) is asking the public for input on internet accessibility, affordability and usage. BDO will use the Digital Opportunity Plan: Public Survey to develop a Texas Digital Opportunity Plan, which is required to draw down federal funding for connecting Texans to reliable, high-speed internet. The survey is open for approximately two months. BDO expects to complete the plan this fall.

FCC Proposes Periodic Reviews of International Telecommunications Authorizations

The Federal Communications Commission proposed new rules that would require, for the first time, companies with existing authorizations to provide international telecommunications services to and from the US to file renewal applications at the FCC.

FCC States Spectrum Management Principles for Transmitters & Receivers

The Federal Communications Commission took a fresh look at spectrum management and established a set of high-level principles on how the FCC intends to manage spectrum going forward. The Policy Statement is part of the FCC’s effort to reorient its spectrum management framework to a holistic consideration of both transmitter and receiver components of wireless systems.

FCC Adopts New Rules for Satellite System Spectrum Sharing

The Federal Communications Commission adopted new rules to support competition and cooperation in spectrum usage by satellite systems. The new rules will set forth important reforms that will govern how non-geostationary satellite orbit, fixed-satellite service (NGSO FSS) systems will function in a shared spectrum environment. These new rules will provide clarity regarding spectrum sharing between systems licensed in different processing rounds, granting primary spectrum access to systems approved earlier, while enabling new entrants to participate in an established, cooperative spectrum sh