Tracking Legislation

Key Legislation Addressing America's Competitiveness and Innovation

In the midst of a troubling economic crisis, the 111th Congress will consider a number of bills that attempt to reshape the nation's economy for the digital age. Central to these efforts is the future of the Internet. Congress will address ways to ensure all Americans have affordable access to high-speed Internet connections and using those connections to engage the public more fully and directly in solving the problems the nation faces -- in job creation, health care, education, energy, homeland security, and democracy.

Below Benton tracks key bills that address: Universal broadband and employing technology and innovation to solve our nation's most pressing problems; full and free exchange of information among Americans through an open Internet and diverse media outlets. We are also continueing to track developments in the transition to digital-only television broadcasting.

111th Congress

Categories:

Broadband Stimulus

Digital Television

Health Information Technology

Low Power Radio

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Network Neutrality

Spectrum Inventory

Universal Service Reform


Archived - 110th Congress

Categories:

Network Neutrality (Archived)

Universal Service Modernization (Archived)

Telecommunications Policy Reform (Archived)

Digital Television Transition (Archived)

Media Ownership (Archived)

Public Interest Obligations (Archived)


Archived - 109th Congress

Categories:

Telecommunications Policy Reform (Archived)

Digital Television Transition (Archived)

Universal Service Modernization (Archived)


Benton's Guide: A Front Row View Into The Debate

As Congress undertakes this sweeping rewrite of our telecommunications laws, the Benton Foundation provides this new one-stop online resource to give advocates, academics, policymakers, and others the tools they need to stay abreast of the debate.

Tools For Tracking Telcom Talk

This non-partisan fact-filled Benton resource is intended to keep the public informed again. It includes up-to-date:

  • Summaries of key bills
  • A guide to what public interest and industry groups are saying
  • Links to the reports that Congress will rely upon and
  • The stories that cover it all

Tools To Stay On Top As the Stories Break:

To stay abreast of the headlines as they break, we also recommend signing up for the Benton Foundation's Headlines news service for a daily feed of the news that is driving these debates.

Resources:

  • Coming soon: a guide to who's who on key Congressional Committees.