Associated Press

Minnesota Attorney General's office settles with Frontier Communications Over Deceptive Practices

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said his office has settled an investigation into possible deceptive practices in Frontier Communications' billing and sale of internet services. Under the settlement, Frontier agreed to fully disclose its prices for internet service to new customers before they take service. Many current customers will be allowed to cancel their service without penalty.

Sen King Calls For Improved Broadband In Tribal Areas

On May 31, Sen Angus King (I-ME) has joined a group of colleagues in calling for the Federal Communications Commission to make it easier for tribal communities to get access to broadband internet. The lawmakers said Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai should extend the period for tribal governments to complete applications for wireless broadband and increased mobile coverage.

Some US schools are pulling the plug on distance learning

Many districts around the US have pulled the plug on distance learning. It's too stressful, the lack of devices and internet access is too much to overcome, and what students get from it just isn't worth the struggle. Districts around the country are ending the school year early including Omaha and some nearby suburban districts in Nebraska, Washington (DC), and some in New Hampshire.

Alabama Senate leader seeks COVID-19 money for broadband

Alabama Senate Leader Del Marsh (R-12) said he would like to use $800 million of the state’s $1.7 billion coronavirus relief funds to establish broadband through the state. Marsh said distance learning would have been easier to accomplish if the state had better internet access. “Now is the time to take some of that, a big enough section of that money, (for) high-speed broadband across this state, in every corner of this state,” Marsh said. “Had this been in place, our kids would still be in school.

Trump Campaign Sues Wisconsin TV Station Over Critical Ad

President Donald Trump's reelection campaign is suing a Wisconsin TV station for running an anti-Trump commercial that pieces together audio clips of the president talking about the coronavirus outbreak in a way they argue is misleading and false. The ad by the Democratic super PAC Priorities USA features a series of soundbites in which Trump downplayed the threat posed by the virus, while a chart that is splashed across the screen gradually begins to shoot upward as cases of the virus skyrocketed across the US.

Americans without broadband struggle in a stuck-at-home nation

As schools, workplaces and public services shut down in the age of coronavirus, online connections are keeping Americans in touch with vital institutions and each other. But that’s not much of an option when fast internet service is hard to come by.  Lawmakers want the federal government to send schools and libraries more money to lend out Wi-Fi hotspots to students. But the Federal Communications Commission says it’s not authorized to do that under current law and is discussing a solution with Congress.