What's on the agenda for policymakers.
Agenda
Commissioner Simington: FCC Commissioners Need Role in Reviewing Delegated Authority
Federal Communications Commissioner Nathan Simington told Congress that he and his fellow commissioners need to serve as a check on the power of the chair. According to testimony for the House Commerce Committee FCC oversight hearing, Commissioner Simington, a Republican, said that if the agency does not adopt rules allowing for full commission oversight of decisions made by staffers under authority delegated by the chair, Congress should step in to mandate it. “The FCC chair has broad discretion in delegating matters to career officials and political appointees, which restricts those matte
Chairwoman Rosenworcel Signals FCC Won’t Apply Cable Act Rules to Streamers
Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel sent a clear signal to Congress she is not looking to apply multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) regulations to streaming video services, and that she does not think the regulator has the authority to expand into that area in any event. Rep.
Chair Rodgers to FCC Commissioners: “It’s Critical that the FCC is Accountable"
The House Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) delivered opening remarks at the Communications and Technology Subcommittee hearing titled “Oversight of the Federal Communications Commission:"
In Letter to President Biden, GOP Senators Press for Affordable Connectivity Program Funding
We write regarding the Affordable Connectivity Program, an important tool in our efforts to close the digital divide. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provided significant funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program, which has already enabled 18 million Americans to access the high-speed broadband services they need. However, given the current rate of enrollment, projections indicate that the funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program could be exhausted as early as the first quarter of 2024.
Affordable, reliable high-speed internet access is an essential resource for nearly all Americans and vital to daily life. Access to high-speed internet helps families stay healthy, find jobs and income opportunities, and grow local businesses. But too many communities in America, especially rural ones, lag behind with access to high-speed internet. And cost can be an issue: according to a 2021 AARP survey, 60 percent of adults age 50 or older say high cost is a problem.
Senate Majority Leader Schumer unveils strategy to regulate AI amid dire warnings
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) unveiled a legislative framework for regulating artificial intelligence (AI), warning that “Congress must join the AI revolution” now or risk losing its only chance to regulate the rapidly moving technology. Majority Leader Schumer also said that starting in Fall 2023, he would launch a series of “AI Insight Forums” featuring top AI developers, executives, scientists, community leaders, workers, national security experts, and others. Those discussions, he said, will form the foundation for more detailed policy proposals for Congress.
Gigi Sohn is a senior fellow at the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, a Board Member at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and the first the Executive Director of the American Association for Public Broadband. She also served as the co-founder of Public Knowledge.
50 Ways to Love (not Leave) Your Anchor Institutions
There are at least seven reasons why states should consider connecting anchor institutions early in the broadband deployment process rather than at the tail end:
Accelerate the US high-capacity transmission build-out with voluntary, strategic co-location
Attempts to pass comprehensive transmission siting reform failed in the recent congressional debt ceiling negotiations. It may be time to explore a different approach to accelerating transmission build-out: encouraging voluntary efforts by developers and stakeholders to create stakeholder-driven transmission corridors.