March 2016

INTERNET/BROADBAND

FCC REFORMS HIGH COST PROGRAM FOR RATE-OF-RETURN CARRIERS
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission, AUTHOR: Public notice]
Taking further steps to expand rural broadband deployment, the Federal Communications Commission unanimously approved modernization and reform of its universal service program supporting the nation’s small rural carriers, known as “rate-of-return” carriers. Providing approximately $20 billion in support over the next 10 years, modernizations of the universal service program for high-cost areas include enabling rate-of-return providers to meet consumer demand for stand-alone broadband. Reforms include better targeting of support to communities that need it the most. Broadband is critical in the 21st Century, providing consumers with access to jobs, education and information, facilitating civic engagement, connecting local business and industry to global markets and more. Since the FCC’s universal service reforms of 2011, rate-of-return carriers have made substantial progress expanding broadband deployment, expanding their reach by 45%. But roughly 20 percent of all homes in rate-of-return areas still lack access to terrestrial fixed broadband meeting the FCC’s benchmarks for the high-cost program. Efficient, effective universal service support is critical to the expansion of affordable broadband in high-cost rate-of return areas that currently lack service.
Following are the key elements of the item adopted by the Commission:
Modernizes Existing Universal Service Program for Rate-of-Return Carriers
Creates Two Paths to a “Connect America Fund” for Rate-of-Return Carriers
Increase Fiscal Responsibility in the Universal Service Fund
benton.org/headlines/fcc-moves-expand-rural-broadband-deployment-modernizing-and-reforming-universal-service | Federal Communications Commission | Press release | Wheeler Statement | Clyburn Statement | Rosenworcel Statement | Pai Statement | O'Rielly Statement
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INTERNET ASSOCIATION ENDORSES TPP
[SOURCE: Internet Association, AUTHOR: Michael Beckerman]
The Internet industry is encouraged that the Trans-Pacific Partnership recognizes the Internet as an essential American export, and supports the agreement’s passage. Historically, pro-Internet policies have been absent from trade agreements, which is why the TPP is an important step forward for the Internet sector that accounts for 6 percent of the GDP and nearly 3 million American jobs. The TPP requires countries to allow the transfer of information across borders and prohibits requirements to use inefficient, localized computing facilities. The TPP also acknowledges the benefits of the full scope of copyright law – requiring countries to adopt innovation-critical limitations and exceptions as well as safe harbors that protect the basic functionality of the Internet, social media, and online platforms. For too long, US trade agreements have failed to reflect the balance of US copyright law under which individual creators, right holders, Internet platforms and users have all benefitted. The TPP is a move in the right direction. Finally, the TPP promotes a more inclusive trade economy by supporting the ability of small businesses to use the Internet to serve customers and users in key markets. It will be critical that the TPP is implemented in a way that supports the Internet economy. The Internet industry is committed to working with US trade officials and Congress to ensure that future trade negotiations build upon this framework and reflect the priorities of all stakeholders, including a rapidly growing Internet sector.
benton.org/headlines/internet-association-endorses-trans-pacific-partnership | Internet Association | The Hill
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SECURITY/PRIVACY

63 TIMES THE FEDS ASKED APPLE AND GOOGLE TO HELP UNLOCK PHONES
[SOURCE: Vice, AUTHOR: Jason Koebler]
The idea that the FBI only cared about unlocking just one iPhone in its recently-abandoned legal battle with Apple was always fiction: The American Civil Liberties Union has discovered at least 63 court orders in 22 states in which the federal government invoked the All Writs Act to compel Apple or Google to help it access data on a password-protected phone in a criminal investigation. The cases run the gamut from minor drug charges to child pornography and involve many different agencies within the Department of Justice, including the FBI, the Secret Service, the Department of Homeland Security, the Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. In addition, there’s at least one case brought by the Bureau of Land Management, in relation to an alleged marijuana grow operation. None of the cases are believed to have required Apple or Google to write new software that could have broken the security of other phones, which was a key component of the San Bernardino (CA) case. That the government has asked Apple for assistance in getting into iPhones is no surprise, but seeing the documents gives further clarity on what, specifically, it’s asking for. It’s also the first confirmation that the government has brought an All Writs Act case against Google. “These cases show that the government has an interest in getting this kind of assistance from tech companies in a wide variety of cases,” ACLU attorney Esha Bhandari said. “The government and law enforcement in general have an interest in using the All Writs Act in a wide variety of investigations, including criminal investigations.”
benton.org/headlines/63-times-feds-asked-apple-and-google-help-unlock-phones | Vice | ars technica
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EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

MULTILINGUAL EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM ORDER
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission, AUTHOR: Public notice]
In this Order we reaffirm our commitment to promoting the delivery of Emergency Alert System (EAS) alerts to as wide an audience as technically feasible, including to those who communicate in a language other than English or may have a limited understanding of the English language. Specifically, to promote and better understand the landscape of multilingual alerting across the country we will now require State EAS Plans to include a description of the manner, if any, in which EAS Participants (including broadcasters, cable systems, and other service providers), make available EAS alert message content to persons who communicate in languages other than English. We will require EAS Participants to furnish such information to State Emergency Communications Committees (SECC) upon SECC request so that the SECCs can compile this data and submit it as part of their State EAS Plan.
benton.org/headlines/multilingual-emergency-alert-system-order | Federal Communications Commission | O'Rielly Statement
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WIRELESS/SPECTRUM

NTIA CALLS FOR APPLICATIONS TO COMMERCE SPECTRUM MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
[SOURCE: National Telecommunications and Information Administration, AUTHOR: ]
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is seeking applications from persons interested in serving on the Department of Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee (CSMAC or committee) for two-year terms. The CSMAC provides advice to the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator on spectrum policy matters. The CSMAC advises the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information on a broad range of issues regarding spectrum policy. In particular, the current charter provides that the committee will provide advice and recommendations on needed reforms to domestic spectrum policies and management in order to: License radio frequencies in a way that maximizes their public benefit; keep wireless networks as open to innovation as possible; and make wireless services available to all Americans. Applications must be postmarked or electronically transmitted on or before May 13, 2016.
benton.org/headlines/ntia-calls-applications-commerce-spectrum-management-advisory-committee | National Telecommunications and Information Administration | Broadcasting&Cable
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ADVERTISING

AOL'S EXEC AIMS TO BUILD DIGITAL-AD EMPIRE AT VERIZON
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Mike Shields, Ryan Knutson]
When AOL Chief Executive Tim Armstrong was in Las Vegas (NV) in January for the tech industry’s big trade show, he met a parade of ad buyers in the private suites of the Aria and Cosmopolitan hotels. It was his first real chance to pitch the way AOL—fresh off its sale to Verizon Communications —planned to become a credible threat to Facebook and Google, the juggernauts of digital advertising. “Data is the oil of the mobile economy,” the 45-year-old Armstrong said at one meeting, apparently. Imagine, he said, if a hotel chain supplied Verizon with a database of its frequent guests. That could be matched up with data on Verizon’s more than 100 million wireless customers, plus AOL’s own data, to target guests with ads for promotional offers. Later, the hotel’s sales data and the telecom giant’s customer data could be cross-referenced to see how many of those people subsequently visited the hotel. AOL won’t have that capability until later in 2016, but it reflects Armstrong’s lofty ambitions. He told the advertisers in Las Vegas that he aims to build the top mobile-media company in the world by 2020, one that reaches two billion users, up from a current 700 million, and generates $10 billion to $20 billion in revenue, said a person familiar with the meetings.
benton.org/headlines/aols-tim-armstrong-aims-build-digital-ad-empire-verizon | Wall Street Journal
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RADIO

AM REVITALIZATION SPRINGS FORWARD
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission, AUTHOR: FCC Media Bureau Chief Bill Lake]
In October 2015, the Federal Communications Commission took the first steps in over a quarter-century to revitalize the AM broadcast service. AM radio has traditionally been the backbone of the broadcast service, and has time and again kept the public entertained and informed, as well as serving a vital role in times of emergency, disaster and severe weather. The Commission’s goal is to assist AM broadcasters in the face of increasing technical challenges to their service, such as interference from electronic devices. I am happy to report that those efforts have borne fruit, and that AM broadcasters are reaping the benefits of the Commission’s actions in the AM Revitalization proceeding. To date, over 600 applications to relocate FM translators for AM rebroadcast use have been filed since the window opened on January 29, 2016. Audio Division staff have already granted 80 percent of those applications, and will continue to process these quickly to provide relief to the AM broadcaster applicants.
benton.org/headlines/am-revitalization-springs-forward | Federal Communications Commission
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DIVERSITY

THE INFLUENCE AND LIMITATIONS OF BLACK TWITTER
[SOURCE: Columbia Journalism Review, AUTHOR: Katie Ferguson]
[Commentary] For certain journalists, the age-old combination of breakfast and a newspaper doesn’t cut it any more. “I don’t know any black reporter who, the first thing in the morning, doesn’t check Black Twitter,” Jamilah King, a senior writer at Mic, said at a February conference on the topic. That term, as many by now know, unofficially refers to a sprawling network of African American Twitter users that has emerged as a serious media force in recent years. It has been a consistent megaphone for news and reactions to police killings, while hashtag campaigns such as #BlackLivesMatter and #OscarsSoWhite have led to wide-ranging public discussions on race and privilege. Users have not only highlighted a large, previously overlooked audience for coverage of issues affecting black communities, but also new talent for media organizations to recruit. “Before Black Twitter’s rise, the coverage of African American culture and related news issues was up to the discretion of the individual publisher, and the audience really had to wait for a reporter to pay attention,” says Mark S. Luckie, head of journalism and media at Reddit and curator of the Today in Black Twitter feed. Users “are calling attention to the news organizations—who are finding stories that they might not have otherwise—and they are creating content that they know readers are interested in.” But this influence, firmly established as Twitter marked its 10th birthday this month, has simultaneously highlighted the limitations of this online community. Namely: It remains unlikely that Black Twitter alone can continue evolving to fill the same social role as the black press. African-American media, whose power was traditionally centered in print newspapers and magazines, has continued to decline despite a handful of digital newcomers springing up. While Black Twitter may aid in fulfilling the black press’ broader historical function, some argue that it can only do so in a supporting role.
benton.org/headlines/influence-and-limitations-black-twitter | Columbia Journalism Review
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March 2016

Opinion: Building Platforms Not Products is the Advantage that Keeps Silicon Valley Ahead

Brotman: Why the US needs its own Get Online Week

FCC Vote Brings Broadband to Digital Deserts

March 31, 2016 (Lifeline Modernization Vote Today)

FCC Moves to Expand Rural Broadband Deployment by Modernizing and Reforming Universal Service Support for Small Carriers

Charter Backs FCC Lifeline Reform

White House: San Bernardino iPhone hack doesn't endanger privacy

Silicon Valley subcontracting makes income inequality worse, report finds

Multilingual Emergency Alert System Order

AM Revitalization Springs Forward