August 2019

Federal officials raise concerns about White House plan to police alleged social media censorship

Officials from the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission have expressed serious concerns about a draft Trump administration executive order seeking to regulate tech giants, according to several people familiar with the matter. In a closed-door meeting in July, officials from the two agencies met to discuss the matter with a Commerce Department office that advises the White House on telecommunications, the people said. A key issue raised in the meeting was the possibility the Trump administration's plan may be unconstitutional, one of the people said.

The Green New Deal

In his bid to be the Democratic nominee for president, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) proposed the Green New Deal. Broadband-related provisions of the proposal include:

FCC Authorizes $4.9 Billion Over 10 Years For Rural Broadband

The Federal Communications Commission authorized over $4.9 billion in support over the next decade for maintaining, improving, and expanding affordable rural broadband for 455,334 homes and businesses served by 171 carriers in 39 states and American Samoa, including 44,243 locations on Tribal lands. The support is targeted to smaller rural carriers, traditionally known as “rate-of-return” carriers.

FCC Authorizes Support For Broadband In Over 44,000 Tribal Homes And Businesses Nationwide

The Federal Communications Commission authorized support over the next decade for maintaining, improving, and expanding affordable broadband in 44,243 homes and businesses on Tribal lands nationwide. In most of these Tribal homes and businesses – 37,281 of them – carriers must deliver speeds of at least 25/3 Mbps. The authorization on Tribal lands in 13 states was part of a nationwide authorization of over $4.9 billion in support over the next decade for 455,334 homes and businesses served by 171 carriers in 39 states and American Samoa.

Pluralities in most emerging economies believe government should ensure equal internet access

Internet use is rising in emerging economies, but access to fast, reliable service remains elusive to many living in these nations.