October 2020

Op-ed: The US Finally Has a Sputnik Moment With China (Foreign Policy)

Submitted by benton on Thu, 10/29/2020 - 16:19

Most Parents of K-12 Students Learning Online Worry About Them Falling Behind (Pew Research Center)

Submitted by benton on Thu, 10/29/2020 - 14:13

Coronavirus-Driven Downturn Hits Newspapers Hard as TV News Thrives (Pew Research Center)

Submitted by benton on Thu, 10/29/2020 - 14:12

Remarks Of Chairman Ajit Pai To The CTIA 5G Summit

Back in 2017, 5G was a big focus of my remarks. But back then, 5G was largely hypothetical and aspirational. This year, I’m speaking to you just a few days after the release of the first 5G iPhone. Over the past three-plus years, 5G has gotten real—very real. How did we get from there to here? Obviously, many of you in the audience led the way. But I’d like to think the Federal Communications Commission put a tailwind at your back. I’d like to walk through the actions we’ve taken at the FCC to accelerate the arrival of the 5G revolution.

Chairman Pai Remarks to Calix Connexions Conference

I wanted to use my remarks to talk more broadly about the Federal Communications Commission’s efforts to connect all Americans. The FCC’s first and foremost mission is to help ensure that every American can access advanced communications. On my first full day in this job in Jan 2017, I convened a meeting of the FCC’s staff. I told them that our number one priority would be closing the digital divide and bringing the benefits of the Internet age to all Americans. And for good reason.

FCC Kicks Off Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Auction

The Federal Communications Commission announced the start of bidding in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction, which will target up to $16 billion to deploy networks to serve up to 10.25 million Americans that currently lack access to fixed broadband service meeting the FCC’s benchmark speeds. The auction has attracted significant interest, with 386 providers qualified to bid, representing a more than 75% increase over the number that qualified for the Commission’s successful 2018 Connect America Phase II auction.

Broadband Surge Continues Amidst COVID-19

Comcast now has over 30 million broadband customers, by far the largest broadband provider in the US. Usually, Comcast’s broadband gains overshadow modest broadband performance at rivals AT&T and Verizon. But broadband growth during COVID-19 is shared. Combined, AT&T and Verizon added nearly 500K fiber broadband subscribers during the third quarter of 2020 -- as Comcast added 633,000 customers.

Comcast Adds 633,000 Broadband Customers

Comcast reported results for the quarter ended September 30, 2020. The company added a record 633,000 high-speed internet customers. Highspeed internet revenue increased 10.1%, due to an increase in the number of residential high-speed internet customers and an increase in average rates. Wireless revenue increased 22.8%, due to an increase in the number of customer lines.

How to Cover Election Day and Beyond (Aspen Institute)

Submitted by benton on Thu, 10/29/2020 - 11:09

In the Future, Voting Could Be as Simple as Texting (Aspen Institute)