July 2021

Republicans block debate on infrastructure bill, but final deal could solidify within days (Washington Post)

Submitted by Grace Tepper on Wed, 07/21/2021 - 16:30

Committee GOP Members Urge Leader Schumer to Follow Regular Order to Advance Broadband in Infrastructure Legislation (Senate Commerce Committee)

Submitted by Grace Tepper on Wed, 07/21/2021 - 16:30

Sens Wicker, Capito, Young Introduce Bill to Explore Collecting USF Contributions from Big Tech

Sens Roger Wicker (R-MS), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Todd Young (R-IN) introduced the Funding Affordable Internet with Reliable (FAIR) Contributions Act. The legislation would direct the Federal Communications Commission to conduct a study into the feasibility of collecting Universal Service Fund (USF) contributions from internet edge providers such as YouTube, Netflix, and Google. The FAIR Contributions Act would:

1996

Benton launches its Headlines newsletter, a free, reliable, and non-partisan daily digest that curates and distributes news connecting communications, democracy, and public interest issues.

Sound Partners for Community Health (1996-2006), a national regranting program, brings public television and radio stations and community partners together to produce public health programs. Sound Partners is funded by The Robert Woods Johnson Foundation with $10 million over ten years.

Does Section 230 Have Limits? (Wall Street Journal)

Submitted by Grace Tepper on Wed, 07/21/2021 - 15:19

Sponsor:

Federal Communications Commission

Date:

Thu, 08/19/2021 - 15:00

At this meeting, the Task Force will hear updates from the Working Group leadership and discuss progress towards recommendations.

Read more about Task Force for Reviewing the Connectivity and Technology Needs of Precision Agriculture in the United States

1995

The Learning Connection: Schools in the Information Age becomes the first of Benton's What's Going On reports, which map communications policies, practices, and principles in key areas where the public interest is being contested, including schools, libraries, and health care. The Learning Connection, funded by the Joyce and Kellogg Foundations, helps inform debates that lead to new universal service provisions in the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

1994

Gathering 700 non-profit leaders to claim a stake in setting a national agenda for the new media environment, Benton organizes the Public Interest Summit, broadcast live on C-SPAN and NPR. The Summit is funded by a dozen foundations including Ford, MacArthur, Carnegie, Kellogg, and Packard. Produced in cooperation with the White House's National Information Infrastructure Task Force, Vice President Al Gore delivers the keynote address.

1993

In the 1990’s, Benton organizes a series of ground-breaking conferences for the emerging digital age in an effort to carve out a vigorous and inclusive public interest culture. Access and Equity in the Emerging Communications Environment is the first national meeting to raise the bar on the definition of universal service with scholars, policymakers, and public interest advocates debating a set of commissioned papers.

Craig Moffett: Dish deal ‘terrible’ for AT&T

Long-time analyst Craig Moffett said "AT&T has let Dish off the hook" in Dish's new services agreement with AT&T, which guarantees AT&T at least $5 billion in wholesale revenue over ten years. With a two-year “transition period” on top, it is arguably more like a twelve-year deal, and that’s a “huge, game-changing win” for Dish, Moffett said.

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