June 2022

Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2022

This study was commissioned by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism to understand how news is being consumed in a range of countries. Research was conducted by YouGov using an online questionnaire at the end of January/beginning of February 2022. 2021’s report contained some positive signs for the news industry, with higher consumption and rising trust amidst a second wave of Coronavirus lockdowns.

SpaceX asks Starlink customers for support in wireless battle with Dish

SpaceX emailed Starlink customers June 28 asking for help in its battle against Dish Network over radio frequencies for its Starlink internet-from-space effort. Some Starlink customers received an email urging them to contact the Federal Communications Commission and members of Congress in order to support SpaceX in the ongoing dispute. “Today we ask for your support in ending a lobbying campaign that threatens to make Starlink unusable for you and the vast majority of our American customers,” the email reads in bold.

Wisconsin Public Service Commission Awards $125 Million in Broadband Funding

The Public Service Commission (PSC) of Wisconsin awarded $124,967,392 in funding for 71 projects in the state’s Broadband Expansion Grant Program. The projects, which are aimed at areas that are unserved or underserved, will bring broadband to more than 82,912 residences and 4,566 businesses in 45 counties. The projects will be supplemented by $185,780,074 in matching funds from recipients. In November 2021, Gov Tony Evers (D-WS) and PSC Chairperson Rebecca Cameron Valcq announced $100 million in broadband expansion grant funding.

AT&T prevails in ad spat over Charter internet reliability claims

AT&T won its latest battle with Charter Communications over marketing claims, with the National Advertising Division (NAD) recommending the latter discontinue advertisements which call into question the reliability of AT&T’s internet service. The ruling followed AT&T’s challenge of a Charter ad for its Spectrum service. The commercial in question claimed Spectrum won against “telephone internet companies” in terms of providing reliable and glitch-free internet service.

US and Spain Committed to Reducing the Digital Divide

Pedro Sánchez Pérez Castejón, the President of the Government of Spain, and President Joseph Biden, on the occasion of President Biden’s visit to Spain on June 28-30, 2022, reached a number of understandings including boosting digital, scientific, and technological cooperation. The United States and Spain defend a digital transformation based on a shared respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and democratic values, on reducing the digital divide, on preventing and addressing the disproportionate effects of online forms of violence and abuse on women, children, and other marginali