May 2024

FCC Updates Guidance Regarding Locations and Broadband Coverage for Enhanced Alternative Connect America Model Mechanism

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) updated guidance regarding location and broadband coverage in the Enhanced Alternative Connect America Model (Enhanced ACAM) mechanism. Specifically, to best reflect deployment as of the August 30, 2023 offer, the Bureau will use FCC Broadband Data Collection broadband availability data as of June 30, 2023 to determine deployment obligations and support for locations in the December 2023 Serviceable Location Fabric for which such availability data are available.

FCC Waives Enhanced A-CAM Rule to Facilitate Deployment in West Virginia

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) waives the FCC’s rules, on its own accord, to include in West Side Telephone Company’s (West Side’s) Enhanced Alternative Connect America Model (Enhanced A-CAM) offer locations that would otherwise have been treated as served by a competitor due to a federally enforceable commitment by ClearFiber. This limited waiver applies only to the locations within West Side’s West Virginia study area where ClearFiber is no longer subject to a

Millions of Americans are about to lose internet access, and Congress is to blame

The Affordable Connectivity Program is about to run out—and Congress is watching it happen. When the ACP was created in 2021 as part of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the $14.2 billion Congress allocated was expected to last five years. But demand for the benefit was so high that in January the Federal Communications Commission announced the program would be winding down at the end of April, after just three years.

Uniti to Merge with Windstream Creating Premier Insurgent Fiber Provider

Uniti Group entered into a definitive agreement to merge with Windstream Holdings.

FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel's Response to Members of Congress Regarding Competitive Broadband Access in Multiple Tenant Environments

On April 3, members of Congress wrote to Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioners Carr, Starks, Simington, and Gomez expressing concern about the proposal to ban bulk billing agreements in multi-tenant buildings. Specifically, they asked that the FCC reconsider the proposal since in 2010 the FCC found that bulk billing arrangements “predominately benefit consumers.” On May 3, Chairwoman Rosenworcel responded, explaining that the proposal was designed to protect consumers, and would allow them to opt-out of bulk billing arrangements.

Sponsor: 

Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Data Security

Senate Commerce Committee

Date: 
Wed, 05/08/2024 - 14:30

The hearing will focus on the importance of data security, and how to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and accessibility of consumer data and safeguard data against unauthorized access, including through data minimization and robust data security practices.

Witnesses

  • James E. Lee, COO, Identity Theft Resource Center
  • Sam Kaplan, Director and Senior Global Policy Counsel, Palo Alto Networks
  • Prem Trivedi, Policy Director, New America’s Open Technology Institute

Witness list subject to change.



Chairwoman Rosenworcel's Response to Members of Congress Regarding Data Breach Reporting Requirements

In December 2023, members of Congress wrote to Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel expressing concern that proposed data breach reporting requirements would violate the Congressional Review Act. On May 3, Chairwoman Rosenworcel responded and explained that the new requirements were a needed update, and consistent with the Congressional Review Act.

A Busy DOCSIS 4.0 Interop Event Sets a New Downstream Speed Record

CableLabs and Kyrio hosted a combined DOCSIS 4.0 technology and Distributed Access Architecture (DAA) Interop•Labs event April 15–18 at our headquarters in Louisville, Colorado.