Benton Institute Mourns Loss of Leonard Jay Schrager
Tuesday, July 30, 2024
July 2024
Benton Editorial
Benton Editorial
HHS Reorganizes Technology, Cybersecurity, Data, and Artificial Intelligence Strategy and Policy Functions
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a reorganization that will streamline and bolster technology, cybersecurity, data, and artificial intelligence (AI) strategy and policy functions. This reorganization will clarify and consolidate these critical functions, as follows:
NTIA: New BEAD guidelines could let states use unlicensed spectrum
Alan Davidson, Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), said that the agency is going to put out a guidelines document in a couple of weeks that will outline the use of alternate technologies in Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) projects. NTIA stated from the beginning that fiber is its preferred technology for BEAD projects. But in cases where that isn’t economical, other technologies such as licensed wireless or coaxial cable may be approved for BEAD funds.
The National Broadband Map is Getting Better—But We Need to Accelerate Improvements to Drive Better Decisions
We should not take our foot off the gas when it comes to the importance of better mapping, considering it’s at the heart of so much in the rural broadband space. Congress charged the Federal Communications Commission in early 2020 with creating a national broadband availability map. It is only fair to say that the national broadband map is better than any broadband availability dataset before it, and that it keeps getting better. But we are in no position to declare “mission accomplished” or even “good enough” when it comes to the national broadband map.
Senate lawmakers turn to online content creators to push legislation (Washington Post)
Submitted by zwalker@benton.org on Tue, 07/30/2024 - 10:03Low-income homes drop Internet service after Congress kills discount program
The death of the US government's Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is starting to result in disconnection of Internet service for Americans with low incomes. Charter Communications reported a net loss of 154,000 Internet subscribers that it said was mostly driven by customers canceling after losing the federal discount.
Deepfakes' parody loophole (Axios)
Submitted by zwalker@benton.org on Tue, 07/30/2024 - 09:48Zoom is the new political rally
Gatherings of tens of thousands of Vice President Harris' supporters are raising millions of dollars for her campaign—and it's happening on Zoom. These online eve