Press Release

Despite having just 60 days to create rules for the Affordable Connectivity Program, the Federal Communications Commission’s Report and Order represents an impressive effort to protect consumers. The rules deftly balance the tricky transition from the Emergency Broadband Benefit to the Affordable Connectivity Program by preventing the most vulnerable consumers from experiencing bill shock while maintaining the ease of enrollment for those who have demonstrated their ability or desire to pay for broadband. Unfortunately, although device access remains key to closing the digital divide and in

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel shared a Report and Order and Declaratory Ruling that would promote competition and increase choice for broadband services for people living and working in multiple tenant environments (MTEs). The measures, if adopted, would halt practices that evade long-existing FCC rules intended to allow tenants to choose their own provider. To promote broadband competition and deployment in MTEs, the Order and Declaratory Ruling, if adopted by a vote of the full FCC, would:

Gov Tim Walz (D-MN) and Lieutenant Gov Peggy Flanagan (D-MN) announced a series of proposals to expand economic opportunity in Minnesota as part of the Walz-Flanagan Budget to Move Minnesota Forward.

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced the appointment of a diverse group of leading technology experts to serve as members of the Technological Advisory Council (TAC). The TAC will hold its first meeting on Monday, February 28, 2022, beginning at 10:00 am EDT via video conference and will be available online. The advisory council provides technical expertise to the FCC to identify important areas of innovation and develop informed technology policies.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued new approvals that allow an estimated 62 percent of the US commercial fleet to perform low-visibility landings at airports where wireless companies deployed 5G C-band. The new safety buffer announced January 18 around airports in the 5G deployment further expanded the number of airports available to planes with previously cleared altimeters to perform low-visibility landings. The FAA early January 19 cleared another three altimeters. Even with these approvals, flights at some airports may still be affected.

To commemorate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves, Sens Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott (D-MD) joined Historically Black College and University (HBCU) presidents and representatives at a roundtable to discuss digital equity. The January 15 roundtable in Baltimore (MD) focused on closing the digital divide as a part of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides $65 billion dollars to expand broadband to unserved and underserved areas.

The Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA) will be allocating $10 million to ConnectMaine for the agency’s grant round in spring 2022 following approval from their Board of Directors on an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with ConnectMaine. Combined with existing bond funds available to ConnectMaine, $16 million will be granted to local communities and ISPs to expand broadband access — over four times more than ever before.

The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launched a joint public inquiry aimed at strengthening enforcement against illegal mergers. Recent evidence indicates that many industries across the economy are becoming more concentrated and less competitive, and that these problems are likely to persist or worsen due to an ongoing merger surge that has more than doubled merger filings from 2020 to 2021.

The Federal Communications Commission adopted a Report and Order and Further Notice that provides detailed guidance for the Affordable Connectivity Program, a $14.2 billion federal initiative that offers qualifying households discounts on their internet service bills and an opportunity to receive a discount on a computer or tablet from participating providers. The Affordable Connectivity Program will provide eligible households with discounts of up to $30 a month for broadband service, and up to $75 a month if the household is on Tribal lands.

Since President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act 60 days ago, the Biden-Harris Administration has hit the ground running to deliver results: