Press Release

The House Subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection, chaired by Rep Bob Latta (R-OH), held a hearing to discuss how businesses are leveraging the Internet of Things (IoT) to create, innovate, and connect. Following the bipartisan IoT Showcase, witnesses discussed how various industries are capitalizing on network connectivity, what this means for consumers across the country, and challenges hampering advancement and further innovation in this space.

“We are seeing IoT revolutionize a variety of industries and optimize everything from manufacturing and home appliances to automobiles and healthcare,” said Chairman Latta in his opening statement. “These connected devices offer consumers and businesses significant benefits. For businesses, IoT is improving efficiency and increasing productivity all while helping drive down overhead costs. For consumers, IoT provides quick responsive services, enhanced experiences and convenience.”

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai issued the following statement on introduction of the Gigabit Opportunity (GO) Act (HR 2870) by Rep Doug Collins (R-GA) originally co-sponsored by Rep Jason Smith (R-MO). The companion bill in the Senate was introduced by Sen Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV).

Pai said, “I'm thrilled to see the effort to establish Gigabit Opportunity Zones continue to gain steam in the House of Representatives, thanks to Congressman Collins' leadership in introducing the GO Act. This legislation, which complements legislation introduced last month by Senator Shelley Moore Capito, would create targeted tax incentives and streamline regulations in order to remove some of the barriers that hold back high-speed Internet access in too many communities I'm thankful for Congressman Collins’ leadership on this issue. Having just traveled across five Midwestern and Northern Plains states, I can tell you that much of rural America is on the wrong side of the digital divide. Many urban areas are, too. Encouraging investment in economically disadvantaged communities can close that divide and benefit all Americans."

New to the Federal Communications Commission’s list of items on circulation an un-docketed item on protecting the privacy of customers of broadband and other telecommunications services; implementation of the Telecommunications Act of 1996; and telecommunications carriers' use of CPNI and other customer information.

Today, the DC Circuit agreed with my position that the FCC exceeded its authority when it attempted to impose rate caps on intrastate calls made by inmates. Looking ahead, I plan to work with my colleagues at the Commission, Congress, and all stakeholders to address the problem of high inmate calling rates in a lawful manner.

Federal Communications Commission Ajit Pai announced that the agency has chosen Lisa Fowlkes to serve as chief of the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, continuing the work she has been doing as acting chief.

The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau manages the FCC’s work pertaining to public safety, homeland security, national security, emergency management and preparedness, and disaster response and recovery. The bureau’s responsibilities include matters related to 911 communications service, public safety communications, network reliability and resiliency, emergency preparedness, and emergency alerting. Bureau staff also work closely with federal partners and local public safety entities.

Prior to serving as acting bureau chief, Ms. Fowlkes served as a deputy bureau chief responsible for development and implementation of FCC policies in the areas of network reliability and emergency alerting. She has also served in senior positions in the agency’s Enforcement Bureau, Office of Communications Business Opportunities, Office of General Counsel, the former Public Safety & Private Wireless Division, the former Cable Services Bureau, and as an attorney in the former Mass Media Bureau. Ms. Fowlkes has practiced law at a Washington, DC law firm. She earned her undergraduate degree from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania and her law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

Public Knowledge joined Consumer Federation of America, Center For Digital Democracy, Consumer Action, Consumer Federation of California, and Privacy Rights Clearinghouse in a letter urging Federal Trade Commission Acting Chairman Maureen Ohlhausen to protect consumer privacy.

Acting Chairman Ohlhausen has made numerous statements indicating she is eager to demonstrate the ability of the FTC to protect consumer privacy in the telecommunications sector. The 9th Circuit’s recently vacated decision allows the FTC to go forward on enforcement actions concerning the non-common carrier activities of communications providers. Addressing our complaint provides the FTC an immediate opportunity to clarify whether the FTC does or does not have the authority to protect our digital privacy. In a recent Harvard-Harris poll, 9 in 10 Americans think they have less privacy today than they did 10 years ago, and 90% agree that companies have more access to their personal information than they are comfortable with. Americans need to know what protections they can count on, and they need to know now. We encourage FTC Acting Chairman Ohlhausen to let Americans know where their online privacy protections stand by responding to our complaint.

After a nationwide search for the American Library Association’s (ALA) new Associate Executive Director (AED), Washington (DC) Office, ALA has announced the appointment of Kathi Kromer to the role. Prior to joining ALA, Kromer was with The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Association for 11 years where she was their Vice President, Strategy and Outreach. While with ALS, Kromer created and executed public policy and outreach strategy for ALS, with the goals of raising awareness, improving the lives of people with ALS, advancing ALS research, increasing organizational and government funding, and creating strategic partnerships. She worked collaboratively in cross-functional teams to integrate mission priorities of advocacy, care services, and research.

Kromer has a Master of Arts, International Commerce and Policy from George Mason University, Fairfax (VA) and a Bachelor of Arts, History and Political Science from University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown (PA). Kromer has more than 20 years’ experience working with Congress as well as with state governments.

The Mozilla Foundation launched a new Tech Policy Fellowship.

The program is designed to give individuals with deep expertise in government and Internet policy the support and structure they need to continue their Internet health work. The fellows, who hail from around the globe, will spend the next year working independently on a range of tech policy issues. They will collaborate closely with Mozilla’s policy and advocacy teams, as well as the broader Mozilla network and other key organizations in tech policy. Each fellow will bring their expertise to important topics currently at issue in the United States and around the world.

Fellows include: Gigi Sohn, Alan Davidson, Linet Kwamboka, Amina Fazlullah, Camille Fischer, Caroline Holland, Terah Lyons, Marilia Monteiro, Jason Schultz, and Cori Zarek.

The Federal Communications Commission’s Connect2Health Task Force announced updates to its Mapping Broadband Health in America platform. The 2017 platform now reflects the latest complete annual fixed broadband dataset from the Commission and updated health data from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s County Health Rankings. As telehealth, telemedicine, and other cutting-edge mHealth initiatives gain momentum across the country, this web-based mapping platform enables more efficient, data-driven decision making at the intersection of broadband and health.

I am pleased that the Commission is demonstrating its continued commitment to the Connect2HealthFCC Task Force and the Mapping Broadband Health in America platform with the release of today’s update. For far too many rural and underserved consumers, the broadband health picture remains bleak By investing in this vital broadband health mapping platform and unveiling a new list of critical need counties, the Commission is providing the data needed to ensure connectivity reaches those communities most in need. I am confident that when relevant stakeholders work together across sectors, we will successfully break boundaries at the intersection of broadband and health policy.