Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Headlines Daily Digest
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FCC Announces Staff for Office of International Affairs & Space Bureau
Equity
Net Neutrality
Platforms/Social Media/AI
Labor
Satellites
Stories From Abroad
Policymakers
Equity
During the U.S. Department of Education’s National Digital Equity Summit, Secretary Miguel Cardona emphasized that “interagency collaboration matters.” Siloing efforts to close the digital divide between different sectors can impede the capacity for collective, sustainable impact. Through the broadband and digital equity programs included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), led by the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), we have an opportunity to fully harness the power of partnerships between state educational agencies and broadband leaders, toward a shared vision of digital equity. To achieve the vision articulated in the IIJA for a future where all “individuals and communities have the information technology capacity that is needed for full participation in the society and economy,” the Department urges state leaders to collaboratively strategize to advance digital opportunities for all learners. As part of the first phase of implementing these programs, states will develop digital equity plans throughout 2023.
The Federal Communications Commission' Wireline Competition Bureau announced that comments in response to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on issues related to the Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act of 2022 are due no later than May 8, 2023, and reply comments are due no later than June 6, 2023. The Notice, which seeks comment on matters related to implementing the new Act and establishing just and reasonable rates and charges for incarcerated people’s communications services, requires that comments and reply comments be filed no later than 30 days and 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. On April 7, 2023, the Federal Register published a summary of the Notice, establishing May 8, 2023, as the deadline for comments and June 6, 2023, as the deadline for reply comments.
There is an interesting recent discussion in Europe about net neutrality that has relevance to the US broadband market. The European Commission that oversees telecommunications and broadband has started taking comments on a proposal to force content generators like Netflix to pay fees to Internet service providers (ISP) for using the Internet. This was one of the issues that convinced the Federal Communications Commission to first implement net neutrality. When net neutrality was discussed in the US, there was a good argument made by content providers that subscribers are already paying for end-to-end use of the Internet in the monthly fees paid to ISPs. Charging the content providers for using the Internet would amount to billing twice for the same traffic. Since the original net neutrality discussion here, US broadband prices charged by cable companies have increased significantly, making it even more true that customers are supporting the Internet. Another way to think about the issue is that video is the service that drives a lot of households to buy broadband. The net neutrality issue is one of the most interesting topics from a regulatory perspective. As much as ISPs hate the idea of federal regulations, their biggest fear is a hodgepodge of different regulations in states.
The United Kingdom announced its wireless infrastructure strategy on April 11, 2023. As part of this effort, the UK aims to deliver nationwide coverage of standalone 5G to all populated areas by 2030, ensuring that it can bring its full benefits to villages and rural communities well beyond cities and towns. The Prime Minister has set out 5 priorities for the UK government - to build a better, more secure, more prosperous future for the UK, including growing the economy, and creating better-paid jobs and opportunity right across the country, which this strategy is focused on delivering. The UK can only deliver on that priority with world-class digital infrastructure. Advanced wireless connectivity will be the foundation on which it builds industries, jobs, skills and services for the future, and this strategy sets out a plan to harness its potential for the economy and for society. The next decade will see seismic changes both in terms of what wireless connectivity can deliver and how the UK can use it. The economic and social benefits from these changes promise to be vast, from supercharging growth to accelerating our transition to net zero. But we can only realise these benefits with concerted action from government, industry, and others. This strategy sets out our plan to do just that.
The Federal Communications Commission officially launched its new Space Bureau and Office of International Affairs on April 11, 2023. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel thanked the outstanding public servants who will staff these reorganized offices and announced key leadership appointments: Julie Kearney as Chief of the Space Bureau, Ethan Lucarelli as Chief of the Office of International Affairs, Ronald Repasi as Chief of the Office of Engineering and Technology, and Joel Taubenblatt as Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. Julie Kearney, the first Chief of the FCC’s new Space Bureau, joined the Commission in February as Senior Counsel to help lead this transition. Ethan Lucarelli, the first Chief of the Office of International Affairs, has most recently served as Legal Advisor to Chairwoman Rosenworcel on wireless and international policy issues. He also advised the Chairwoman on public safety and served as an advisor in the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. Joel Taubenblatt is now Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau after serving in an acting capacity in that role in recent years. Before that, he served as Deputy Bureau Chief, Chief of the Competition and Infrastructure Policy Division, and Chief of the Broadband Division. Ronald Repasi is now Chief of the Office of Engineering and Technology after serving in an acting capacity in that role in recent years. He joined the office in 2003 and served as Deputy Chief since 2007. He has also worked in the FCC’s then-International Bureau and as the agency’s liaison to the Inter-department Radio Advisory Committee.
Benton (www.benton.org) provides the only free, reliable, and non-partisan daily digest that curates and distributes news related to universal broadband, while connecting communications, democracy, and public interest issues. Posted Monday through Friday, this service provides updates on important industry developments, policy issues, and other related news events. While the summaries are factually accurate, their sometimes informal tone may not always represent the tone of the original articles. Headlines are compiled by Kevin Taglang (headlines AT benton DOT org), Grace Tepper (grace AT benton DOT org), and David L. Clay II (dclay AT benton DOT org) — we welcome your comments.
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