Cox’s lawsuit is both misleading and unsupported by facts. The $108.7 million in federal funds allocated to Rhode Island through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program is a transformative opportunity designed to close the digital divide in our state by ensuring every resident has access to affordable, reliable, high-speed internet. The State of Rhode Island was awarded these funds only after the National Telecommunications and Information Administration approved the state’s Initial Proposal. And yet, our state’s leading provider, Cox, declined to engage in the robust, months-long public planning process on how the Corporation would deploy Rhode Island’s BEAD funds. Cox did not submit public comments on the design of the BEAD program, did not raise concerns at public Broadband Advisory Council meetings, and declined to share its network map information during the 90-day Rhode Island Broadband Map Challenge Process. Cox’s lawsuit is an attempt to prevent the investment of $108.7 million dollars in broadband infrastructure in Rhode Island, likely because it realizes that some, or even all, of that money may be awarded through a competitive process to other internet service providers. While Cox claims to care about those who cannot afford internet, it fails to mention that, under federal rules, this $108.7 million cannot be used, at this time, as Cox would prefer—to directly subsidize its customers’ bills. Instead, these BEAD dollars are first-and-foremost dedicated to improving Rhode Island’s broadband infrastructure and service. And, contrary to Cox’s assertions, parts of the state are indeed unserved or underserved, including areas that Cox claims are affluent. Whether an area is affluent or not has no bearing on the type of broadband service that is —or is not—available in that area.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has a unique opportunity today to help close the digital divide by authorizing high-powered two-way fixed wireless service in the 12.2-12.7 GHz band (the lower 12 GHz band). This will bring more upper mid-band spectrum to the market for high-powered, two-way fixed wireless service. Current terrestrial licensees have submitted a plan that, with Commission approval, would allow them to bring fixed broadband to consumers while protecting existing Direct Broadcast Satellite and non-geostationary satellite, fixed-satellite service customers in the band from harmful interference. This important action would have a number of public interest benefits. Notably, it would put 500 MHz of new upper mid-band spectrum into the market, introducing competition, which in turn leads to higher available speeds and lower prices for consumers. Under agreements with the licensees, portions of the band would also be made available free of charge to Tribal communities to develop broadband solutions that will meet their needs. Furthermore, it will empower an ecosystem where mid-band spectrum drives innovation, new technologies, and next-generation connectivity for American consumers and businesses. Expanding the lower 12 GHz band for fixed broadband has the support of a broad coalition of industry stakeholders and public interest advocates, as well as bipartisan support from Members of Congress on key committees of jurisdiction. Given current license holders’ assurances that fixed wireless service will not exceed established protection levels for satellite services, claims that such services already deployed in the band will experience harmful interference are unfounded.

[Michael Calabrese is Director of the Wireless Future Project, a project of the Open Technology Institute. Chris Lewis is President and CEO of Public Knowledge. Chip Pickering is the CEO of INCOMPAS. Andrew Jay Schwartzman is Benton Senior Counselor.]

Sens Katie Britt (R-AL) and John Fetterman (D-PA) introduced the Stop the Scroll Act, which would create a mental health warning label requirement for social media platforms. This bipartisan legislation would ensure all users, especially adolescents, are aware of the potential mental health risks posed by social media usage and are provided access to mental health resources. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy recently recommended a warning label be placed on social media platforms. Senators Britt and Fetterman’s Stop the Scroll Act would require the Surgeon General to develop and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to implement a label that warns each user of potential mental health impacts of accessing a respective social media platform. The warning would appear in a pop-up box format upon opening a social media platform.