FCC Takes Next Steps to Combat Digital Discrimination

The Federal Communications Commission is seeking comment on next steps to promote and facilitate equal access to broadband internet service for everyone, with the goal of creating a framework for combatting digital discrimination that has caused harm to historically excluded and marginalized communities. Specifically, the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeks comment on:

• A proposed definition of “digital discrimination of access” as used in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
• Proposed revisions to the FCC’s informal consumer complaint process to accept complaints of digital discrimination.
• Proposed adoption of model policies and best practices for states and localities to combat digital discrimination based on recommendations from the Communications Equity and Diversity Council.
• Further details of the rules the Commission should adopt to facilitate equal access to broadband internet service and prevent “digital discrimination of access,” as well as identification of necessary steps for the elimination of such discrimination.

Section 60506 of the IIJA charged the FCC with several directives to combat digital discrimination, including those addressed in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.