Open Technology Institute

Shopping for something online, streaming a video, or scrolling through an article all pose severe risks to personal privacy, as websites, platforms, apps, and tech companies collect massive amounts of data on their users. Just getting online in the first place, however, poses a great risk as well. Internet service providers (ISPs) are uniquely positioned to take advantage of personal data, as they have near-total access to all traffic flowing over their networks. Broadband providers routinely collect data on users’ locations, web browsing, app usage history, and more.

On February 4, New America's Open Technology Institute (OTI) filed comments to guide the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in successfully disbursing funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). In the comments, OTI urged NTIA to ensure its administration of the program results in the equitable deployment of broadband and improved access to affordable, quality broadband service.

New America's Open Technology Institute (OTI) wrote and submitted a letter—alongside Asian Americans Advancing Justice, the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, MediaJustice, and Public Knowledge—requesting the Federal Communications Commission commit resources and energy to ensure communities beyond English speakers are made aware of the opportunity provided by the Affordable Connectivity Program.

The Open Technology Institute urged the Federal Communications Commission to take action to improve broadband competition in multi-tenant environments (MTEs) such as apartment buildings. In comments submitted to the FCC, OTI outlined how internet providers broker kickbacks and other deals with property owners that block competitors from accessing the building. These anti-competitive agreements create de facto monopolies for the building’s tenants.