US Senate
Members of Congress to NTIA and FCC: Don't Delay BEAD for Better Broadband Maps
We write with great appreciation of your efforts to implement the historic provisions of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to make high-speed internet accessible and affordable for all Americans.
Sen Warner (D-VA) Presses FCC on Broadband Map Challenges
The Virginia Office of Broadband submitted a challenge to the Federal Communications Commission, pointing to a significant number of locations in Virginia that are currently incorrectly reported on the most recent FCC broadband coverage map. In partnership with Virginia Tech, the Virginia Office of Broadband found that there are approximately 358,000 locations in Virginia that are reported on the new map as being served when, in fact, they currently lack access to broadband.
Sen Warren to FCC: Promote Competition in Media Industry by Blocking Hedge Fund Standard General’s Acquisition of Tegna (US Senate)
Submitted by benton on Thu, 01/12/2023 - 09:44Senators Rosen (D-NV), Fischer (R-NE) and Young (R-IN) Bipartisan Data Mapping to Save Mom's Lives Act Signed Into Law
Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Deb Fischer (R-NE), and Todd Young (R-IN) applauded news that President Biden has signed their bipartisan Data Mapping to Save Moms’ Lives Act into law. The legislation would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to identify areas where high rates of poor maternal health outcomes overlap with lack of access to broadband services in order to pinpoint where telehealth services can be most effective.
26 Senators Tell the FCC to Fix the New National Broadband Map
Twenty-six US senators—led by Sens Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Roger Wicker (R-MS), John Thune (R-SD)—sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel highlighting important next steps in ensuring that the National Broadband Map provides a reliable depiction of broadband availability across the country. The senators are calling on the FCC to:
Sen. Markey (D-MA) and Rep. Meng (D-NY) Call on Congress to Include $1 Billion for Emergency Connectivity Fund
Sen Markey and Rep Meng urged Congressional leadership to include $1 billion in the disaster supplemental division of the year-end omnibus for the Federal Communications Commission's Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF), which supports devices and broadband services for students and educators to connect to the internet at home. This funding would be sufficient for the FCC to fund every valid application it received in the most recent application window.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) Introduces Bill to Protect Children Online
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Shielding Children's Retinas from Egregious Exposure on the Net (SCREEN) Act, which would direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to issue a rule requiring all commercial pornographic websites to adopt age verification technology to ensure children cannot access pornographic content. Specifically, the SCREEN Act:
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) Introduces the Interstate Obscenity Definition Act
Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Interstate Obscenity Definition Act to establish a national definition of obscenity that would apply to obscene content transmitted via interstate or foreign communications. Obscenity is not protected under the First Amendment and is prohibited from interstate or foreign transmission. The Supreme Court, however, has struggled to define obscenity, and its current definition under the "Miller Test" runs into serious challenges when applied to the internet. Sen. Lee's bill would define "obscenity" within the Communications Act of 1934.