US Senate
Lawmakers Ask Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg How the Company Will Prevent Election-Related Misinformation (US Senate)
Submitted by Grace Tepper on Wed, 12/22/2021 - 15:02Senators Markey, Baldwin and Reps Eshoo, DeFazio Reintroduce Legislation to Protect Community Television (US Senate)
Submitted by Grace Tepper on Fri, 12/10/2021 - 15:58Sen Warren Calls on DOJ and SEC to Open Criminal and Civil Investigations into Facebook
Sen Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) sent a letter to United States Attorney General Merrick Garland and Gary Gensler, Chair of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) and SEC to open criminal and civil investigations into Facebook to determine if the company or its executives violated US wire fraud and securities laws.
Senators announce legislation to ensure transparency at social media platforms
US Sens Chris Coons (D-DE), Rob Portman (R-OH), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) announced the Platform Accountability and Transparency Act (PATA), a new bipartisan bill that would require social media companies to provide vetted, independent researchers and the public with access to certain platform data. While major social media companies retain granular data on their products’ impact on Americans and our communities, only a small fraction of it is ever made available to the public.
Lawmakers Introduce Bicameral Bill to Protect Consumers From Online Free Trial Scams
Sen Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Rep Yvette Clarke (D-NY) introduced the Consumer Online Payment Transparency and Integrity Act (S.3298), or Consumer OPT-IN Act, to protect consumers from online free trial scams and deceptive marketing tactics. To do this, the Consumer OPT-In Act will:
Sens Wicker and Thune introduce the NTIA Reauthorization and Reform Act
Sens Roger Wicker (R-MS) and John Thune (R-SD) introduced the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Reauthorization and Reform Act (S.3288). The NTIA Reauthorization and Reform Act would:
Senators Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect and Expand Rural Broadband Access
Co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Broadband Caucus Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Sen John Thune (R-SD) introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen the funding mechanisms for the Universal Service Fund (USF), which promotes universal access to broadband and other telecommunications services. The USF -- which includes programs to support broadband access in rural communities, facilitate rural health care, and expand access to affordable broadband service for low-income families, schools, and libraries -- is largely funded by fees imposed on landlines.
Outdoor Recreation Act, introduced by Sens Manchin and Barrasso, aims to construct broadband infrastructure at recreation sites (US Senate)
Submitted by Grace Tepper on Mon, 11/22/2021 - 17:16Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Telehealth Access
Sens Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Steve Daines (R-MT), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Jerry Moran (R-KS) introduced the bipartisan Expanded Telehealth Access Act. During COVID-19, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) expanded access to telehealth services to a range of health care providers, and this legislation would permanently expand that eligibility.