What's on the agenda for policymakers.
Agenda
New court ruling puts Universal Service Fund in hot water
In a ruling that quickly caused shock waves in the U.S. telecommunications industry, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled, 9-7, that the Universal Service Fund (USF) is unconstitutional as currently administered. The Court explained its ruling by saying that the USF is a “misbegotten tax” that violates Article I, § 1 of the Constitution, which states that all legislative powers are given to Congress, which is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Maryland leaders work to expand Wi-Fi in West Baltimore
Sen Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott (D-MD), and Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel spoke about plans to expand internet connectivity in Baltimore. The Enoch Pratt Free Library currently has about 2,000 hotspots in circulation. According to Meghan McCorkell, Enoch Pratt Free Library’s chief of marketing, communications and strategy, about 969 people are waiting for a hotspot.
Responses to Universal Service Fund Decision
After the Fifth Circuit ruled, 9-7, that the Universal Service Fund is unconstitutional as currently administered, we've seen the following responses.
What’s Next for Digital Equity? Preparing for the Competitive Grant Program
As required by the Digital Equity Act, the $1.25 billion Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program will be established soon, making hundreds of millions of dollars available in the first Notice of Funding Opportunity to implement digital inclusion projects. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act mandates that funding be directed towards programs designed to empower those impacted by the digital divide, known as Covered Populations.
How Harris and Trump differ on tech policy
Donald Trump supports a lighter regulatory touch on AI and other emerging technologies, while Vice President Kamala Harris understands the way AI is transforming communications and service delivery, and the need for public oversight. A President Harris would likely continue Biden’s tough antitrust enforcement.
Project 2025: What a second Trump term could mean for media and technology policies
Project 2025 echoes Donald Trump’s critical view of the media. As a result, it proposes to strip public broadcasting of its funding and legal status, thus endangering access to reliable news for American citizens. The authors allege that Big Tech colluded with the government to attack American values and advance “wokeism.” In response, they envision sweeping antitrust enforcement not on economic grounds, but for socio-political reasons.
Sen Warren Leads Senate Response to End of Chevron Doctrine
After a Supreme Court stacked with Trump-appointed justices overturned the 40-year-old Chevron deference doctrine, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Edward Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced the Stop Corporate Capture Act (SCCA). The SCCA codifies the Chevron doctrine and strengthens the rulemaking process to block corporations from hijacking our government. The legislation would:
Broadband policy tends to rely on the notion that true broadband can only be provided by wires. This general assumption affects how policymakers and others think about competition and how policy addresses it, as well as how we think about access and universal service. Availability and adoption of new technologies for home broadband, particularly fixed wireless access and service from low earth orbit satellites, challenge the long-held assumptions about possible market structure.
Illuminate Your Community’s Future: Join the Brightening Connected Communities Pilot Project
Imagine transforming your community’s lighting grid into a high-bandwidth communication network, extending coverage, and enhancing connectivity across neighborhoods and business parks. The Brightening Connected Communities with Innovation Pilot Project will identify and test a mix of community partners. Selected projects will demonstrate novel use cases of Signify’s BrightSites technology to increase connectivity and help solve public safety, public connectivity, and transportation challenges.