What's on the agenda for policymakers.
Agenda
Policy experts break down the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act statute. What are the key elements of this law? What policy decisions are NTIA and the States left to make? What are the requirements of receiving these funds? We will dive into next steps and answer questions that you may have about this historic program.
The webinar panel will include:
What is the state-of-the-art in wireless broadband Internet? What are the differences between wireless broadband and other wireless technologies like 4G/5G/LTE cellular mobile and satellite services? Is wireless as capacious, reliable, secure, sustainable, and scalable as fiber wireline solutions? What is the difference between licensed and unlicensed spectrum?
President Biden’s big broadband ambitions mean historic hurdles for NTIA
On January 11, the Senate confirmed Google and Mozilla alum Alan Davidson as director of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The agency will steer $48 billion in federal funding for broadband deployment, a massive sum that will test its capacity. Former NTIA chiefs David Redl and Larry Irving highlighted what they see as the biggest hurdles for Davidson and the agency’s upcoming agenda.
The committee will consider two bills:
- S. 2992, American Innovation and Choice Online Act (Klobuchar, Grassley, Durbin, Graham, Blumenthal, Kennedy, Booker, Hirono, Hawley)
- S. 2710, Open App Markets Act (Blumenthal, Blackburn, Klobuchar, Booker, Graham, Kennedy, Hirono, Hawley, Durbin)
Biden-Harris Administration Hits the Ground Running 60 Days into Infrastructure Implementation
Since President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act 60 days ago, the Biden-Harris Administration has hit the ground running to deliver results:
Hear from Ernesto Falcon, Senior Legislative Counsel at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes 21st century fiber access for all Americans in its policy work. Ernesto is a lead researcher and advocate that was deeply involved in pushing California to promote universal fiber infrastructure in its newest broadband program.
Rosenworcel & Davidson: With Leadership in Place, NTIA and FCC Must Now Work Together to Close the Digital Divide
On January 11, the U.S. Senate voted 60-31 to confirm the nomination of Alan Davidson to be the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information. Once sworn in, Davidson will lead the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which is President Joe Biden's principal adviser on telecommunications and information policy.
White House resumes its internet alliance efforts
The Biden administration is getting closer to launching its proposed Alliance for the Future of the Internet. Administration officials originally hoped to launch this effort of “like-minded countries” in early December 2021 in tandem with the president’s Summit for Democracy.
Republican Lawmakers Urge Democrats to Hold NTIA Oversight Hearing
House Energy and Commerce Republicans Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Bob Latta (R-OH) urged Committee Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Mike Doyle (D-PA) to hold an oversight hearing to review ongoing activities and programs at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). "The NTIA has not appeared before the Energy and Commerce Committee since the 115th Congress," said the lawmakers' letter.