What's on the agenda for policymakers.
Agenda
North Carolina Representatives, Superintendents Rally to Save Affordable Connectivity Program
The Affordability Connectivity Program, a federal program that helped lower-income households pay their Internet bills and connect to the Internet, fully expires at the end of May, but Rep Kathy Manning (D-NC) is calling for it to continue. Rep Manning enlisted Guilford County and Rockingham County schools superintendents and State Senator Michael Garrett (D-27), to help make the case. Rockingham County Superintendent John Stover said the school district invested effort and dollars, alongside other partners, toward expanding infrastructure for families to access the Internet in the county.
![](https://www.benton.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/fcc_95.png?itok=3bkCN5-H)
Chairwoman Rosenworcel Proposes Internet Routing Security Reporting Requirements
Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel proposed requiring the largest broadband providers to file confidential reports on Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) security so the FCC and its national security partners can for the first time collect more up-to-date information about this critical internet routing intersection.
![](https://www.benton.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/ntia_73.jpeg?itok=HfMToNme)
Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2025 National Telecommunications and Information Administration Budget
On May 15, the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology held a hearing titled “The Fiscal Year 2025 National Telecommunications and Information Administration Budget.” House Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Subcommittee Chair Bob Latta (R-OH), and Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information Alan Davidson all delivered remarks.
Sen Cruz to propose extending Affordable Connectivity Program—with big changes
Sen Ted Cruz (R-TC) will propose plans May 16 to maintain the Affordable Connectivity Program in a slimmed-down new form.
BAND-NC, with support from The Dogwood Health Trust, invites digital inclusion partners from around North Carolina to the Digital Opportunities Gathering on June 4, 2024, at Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock, NC.
Mediacom Boosts Speeds, Adds Low-Cost ACP Replacement Service
Mediacom has increased the download speeds of two of its service tiers and introduced a new plan aimed at economically challenged households that could be a low-cost option for households losing their Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) benefit. The service provider’s Xtream Internet 100 will become Xtream Internet 250, with download speeds increasing from 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) to 250 Mbps. The Xtream Internet 300 tier will become Xtream Internet 500, with download speeds increasing from 300 Mbps to 500 Mbps. The switch will be flipped on the higher download speeds on May 17.
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), Federal Highways Administration (FHWA), and NTIA will jointly host a webinar on Broadband Deployments in State DOT Rights-of-Way.
A Bipartisan Roadmap for Artificial Intelligence Policy
The Bipartisan Senate AI Working Group comprised of Senator Todd Young (R-IN), Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY), Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD), and Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) today released a roadmap for artificial intelligence policy in the United States Senate. This AI policy roadmap summarizes the findings of the bipartisan working group and highlights policy topics that the group believes merit bipartisan consideration in the Senate in the 118th Congress and beyond.
![](https://www.benton.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/court-gavel_26.jpg?itok=BgEurXMj)
AT&T paid bribes to get two major pieces of legislation passed, US government says
The US government has provided more detail on how a former AT&T executive allegedly bribed a powerful state lawmaker's ally in order to obtain legislation favorable to AT&T's business. Former AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza is set to go on trial in September 2024 after being indicted on charges of conspiracy to unlawfully influence then-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan (D).