What's on the agenda for policymakers.
Agenda
Silicon Valley is facing a new enemy in antitrust push -- state attorneys general
Silicon Valley doesn’t just have to worry about antitrust action in Washington. States are becoming an important and perhaps more formidable force when it comes to addressing competition in the technology industry. “There’s been a tendency to just rely on the federal government to play the lead role,” said Gene Kimmelman, a senior adviser at Public Knowledge.
Trump allies plot new war on social media
President Trump's campaign and key allies plan to make allegations of bias by social media platforms a core part of their 2020 strategy. Look for ads, speeches and sustained attacks on Facebook and Twitter in particular, the sources say. The irony: The social platforms are created and staffed largely by liberals — but often used most effectively in politics by conservatives. The charges of overt bias by social media platforms are way overblown, several studies have found. But, if the exaggerated claims stick, it could increase the chances of regulatory action by Republicans
Big Telecom's sweet summer of revenge
After years of frustration that Silicon Valley companies seemed to get special treatment in Washington, telecommunications giants are finally (re)gaining the upper hand. They are now starting to feel more able to compete with tech giants as they all jockey to dominate how we communicate and access information.
This hearing will examine the innovations high-speed broadband services bring to rural America in a variety of sectors such as agriculture, education, health care, and small business. The hearing will also explore the need to bring additional reliable broadband connectivity to rural America.
Witnesses:
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2019
Pre-Conference Session
10:30 am Graduate Student Consortium (by invitation)
11:30 am Capitol Hill Briefing
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2019
8:00 am Registration
9-10:40 am Paper Session I
(Five simultaneous tracks of 3 papers per session.)
BDAC will receive status reports and updates from its three working groups: Disaster Response and Recovery, Increasing Broadband Investment in Low-Income Communities, and Broadband Infrastructure Deployment Job Skills and Training Opportunities.
9:30 AM – CALL TO ORDER AND ANNOUNCEMENTS BDAC
- Chair Elizabeth Bowles | DFO Justin Faulb
9:35 AM – OPENING REMARKS Commissioner Brendan Carr
9:40 AM – DISASTER RESPONSE AND RECOVERY WORKING GROUP PRESENTATION
The Summit will bring together leaders from government, business, and higher education to explore trends in technology and to stimulate discussions about technology-related needs in industry and education.
Guest of Honor
U.S. Senator Roger Wicker
Chairman, Senate Commerce Committee
Keynote Speaker
David Cohen
Senior Executive Vice President, Comcast Corporation
Guest Speaker
Ajit Pai
Chairman, United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
AT&T, FTC reach settlement over data throttling lawsuit
AT&T has reached a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission over a 2014 lawsuit related to the carrier’s data throttling practices and disclosures. A court filing shows AT&T has approved final terms of the deal, and the parties are requesting a 90-day stay through November 21 so FTC Commissioners can vote on the settlement.
The purpose of the Workshop is to engage the public and stakeholders with information to accelerate broadband connectivity, improve digital inclusion, and support local priorities. The Workshop will provide information on topics including local broadband planning, funding, and engagement with service providers. Speakers and attendees from Nevada, federal agencies, and across the country will come together to explore ways to facilitate the expansion of broadband capacity, access, and utilization.