What's on the agenda for policymakers.
Agenda
The federal Lifeline Program provides low-income consumers with a monthly discount on their phone or internet service. This is an important benefit that helps consumers stay connected to family, work, education, and health services among many other aspects of their daily lives. With the implementation of the National Verifier, consumers and Lifeline providers can verify applicant eligibility in a faster, more efficient and more accurate manner.
Senate Commerce Committee Oversight Hearing of the Federal Communications Commission
The Senate Commerce Committee held an oversight hearing of the Federal Communications Commission. Some highlights:
The Hill has been abuzz about broadband infrastructure over the past few weeks. Congress is considering several bills that specifically address the need for high-quality broadband - but not all proposals acknowledge the connectivity needs of anchor institutions. "Scoring Congressional Broadband Proposals" will examine the broadband bills most likely to become law and discuss those with the most potential to attain the National Broadband Plan's goal of gigabit connectivity for all community anchor institutions.
Regional teams that span jurisdictions and disciplines are working together on projects to address issues that impact an entire region such as economic development, resiliency, health, public safety, connectivity, agriculture, mobility, and more. Join BroadbandUSA to learn about these efforts and others that cross jurisdictional boundaries to create efficiencies, improve sustainability, and increase the quality of life for all residents.
Speakers:
Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) as well as leading advocates for digital privacy and civil rights will brief Hill staff and the press on how people of color, women, immigrants, the LGBTQ community and other marginalized groups are harmed by the commercial surveillance system and suggest possible remedies.
Any privacy legislation must be grounded in civil rights and focused on minimizing the disparate and discriminatory impacts of data, digital and algorithmic practices.
States Add to Scrutiny on Google, Facebook, Other Big Tech
State attorneys general are preparing for their own investigations into big tech platforms including Google and Facebook, based on concerns that largely mirror those driving probes by the Justice Department, the Federal Trade Commission and Congress. Several state attorneys general and aides said a core group of AGs has been discussing how to address antitrust-related concerns around big tech companies for some months.
Fresh Hurdle for Bipartisanship on Privacy
Two House lawmakers looking to craft a consensus data privacy bill found themselves on opposite sides of an emerging debate: whether legislation should create a new privacy division at the Federal Trade Commission. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), who heads the House Commerce Committee's Consumer Protection Subcommittee, said she’ll pursue that option.
The agenda at this meeting will feature a report from each of the Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment (ACDDE) Working Groups. Each of the Working Groups will report on their work under the current ACDDE charter, which expires July 5, 2019.