What's on the agenda for policymakers.
Agenda
Net Inclusion 2018 welcomes digital inclusion community practitioners, advocates, academics, Internet service providers, and policymakers to discuss:
- local, state and federal policies and policy innovations impacting digital equity,
- sources of financial and programmatic support of digital inclusion programs,
- and digital inclusion best practices from across the country.
No details yet, but House Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) announced that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg will testify before the committee on Wednesday, April 11th, at 10:00 a.m. regarding the company’s use and protection of user data.
Facebook Tries to Help Users Better Assess Stories in Its News Feed
Facebook's users in the US will see a news publisher’s Wikipedia page and how frequently an article has been shared on Facebook as part of the updates the company tries to fight the spread of false and sensational information through its platform. Users will see an “about this article” button with additional information, including related articles on the same topic, other recent stories posted by the publisher and a link to the publisher’s Wikipedia page.
Trump's War With Amazon and the Washington Post Is Personal
With White House staff departures and diminished roles for thems that remain, there's just one star in the Trump administration—a situation President Trump is obviously enjoying. And his new freedom is used to focus ever more closely on his perceived enemies and obsessions. Amazon, whose owner, Jeff Bezos, also owns The Washington Post, is currently the main target. President Trump is discussing ways to escalate his Twitter attacks on Amazon to further damage the company. President Trump wants the Post Office to increase Amazon’s shipping costs.
How to regulate Facebook
No federal law spells out what companies trading in personal information can do with user data. No federal agency has clear jurisdiction over writing rules for internet companies. And public concern about personal data falling into the wrong hands has only recently swelled. Now lawmakers are feeling the heat.
Carriers Are Hoarding America’s Bandwidth. Google Just Wants Them to Share
A Google-led plan to overhaul how valuable airwaves are used for calls and texts is gaining momentum across the wireless industry, giving the company the chance to play a central role in networks of the future. Citizens Broadband Radio Service, or CBRS, is a fat slice of the US airwaves being freed from the military’s exclusive control. Instead of just zipping messages between aircraft carriers and fighter jets, the spectrum will be shared by the Navy, wireless carriers like Verizon, cable companies including Comcast, and even hospitals, refineries, and sports stadiums.
Chairman Pai announced that the following items are tentatively on the agenda for the April 2018 Open Commission Meeting:
A lunchtime panel discussion on the Tribal Connect Act of 2017 (S.2205) highlighting the importance of broadband connectivity to tribal and rural communities. This discussion will focus on how broadband connectivity and telecommunications infrastructure in rural and tribal regions helps to enhance education, provide economic opportunity, and close the digital divide. The panel will explore the role that libraries play as community institutions that facilitate digital inclusion.
Introductions by Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and American Library Association President Jim Neal.
The Center for Technology Innovation at the Brookings Institution will host a discussion on technology transfer. The two-panel program will focus on growth opportunities for technology transfer as well as national security risks and the challenges that accompany innovation.
After each session, speakers will take audience questions.
Innovation and Technology Transfer
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
John R. Allen
President, The Brookings Institution
Please join the Wireline Committee for a Brown Bag Lunch discussion of the FCC’s plan to transfer universal service funds, currently held in private bank accounts by the Universal Service Administrative Company, to the United States Treasury.
Speakers
- Deena Shetler, Acting Deputy Managing Director, Federal Communications Commission
- Cara Voth, Counsel, Office of Managing Director, Federal Communications Commission
- Fred Theobald, Director of Financial Operations, Universal Service Administrative Company