Congress is investigating Federal Communications Commission regulatory procedures to determine if they are being conducted in a fair, open, efficient, and transparent manner. Follow the debate here.
FCC Reform
Broadband access today is as varied as communities across Minnesota. Some enjoy a gig, others are working hard for any service, and the rest are somewhere in between. This conference is for all communities, regardless of where they are on the spectrum – because we’ve learned that having broadband isn’t enough. It takes inspiration, encouragement and guidance to reap the full benefits. We’ll be talking about how to make the most of what you’ve got and/or get more.
This year’s conference will shine a light on local broadband heroes as well as look at several aspects of broadband:
FCC "Soft" Launches National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier in Another 11 States
The Federal Communications Commission is "soft" launching its national Lifeline eligibility verifier in another 11 states on June 25: Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia. Eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) in those states who are eligible for the Lifeline subsidies will not be able to begin any subscriber recertifications after June 25 and should wrap up any current certifications under the existing rules by Aug 30.
The FCC can do more to elevate rigorous decision-making
It is no secret that partisan politics infiltrated and shook the Federal Communications Commission’s decision-making during the waning years of the Obama administration. The rise of political considerations in FCC decisions, and the concomitant decline in substantive considerations, are also symptoms of a larger problem at the FCC; namely an organizational structure that encourages a silo mentality, favors people with legal training over people schooled in analysis, and muffles expert voices. There are several options for restructuring the FCC, but any successful reorganization must emphasi
Chairman Pai Testimony Before Senate Appropriations Subcommittee
In written testimomny before the Senate Committee On Appropriations' Subcommittee On Financial Services And General Government, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai outlined the commission's priorities for the next year:
FCC Announces Tentative Agenda for May 2019 Open Meeting
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced that the items below are tentatively on the agenda for the May Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 9, 2019:
FCC's May Agenda: Fast, Reliable, and Secure
At the Federal Communications Commission’s May meeting, we will take action to advance the goal of security.
The Organization of Economists in Regulatory Agencies: Does Structure Matter?
The paper builds on a working group report that led to the creation of the Office of Economics and Analytics (OEA), which was formally established in Dec 2018. The Working Paper concludes that organizational consolidation of economists into a single unit, much like the arrangement of the new OEA, can provide more independent and higher quality economic analysis within regulatory agencies.
A Needed USF Budgetary Cap
The Federal Communications Commission recently chose thoughtful and sensible policy reform when an item was circulated to Commissioners to begin a rulemaking that would establish a much-needed and overdue budget for the agency’s Universal Service Fund (USF). Against the backdrop of special interest groups and uninformed detractors reflexively opposed to any restraint on the agency’s redistributive subsidies, I am proud to lead this effort to inject more fiscal responsibility into the USF. Hardly a revolutionary idea, budgets are precisely what American families and businesses rely on to ma
FCC Is Moving Its Equal Employment Opportunity Audit & Enforcement Functions To The Enforcement Bureau
The Federal Communications Commission is officially moving its Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) team from the Media Bureau to the Enforcement Bureau. The EEO team’s work is primarily focused on periodic random audits of broadcast licensee and multichannel video programming distributors (MVPD) EEO programs, along with any necessary enforcement actions arising from those audits. The team also investigates complaints and takes enforcement action based on those investigations when necessary.
Memorializing the Significance of the FCC’s Chief Information Officer’s Role
The Federal Communications Commission adopted a change to a rule to incorporate a statutory update to the authorities of the FCC’s Chief Information Officer (CIO) into the FCC’s organizational rules.