Federal
National Broadband Map: It Keeps Getting Better
The Federal Communications Commission is taking another step forward in its iterative effort to develop the best and most accurate broadband maps ever built in the US. The map we are releasing reflects challenges and improvements to the data. It has a lot of updated information about both locations and availability. Here are a few key takeaways:
Is Charter the Largest Rural Broadband Provider?
Charter CEO Chris Winfrey said that the company is the “largest rural provider today.” Charter was the largest winner of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) reverse auction in terms of passings and is slated to bring broadband to over 1 million rural homes and businesses. The company says it is ahead of schedule and has already built 40% of those passings.
US Department of the Interior Awarding $2.7 Million in Tribal Broadband Grants
The Indian Affairs Office of Indian Economic Development awards $2.7 million in National Tribal Broadband Grants to 18 Tribes and Tribal organizations. The grants, ranging in value from $120,000 to $175,000, will provide funding for two years to perform feasibility studies for the installation or expansion of high-speed internet.
Rep. Fitzgerald (R-WI) Introduces Fair and Balanced FTC Act
Representative Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI) introduced the Fair and Balanced FTC Act (HR 3692) to prohibit the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) from acting unless there is at least one FTC Commissioner from a different party from the Chair. This would incentivize the President to nominate and confirm Commissioners to ensure a functioning body including minority Commissioners to provide feedback and dissent on harmful FTC actions.
Who Is Going to Regulate AI?
As businesses and governments race to make sense of the impacts of new, powerful AI systems, governments around the world are jostling to take the lead on regulation. Business leaders should be focused on who is likely to win this race, more so than the questions of how or even when AI will be regulated.
FCC Braces for Next Version of Broadband Map to be Released May 30, 2023
The next update to the Federal Communications Commission's National Broadband Map will be released on May 30, said FCC senior officials. The map will reflect availability data reported by providers as of December 31, 2022, as well as challenges made more recently to that data. It’s an important development, as this is the version of the map that will be used for making allocations to states in the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program.
FCC Announces Additional Funding Opportunities for Outreach Grants to Raise Nationwide Awareness of Affordable Connectivity Program
The Federal Communications Commission announced details for additional outreach grant opportunities to promote the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The outreach grants seek to enlist targeted trusted community messengers to develop innovative outreach strategies to reach historically unserved and underserved communities.
Chairwoman Rosenworcel to Recharter Communications Equity and Diversity Council
Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel will re-charter the Communications Equity and Diversity Council (CEDC) for another two-year term. This Council is charged with providing recommendations to ensure that underserved communities are not denied the wide range of opportunities made possible by next-generation networks without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, or disability. Jamila Bess Johnson will remain the Designated Federal Officer for the Council.
Louisiana releases BEAD proposal draft, digital equity plan
As states prepare to receive their allocations from the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, Louisiana is putting the finishing touches on its plan to put that money to work. The state’s broadband office released the first volume of its BEAD proposal, outlining Louisiana’s current efforts to deploy broadband, a breakdown of unserved and underserved locations as well as how it plans to tackle the challenge process.
United States comments on European Consultation: “The future of the electronic communications sector and its infrastructure”
The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), in a filing on behalf of the US government, urged the European Commission to promote affordable access to broadband, protect users’ access to online content, and avoid discriminatory measures that distort competition. The filing on May 19 is in response to the European Commission’s exploratory consultation on The Future