Level of Government

FCC Adopts $200M Cybersecurity Pilot Program for Schools and Libraries

The Federal Communications Commission adopted a three-year, $200 million Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program.  This program will allow the FCC to obtain actionable data about which cybersecurity services and equipment would best help K-12 schools and libraries address the growing cyber threats and attacks against their broadband networks. From this program, the FCC aims to learn how to improve school and library defenses against sophisticated ransomware and cyberattacks that put students at risk and impede their learning.

FCC Proposes Updated Letter of Credit Rules for Rural Broadband Support

The Federal Communications Commission proposed updated rules to offer greater flexibility in supporting providers’ deployment of high-speed internet services in high-cost, rural communities. FCC broadband deployment programs target communities where the high cost of deployment makes it difficult for private funding alone to make deployment cost-effective.

Regulators set the stage for AI antitrust battles

The Federal Trade Commission and Justice Department have reached a deal that would set the stage for antitrust probes into Microsoft, OpenAI and Nvidia, setting up unprecedented regulatory scrutiny of the companies’ conduct in the AI race, according to a person familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a probe whose details are not public.

New NTIA Data Show 13 Million More Internet Users in the U.S. in 2023 than 2021

Results from the latest National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Internet Use Survey point to significant progress toward achieving Internet for All, as 13 million more people used the Internet in the United States in 2023 compared with just two years earlier. Working to achieve digital equity in the United States has long been at the core of NTIA’s mission. NTIA is committed to enabling widespread use of the Internet for communicating, learning, sharing ideas, and growing the economy. To reach this goal, we need solid, evidence-backed research to inform policies an

The Affordable Connectivity Program is over—now what?

As of June 1, the Affordable Connectivity Program has officially come and gone. Question is, now what?

ACHP Chair Asks Congress to Reject Legislative Proposals Allowing Projects to Bypass Historic Preservation Review Process

On behalf of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), Chair Sara Bronin has called on Congress to reject provisions in 15 bills that would exempt certain types of infrastructure projects from review under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Section 106 requires federal agencies to consider the effects of projects, carried out by them or subject to their assistance or approval, on historic properties.

The Areas Hit Hardest by the End of the ACP Internet Subsidy

After the end of the Affordable Connectivity Program on June 1, Government Technology analyzed enrollment data published by the White House to determine where state and local government leaders might expect to see the biggest impact as a result of the end of the program. While California, New York, Texas, Florida and Ohio had the largest numbers of Internet subscribers

Carrier of Last Resort is Still a Thing

I always find it interesting when old regulations bubble up into the news. As reported by Jon Brodkin in Ars Technica, an administrative law judge at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) rejected a petition by AT&T to walk away from its carrier of last resort obligations for voice service.

Nebraska PSC Awards Second Round of CPF Grants for Broadband Buildout

The Nebraska Public Service Commission (PSC) approved an Order awarding a second round of Capital Projects Fund (CPF) grants designed to bring broadband to unserved and underserved areas of the state. The PSC received 60 applications for funding during the second round.

The Economic Benefit of ACP to the Health Care System

What is the economic benefit of the Affordable Connectivity Program to the health care system? In short, there are many ways that telehealth can reduce costs and improve outcomes.