On May 6, 2010, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski announced that the Commission would soon launch a public process seeking comment on the options for a legal framwork for regulating broadband services.
Regulatory classification
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Should DSL Cost Less Than Fiber?
How do big broadband providers get away with charging the same prices in urban areas for both slow and fast broadband? An Associated Press article found that one customer was paying the same price for 1 Mbps DSL from AT&T as other city residents were paying for a fiber connection. It would be easy to justify charging the same price for both technologies if AT&T was in the process of converting everybody in New Orleans to fiber, but this is not the case.
UK Releases Wireless Infrastructure Strategy
The United Kingdom announced its wireless infrastructure strategy on April 11, 2023. As part of this effort, the UK aims to deliver nationwide coverage of standalone 5G to all populated areas by 2030, ensuring that it can bring its full benefits to villages and rural communities well beyond cities and towns. The Prime Minister has set out 5 priorities for the UK government - to build a better, more secure, more prosperous future for the UK, including growing the economy, and creating better-paid jobs and opportunity right across the country, which this strategy is focused on delivering.
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Net Neutrality Again?
There is an interesting recent discussion in Europe about net neutrality that has relevance to the US broadband market. The European Commission that oversees telecommunications and broadband has started taking comments on a proposal to force content generators like Netflix to pay fees to Internet service providers (ISP) for using the Internet.
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FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel’s Response to Members of Congress Regarding Telecommunications Networks in the United States
Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel responded to a letter from a group of senators regarding the risks of foreign-managed service providers to US telecommunications networks. In her response, Roenworcel stated that she has made network security a top priority and is working with the Senator to ensure that the US assesses the risks posed by service providers outsourcing the administration of their networks to foreign entities.
After federal investment, supply chain jams and labor shortages still hinder tribal broadband access
In 2020, 18 percent of people living on tribal lands had no way to sign up for broadband internet service, according to the American Indian Policy Institute. That’s compared to 4 percent in the rest of the country. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing broadband disparities on tribal lands in the US. While federal funding has been allocated to address the issue, supply chain issues and labor shortages have slowed progress. The broadband infrastructure on tribal lands is often outdated and underfunded, making it difficult for residents to access online resources and services.
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Is Broadband Regulation Dead?
I ask this question after Gigi Sohn [Senior Fellow and Public Advocate at the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society] recently withdrew her name from consideration as a Federal Communication Commissioner. But the objections to Sohn were all the kinds of smokescreens that politicians use to not admit the real reason they opposed the nomination; because she is in favor of regulating broadband and the public airwaves. The big broadband providers and the large broadcasting companies (some companies which are both) have been lobbying hard against the Sohn nomination since it was first anno
SHLB Coalition 2023 Policy Roadmap
Each year, the Schools Health and Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition issues a policy roadmap to shape its advocacy for community anchor institution broadband. While the priorities outlined in the 2023 roadmap serve as guide posts, SHLB remains flexible in its advocacy efforts and adapts to the dynamic policy landscape. To continue their efforts, all community anchor institutions need robust, multi-gigabit internet connectivity.
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Chairwoman Rosenworcel Responds to Senators Regarding Broadband Information Labels
Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel responded to a letter from a group of senators regarding broadband consumer labels and pricing transparency. Specifically, Sens Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) urged the FCC to independently collect pricing data as the Commission fulfills its requirement of providing internet service provider (ISP) broadband consumer labels. In her response, Chairwoman Rosenworcel highlighted two actions taken by the Commission in late 2022.
The White House might be running out of time to bring back net neutrality
Shortly after coming into office, President Joe Biden moved to restore net neutrality.
Sen. Rick Scott Introduces Legislation to Hold Big Tech Accountable, Keep Teens Safe
Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) reintroduced the Safe Social Media Act and the Data Algorithm and Transparency Agreement (DATA) Act to hold Big Tech companies accountable for the malicious content spread on their platforms and help keep teens safe while using social media. The Safe Social Media Act requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in coordination with the CDC, to conduct a study on the effects of social media use among American teenagers and children. If signed into law, this bill will: