Upcoming event

A hearing on the disparities that exist in accessing affordable, reliable high-speed internet.

Witnesses

1. Ms. Monika Bickert

   Vice President For Content Policy

   Facebook

   Menlo Park, CA

2. Ms. Lauren Culbertson

   Head Of U.S. Public Policy

   Twitter

   San Francisco, CA

3. Ms. Alexandra Veitch

   Director Of Government Affairs And Public Policy For The Americas And Emerging Markets

   YouTube

   San Bruno, CA

4. Mr. Tristan Harris

   Co-Founder And President

   Center for Humane Technology

   San Francisco, CA

5. Dr. Joan Donovan

   Research Director

A markeup to 

to consider the following measures:

Agenda:

1. S.15, Protecting Seniors from Emergency Scams Act; Sponsors: Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ)

2. S.115, Protecting Tourism in the United States Act; Sponsors: Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Rick Scott (R-FL)

The FirstNet Authority Board will convene an open public meeting of the Board and Board Committees.

Witnesses

1. Mr. Kyle Andeer

   Chief Compliance Officer

   Apple

   Cupertino, CA

2. Mr. Wilson White

   Senior Director Public Policy & Government Relations

   Google Inc.

   Mountain View, CA

3. Mr. Horacio Gutierrez

   Head Of Global Affairs & Chief Legal Officer

   Spotify

   New York, NY

4. Mr. Mark Cooper, Ph.D.

   Director Of Research

   Consumer Federation of America

   Washington, D.C.

5. Ms. Kristen Daru

   General Counsel

   Tile, Inc

   San Mateo, CA

The COVID-19 pandemic has shined a spotlight on the digital divide and digital inequality, and with it, illuminated the broader issue of digital inclusion and internet access as a civil right. Over the last four years, efforts to close the digital divide have been geared largely toward access to networks in rural America, but pandemic-related displacement is driving a shift in focus toward affordability in both rural and urban areas.

Witnesses

1. The Honorable Pete Buttigieg

   Secretary

   Department of Transportation

2. The Honorable Michael Regan

   Administrator

   Environmental Protection Agency

3. The Honorable Gina Raimondo

   Secretary

   Department of Commerce

Support for federal broadband funding to connect rural America has never been stronger, but pole attachment rules and other rights-of-way issues are impeding deployment of both wired and wireless networks. Accessing utility poles and obtaining rights-of-way permitting can create significant delays and sometimes make up a third of the total cost to build, making these areas uneconomic to serve. How can policymakers and broadband stakeholders reduce these costs and streamline approvals while respecting the rights of owners?

A public webinar to provide information on the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB). The EBB is a temporary program that provides a discount of up to $50 per month ($75 on Tribal lands) off a qualifying households’ internet bill. For eligible households there is the potential for a discount of up to $100 towards the purchase of a tablet, laptop or desktop computer from a participating provider so long as the eligible purchaser contributes more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.