Upcoming event

he hearing will examine the ongoing initiatives led by the Federal Communications Commission to maintain and expand high-speed and reliable broadband connections to all Americans during this national public health emergency. The hearing will also examine the impact of funds provided through the CARES Act to support broadband initiatives at the federal, state, and local levels, and legislative proposals focused on addressing the digital divide during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Witnesses

Broadband legislation is having an unprecedented moment - a reaction to the urgent need to expedite connectivity amid COVID-19. Congress is considering bills to add $2 billion to the Rural Health Care Program, $4 billion to the E-rate program, $1 billion for Lifeline, $80 billion for broadband infrastructure, and $1.2 billion for digital literacy. Tune into SHLB's legislative update to hear from the key Congressional staff who are driving the effort to fund broadband connectivity for anchor institutions and everyone.

During the pandemic, much face-to-face communication has moved online. People staying at home are using social media and search engines to find out up-to-date information and advice on how we can all help slow the spread of COVID-19.

America's tech industry has stepped up to the plate and is working hard to play their part in fighting COVID-19. This panel will demonstrate just some ways that tech is helping fight the virus, and how we can all use their tools to stay connected.

Panelists:

Internet has never been more important in facilitating daily activities. Households with quality broadband connections can work, learn, heal, shop, and interact to an extent not thought previously possible.

The unconnected – generally older, poorer, rural, and people of color – add connectivity to their list of challenges while educators, employers, healthcare professionals, retailers, and family members struggle to maintain connections.  

Internet has never been more important in facilitating daily activities. Households with quality broadband connections can work, learn, heal, shop, and interact to an extent not thought previously possible.

The unconnected – generally older, poorer, rural, and people of color – add connectivity to their list of challenges while educators, employers, healthcare professionals, retailers, and family members struggle to maintain connections.  

Today’s FTTH networks are under tremendous strain as remote working is at an all-time high combined with the growth of 4K streaming, cloud gaming, AR/VR and enterprise services. At the same time, most service providers are building out high-capacity broadband networks leveraging a range of fixed broadband technologies making gigabit service offerings common place.

Service providers across the globe are now at a point where they must identify the right next-gen access strategies to ensure their competitive position today and provide a path to a scalable network for their future.

This event will explore how the digital divide has exacerbated already existing inequities that impact the city of Detroit and other similarly situated cities in Michigan and throughout the United States. Panelists will present solutions for addressing the digital divide on a local, state, and federal level and will particularly focus on the urgent matter of connecting children, low-income communities, and communities of color to affordable and reliable broadband.

Confirmed Panelists

The proliferation of COVID-19 disinformation and misinformation on the internet has increased denial and uncertainty about the outbreak across the internet, while hateful content and speech has further stoked xenophobia and racism. Moreover, social media platforms from Facebook (including Instagram and Whatsapp) and Twitter to Google and YouTube, platforms are facing increased pressure to quickly respond to disinformation, fraud, online hate during the pandemic. What is the state of COVID-19 related information and news on social media?

COVID-19 has further exposed the major gaps in workplace protections and benefits for big tech’s contractors and employees. Amid the pandemic, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos’ wealth has grown by $24 billion, while frontline Amazon workers who have protested for protective equipment, hazard pay, and expanded sick leave have been fired in retaliation. Although the relief bill that was recently signed will provide short-term support for some workers at Uber, Lyft, Postmates, Instacart, and Amazon, many of these workers are not entitled to workers’ compensation, health care benefits, or sick pay.

COVID-19 has exposed the susceptibility of our democratic processes to digital shortcomings, including increasing uncertainty around the ability to carry out free, fair, and safe elections in 2020 as well as the already present challenges of a high tech census. Across the country, advocates and campaigns are also facing a new reality as community education, outreach, and offline mobilization grinds to a halt, and organizations must rely on digital formats to carry out their work plans.