Upcoming event
Fight heats up over T-Mobile's $26 billion deal with Sprint
T-Mobile CEO John Legere and Sprint executive chairman Marcelo Claure will pitch their companies' $26 billion merger before Congress, hoping to ease lawmaker's concerns about wireless competition while pushing the tie-up as a key part of the nation's 5G quest. It's a key test for a deal that would reduce the number of major national wireless carriers from four to three. The deal's opponents are fighting an uphill battle against a generally business-friendly administration, but the upcoming hearings let them air their concerns and turn up the heat.
This hearing will examine what Congress should do to address risks to consumers and implement data privacy protections for all Americans. The Commerce Committee exercises jurisdiction over the Federal Trade Commission, which is the primary enforcement agency for consumer privacy and information security protections.
The hearing will focus on opportunities for infrastructure improvement, including federal funding, financing programs, and permitting and regulatory streamlining.
Witnesses:
The purpose of the forum, which is open to the public and members of the media, is for Board Members to hear from experts about current and emerging challenges related to the Board’s mission: ensuring that efforts by the Executive Branch to protect the nation from terrorism appropriately safeguard privacy and civil liberties. The forum will inform the Board as it develops its agenda for 2019 and beyond.
What do the gaps in your TV channels, the "homework gap", Educational Broadband Service (EBS), and 5G all have in common? All are current hot topics in the field of broadband spectrum, which has been buzzing with activity over the last few years. It’s all very exciting, but can be difficult to follow for those new to the spectrum policy sphere.
“Key Concepts in Spectrum Policy” offers the need-to-know background on the different licensing regimes, the key proceedings at the FCC, the relationship between spectrum and 5G, and why it all matters for community anchor institutions.
Former FCC Chairman Wheeler, Powell to Testify at Feb 7 Net Neutrality Hearing
Former Federal Communications Commission Chairmen Tom Wheeler and Michael Powell will be among the high-profile witnesses at the Feb 7 House Communications Subcommittee hearing on network neutrality. Others testifying include:
- Jessica González, deputy director and senior counsel, Free Press & Free Press Action Fund
- Denelle Dixon, COO, Mozilla
- Ruth Livier, actress, writer, and UCLA doctoral student.
Free Press’ Alicia Bell will be talking with journalists, advocates and policy experts about how to challenge and change a media that normalizes White supremacy in the Trump era.
The news has incredible power to influence how we think and react to the world around us. With this comes a responsibility to disseminate truth and challenge the powers that be.
A screening and discussion of the short documentary Do Not Pass Go (see trailer)
Do Not Pass Go follows filmmaker Cullen Hoback’s visit to Pinetops, North Carolina, to investigate the battle between municipal networks and private providers. This event will discuss the value of local internet solutions, existing legislative and regulatory barriers, and actions that local and federal government can take to support municipal broadband and internet access for all.
Next Step on Net Neutrality? Legislation
House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) said this week's hearing on net neutrality won’t be the last — and a bill is forthcoming: “It’s going to be quickly followed after a couple hearings with legislation that would repeal the repeal, if you will, of net neutrality, bring back net neutrality,” Chairman Pallone pledged during a video update.