Upcoming event
I support 'net neutrality.' Let's not let 'political theater' ruin a bipartisan deal
[Op-ed] I support net neutrality. I support rules that prevent blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization of internet traffic. I believe these principles should guide us on Capitol Hill as we work to expand broadband access to even the most remote and rural areas of the country. You might be surprised to learn that most of my fellow senators believe this too. Unfortunately, manufactured controversy often gets more attention in Washington than real solutions. The internet is too important for partisan politics.
FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn on prison-phone justice, the Lifeline subsidy program, Net Neutrality protections and Puerto Rico’s hurricane-devastated communications infrastructure.
Meet the Media Bureau Senior Staff : Michelle Carey and her staff will discuss the Media Bureau’s priorities and issues they face in the coming year.
There’s no doubt that misinformation, disinformation, and “fake news” played a role in the 2016 election and continue to roil our politics, as well as the ever-shifting media landscape. It’s also clear that an informed citizenry is at the foundation of American democracy. But with the dawn of social media and the ubiquity of digital publishing, being an informed citizen isn’t easy—it requires sorting through streams of poorly sourced commentary and purposefully deceptive news pieces created to sow distrust and undermine our connections with our fellow citizens. Where do we go from here?
With superficial sound bites, scripted promos, talking heads, and the 24-hour news cycle, it’s hard not to be skeptical or indifferent of the present-day media. In this ephemeral landscape, how do documentary films that focus on recent history differ from cable and the mainstream press? What form will have a longer and more significant impact?
Digital technologies impact all sectors of the economy including agriculture, small town main streets, and regional economic development. Yet 31% of rural Americans still lack access to fixed terrestrial broadband speeds of 25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up. Increased interest in broadband is creating new opportunities leading service providers and civic leaders to find new models to expand rural broadband. We will explore three successful case studies and highlight best practices for successful rural broadband deployments.
Speakers:
A symposium focusing on the development and implementation of national spectrum policies to support continuing U.S. leadership and innovation in wireless telecommunications and other spectrum-dependent technologies.
Welcoming Remarks: Paige Atkins, NTIA Associate Administrator and head of the Office of Spectrum Management
Keynote Address: Advancing the Nation’s Spectrum Strategy
David J. Redl, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator
A celebration of the extraordinary service of Mignon L. Clyburn as a Commissioner and Acting Chair of the Federal Communications Commission. Commissioner Clyburn recently announced that she will be stepping down from the FCC after more than eight years in that position. During that time, Commissioner Clyburn not only served with distinction and leadership but also served as a leader not just in name, but as the moral conscience of the agency.
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of five commissioners with many important responsibilities including network neutrality, media ownership, spectrum policy, universal service, and broadband deployment. These and other issues have often divided the commissioners on public, sometimes partisan, disputes about the direction of the Commission. What role does politics play in the FCC? How has the influence of Congress and the White House affected the Commission? Have the respective roles of the Chairman and Commissioners varied over the years?