Hill, The
Senate Majority Leader Schumer says national TikTok ban ‘should be looked at’ (Hill, The)
Submitted by dclay@benton.org on Mon, 02/13/2023 - 12:42LGBTQ groups condemn identity-based attacks on Gigi Sohn, urge confirmation
Twenty-two LGBTQ advocacy organizations are urging Congress to confirm the nomination of Gigi Sohn [Senior Fellow and Public Advocate at the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society] to the Federal Communications Commission, condemning attacks on her identity that have forced her nomination to languish for more than a year. In a letter to Senate leadership, groups including the LGBTQ Victory Fund and the National LGBTQ Task Force wrote that it is “past time” for Sohn, who was first nominated in October 2021, to join the FCC and “use her tremendous qualifications for the betterment of ou
Sen Booker: TikTok working with US intelligence to ensure China cannot use platform for spying (Hill, The)
Submitted by dclay@benton.org on Mon, 02/06/2023 - 11:21
A conservative case for the Affordable Connectivity Program
Unfortunately, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is set to run out of funds as soon as early 2024. For conservatives who are rightly concerned about traditional government subsidies, I humbly suggest that extending the ACP by appropriating additional funds for the program is well within our economic principles, even when we absolutely must shrink overall federal spending.
Steve Forbes: Giving lower-income families a hand up will help America compete
People in need don’t want a handout; they want a hand-up that will enable them to improve their circumstances and lead more productive, successful lives. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is giving workers, students, and families the hand-up they need to compete in the connected 21st-century digital economy.
Op-ed | For once, the FTC is considering a merger, Microsoft-Activision Blizzard, that helps the workers (Hill, The)
Submitted by dclay@benton.org on Tue, 12/06/2022 - 12:08Digital needs funding for its ‘social justice’ movement moment
Digital inclusion and equity challenges will likely not go away until a large number of people demand change in the marketplace—and in policymaking—to make essential information and communication technologies not only available, affordable and usable, but also safe. What seems to be lacking is support for a visible social movement that complements these types of education, advocacy and networking efforts.
We must act urgently to make internet for all a reality
With virtually unlimited bandwidth, fiber optic connectivity is the fastest, most reliable, and most innovative solution for bridging the digital divide. Other options, like fixed wireless access, may be faster to deploy but require more upkeep, have limited capabilities, and require substantial new investment in a relatively short period.