Multichannel News
NCTA President Powell: Broadband May Need to Be Part of Social Safety Net
NCTA-the Internet & Television Association President Michael Powell said that when it comes to universal broadband service, it is always hard when you get to the last portion of the population still on the other side of digital opportunity, so government needs to step up funding, including perhaps making broadband service part of the social safety net, like SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Coalition Seeks Tweaks to 5G 'Rural' Fund
The 5G Fund Supporters -- which includes the Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council, Rainbow-PUSH and the NAACP -- asked the Federal Communications Commission to clarify how it plans to ensure that 1) the upcoming 5G mobile broadband subsidy program will accommodate needy areas other than rural, and better ensure 2) that diverse contractors have a chance at the money.
Lifeline Groups Seek Court Stay of Service Standard Increase
The National Lifeline Association and Assist Wireless have asked a federal court to stay the Dec. 1 trigger for the Federal Communications Commission's increase of the mobile broadband minimum service standard in the Lifeline subsidy program from 3 GB to 4.5 GB. The groups first petitioned the FCC for a stay, but that was denied. The petitioners told the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit that absent the emergency stay, they would suffer irreparable harm.
Sen. Hawley: Social Media Coordinate Censorship Efforts (Multichannel News)
Submitted by benton on Wed, 11/18/2020 - 15:35'Blue Ripple' Would Make Regulatory Waves
If Democrats win a majority of Senate seats, it would give regulatory-minded congressional Democrats the ability to put an end to the legal wrangling over a neutral internet, impose tougher new privacy laws or pass their version of social media regulation. With Republicans holding onto the Senate, there would be no legislation reclassifying internet access as a Title I telecommunications service subject to mandatory access and potentially rate regulation.
Biden Win Would Have Minor Impact on Cable Profits (Multichannel News)
Submitted by benton on Mon, 11/09/2020 - 10:46President Trump Ties Twitter Attacks to Sec. 230 (Multichannel News)
Submitted by benton on Fri, 11/06/2020 - 10:49FCC Democrats Can't Reconcile Net Neutrality Deregulation, Section 230 Initiative
Democrats on the Federal Communications Commission are taking issue with Chairman Ajit Pai's announcement that the agency would clarify edge providers' Section 230 immunity from civil liability over third-party content, as the White House has asked.