Public Knowledge
Commenters Urge FCC to Expand the E-Rate Program to Connect Students During Pandemic
Public Knowledge joined Access Humboldt, Benton Institute for Broadband and Society, Consumer Reports, and New America’s Open Technology Institute (collectively PIOs) in filing comments in response to the Federal Communications Commission’s Public Notice on the use of E-Rate funds to enable remote learning.
Diversity in Early-Career Tech Policy Roles: Challenges and Opportunities
Early-career opportunities offer people a pathway to build careers in technology policy. Public Knowledge conducted research into the challenges tech policy organizations face in reaching people of color interested in the field. The research explores racial and ethnic diversity in early-career roles in technology policy, offers ideas for increasing diversity in such roles, and outlines the impacts of technology policy on people of color. A survey of technology policy organizations and found that:
Principles to Protect Free Expression on the Internet
Section 230 of the Communications Act has been dubbed the “twenty six words” that created the interactive free expression of the internet: No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider. This simple piece of legislation provides immunity from liability as a speaker or publisher for providers and users of an “interactive computer service” who host and moderate information provid
Public Knowledge Petitions FCC to Begin Reconsidering Trump-Era Broadband Deregulation
Public Knowledge filed a petition asking the Federal Communications Commission to reconsider the agency’s determination under Chairman Pai that its deregulatory agenda was more important than public safety, the infrastructure access necessary for broadband competition, or universal service.
Public Knowledge Emergency Broadband Benefits FCC Comments
How the Federal Communications Commission manages the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program will not only greatly affect the EBB Program’s effectiveness at helping those in need get connected, it will help inform how to best implement potential future broadband subsidies to address broadband affordability, which Congress continues to contemplate.
Senior Advisor Gene Kimmelman Resigns from Public Knowledge to Join Justice Department
Public Knowledge Senior Advisor Gene Kimmelman announced his resignation in order to serve as Senior Counselor for President Joe Biden’s Associate Attorney General at the Department of Justice. This will be a limited duration position.
Finding the Limits of Free Speech Online
President Trump used social media to encourage his supporters to storm the Capitol to attempt to maintain his power.
Groups Urge Congress to Include Broadband Subsidy in Stimulus Bills
Public interest, government, civil rights, labor, higher education, and rural advocacy groups urged Congress to offer a federal broadband subsidy in forthcoming COVID-19 stimulus packages. They argue that tens of millions of Americans — particularly low-income families, rural residents, and people of color — lack broadband access, leaving our most vulnerable communities struggling to stay connected with school, work, healthcare, entertainment, and their loved ones during the pandemic.
In the Republican War on the Biden FCC, Wall Street May End Up the Biggest Loser
Urged on by broadband giants such as Charter Communications, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is pushing to confirm a Republican to the Federal Communications Commission. However, Majority Leader McConnell’s goal seems to extend further: creating a deadlocked Biden FCC 2–2, then blocking confirmation of a third Democrat. What Majority Leader McConnell intends as a gift to his corporate patrons could turn into a nightmare for them.