Agenda

NTIA CostQuest Data Support

The Department of Commerce/Enterprise Services intends to negotiate a sole source, firm fixed price contract with CostQuest Associates for Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric, Technology Availability Likelihood (TAL), and Network Cost Model data to meet the congressional mandate at the estimated price of $49.9 Million. This procurement will provide data to support operational needs for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD), Digital Equity (DE), the Access Broadband Act, as well as the Internet for All initiative.

Sponsor: 

Michelson 20MM Foundation

Date: 
Wed, 11/16/2022 - 16:30 to 19:30

Driven by the federal government’s historic $65B investment in broadband, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently launched a cross-agency Task Force to Prevent Digital Discrimination, which seeks to realize digital equity throughout the nation. During the event you’ll learn more about the progress the FCC towards advancing equity.

Recorded remarks by:

JESSICA ROSENWORCEL 
Chairwoman, Federal Communications Commission



Sponsor: 

Public Service Commission of Wisconsin and National Telecommunications and Information Administration

Date: 
Tue, 10/25/2022 - 08:30 to 17:00

This day-long event will bring together critical stakeholders in Wisconsin from state and local governments, Tribal communities, federal agencies, and industry to discuss coordination on high-speed Internet infrastructure deployment and digital equity efforts as the state prepares to implement programs from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and launch Wisconsin’s Internet for All initiative under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.



AT&T Is Counting on Government Stimulus Dollars to Help Fund Its Broadband Future

AT&T Chief Executive Officer John Stankey  considers the expansion of AT&T’s fiber network part of his strategy to refocus the company around offering greater telecommunications connectivity now that it’s left behind its dream of being a media powerhouse.

Sponsor: 

National Broadband Resource Hub

Date: 
Fri, 10/21/2022 - 14:00

A discussion on how local and state governments can engage with the Federal Communications Commission’s Fabric Challenge Process.

The FCC’s national broadband map hinges on a fabric of “broadband serviceable locations” on top of which providers report service availability . Fixing inaccuracies in the initial versions of the FCC’s map will be vital to accurately distributing broadband funding from the infrastructure bill.



FCC's ACP Pilot Programs Coming Soon

The Federal Communications Commission set guidelines for two pilot programs aimed at increasing both awareness of and participation in the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households (and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands). On October 11, the FCC provided an update on the implementation of the pilot programs.

Sponsor: 

Black Women’s Roundtable 

Date: 
Thu, 10/20/2022 - 12:00 to 13:30

The Black Women’s Roundtable will host a virtual panel discussion on the discriminatory uses of personal data and how provisions of the American Data Privacy and Protection Act (ADPPA) would address digital civil rights violations.  

 

Host 

Melanie Campbell 

President & CEO, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation 

National Convenor, Black Women’s Roundtable 

 

Moderator 

Joycelyn Tate 

Senior Technology Policy Advisor 

Black Women’s Roundtable, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation 



Washington Public Works Board invites public input on changes to broadband funding program

The Washington State Public Works Board (PWB) is seeking public participation to help identify and prioritize issues that stakeholders believe should be addressed in the Board’s broadband funding program as a result of changes made to the program by the 2022 State Legislature. Input from two public workshops in November and a public hearing session in December will also help guide implementation.

Sponsor: 

Fiber Broadband Association

Date: 
Wed, 10/19/2022 - 10:00 to 10:30

How much will it cost to reach universal broadband availability in the United States? Answering that question requires understanding network construction costs, estimating the number of unserved and underserved locations, and defining “broadband” – and that is exactly what Vantage Point Solutions has done in their recent whitepaper, Cost of Bringing Broadband to All.

Larry Thompson, PE, co-author of the paper, will discuss the methodology and findings of the report during this Fiber for Breakfast presentation.



Sponsor: 

Federal Trade Commission

Date: 
Wed, 10/19/2022 - 09:00 to 16:00

The Federal Trade Commission is hosting a virtual public event to explore the risks and harms associated with a growing array of marketing practices that make it difficult or impossible for children to distinguish ads from entertainment in digital media and how to protect children in this advertising landscape.

The event will feature remarks by FTC Chair Lina M. Khan, as well as a presentation and three panel discussions.



Sponsor: 

New America

Date: 
Tue, 10/25/2022 - 11:45 to 13:45

A new space race to provide high-speed broadband service from orbit is shifting into high gear. These wireless broadband networks are literally ‘out of this world,’ as companies like SpaceX and Amazon launch thousands – soon, tens of thousands – of low earth orbit (LEO) satellite. Their success could be key to truly universal connectivity, especially in rural areas and developing nations, but they are not free from controversy.



Don't Discount the Investments in Internet Infrastructure that Content and Application Providers are Making

Should network usage fees be imposed on content and application providers to support internet infrastructure? New research from Analysys Mason shows such a mandate would be harmful to end users and the global internet ecosystem.

Silicon Valley's Rep Ro Khanna offers a midterm warning

Although Rep Ro Khanna (D-CA)'s district includes a wide swath of the tech industry's homes in towns like Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Santa Clara, and Fremont, he is an advocate for laws that would curb Big Tech's power. Among the restrictions Rep Khanna favors would expand privacy protections beyond California's existing law as well as a change in antitrust law that would shift the burden of proof in large deals, requiring the acquiring company to prove a deal won't hurt competition. Members of Congress have proposed new bills around privacy and antitrust and children's online safety, but so far

Sponsor: 

New America and Arizona State University

Date: 
Thu, 10/20/2022 - 12:00 to 13:00

The 2022 Future Security Forum continues with a discussion of the issue of disinformation and how the United States does and should respond to it. 



Sponsor: 

New America

Date: 
Tue, 10/18/2022 - 12:00 to 13:00

In recent years, technology and social media companies have taken on a growing role in moderating content on their platforms. That growing role has brought criticism from a number of vectors, and some states have moved to restrict moderation via legislation. Although much of the political debate around moderation policies is occurring elsewhere, the debates and legislation could shape companies’ efforts against terrorism on their platforms, an issue that has itself seen debate.



Sponsor: 

Axios

Date: 
Wed, 10/19/2022 - 12:30 to 13:00

The increase in both foreign and domestic cyberattacks has made election security a top priority ahead of the U.S. midterms. Join Axios for a virtual event assessing the rising threat of cyberattacks on civil society and how governments are responding to ensure election security in the midterms and beyond.

 

Axios Cybersecurity Reporter Sam Sabin and Congressional Reporter Alayna Treene and will host one-on-one conversation with:

Will Hurd

Former Representative, Texas' 23rd Congressional District

 

Suzanne Spaulding



How Democrats' big plans for Big Tech shrunk to tiny steps

Pledges to tackle data surveillance practices, harm to children's mental health, and tech giants' power over wide swaths of the economy haven't yet translated into passing new laws, and the clock is running out. High-profile bills that would heap new regulations on the tech industry have advanced, but they've yet to cross the finish line into law. On antitrust, the House of Representatives passed a bill in September 2022 that will raise filing fees for large mergers, using the proceeds to fund antitrust enforcement efforts.

President Biden’s internet promises in limbo amid long battle over FCC nominee

The Federal Communications Commission has been without a Democratic majority for the entirety of President Biden’s 21-month tenure, hamstringing efforts to restore open internet protections and close the digital divide. Breaking the deadlock at the Federal Communications Commission hinges on confirming Gigi Sohn [Senior Fellow and Public Advocate at the Benton Institue for Broadband & Society], a longtime public interest advocate and former Democratic FCC official who was first nominated by the White House nearly a year ago.

Biden-⁠Harris Administration Announces Action Plan to Accelerate Infrastructure

The Biden-Harris Action Plan for Accelerating Infrastructure Projects describes federal actions to address these challenges accelerate the planning, design and construction of infrastructure projects across all sectors, including transportation, broadband, resiliency, and others. Organized by the themes of On Time, On Task and On Budget, the actions support more efficient processes, collaboration, sharing of best practices, targeted support to new recipients of federal funding, and focused efforts to root out the causes of delays and overruns.

Colorado Announces Digital Government Strategic Plan

Gov Jared Polis (D-CO) and the Colorado Office of Information Technology (OIT) launched the Colorado Digital Government Strategic Plan.

Sponsor: 

New America

Date: 
Mon, 10/24/2022 - 12:30 to 15:00

America’s infrastructure has been in dire need of modernization. The recent passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Inflation Reduction Act, and American Rescue Plan present a unique opportunity for state and local governments to improve our systems of transportation and energy production while also implementing a good jobs strategy that benefits workers and employers alike. But without careful planning, new infrastructure jobs may fall into historical patterns of excluding women and workers of color. 



Sponsor: 

Fiber Broadband Association

Date: 
Wed, 10/12/2022 - 10:00

The level of BEAD funding is far more than adequate to complete the work started under the CAF II Auction, and continued under CARES, RDOF and ARPA: Fiber to every rural home.



Sponsor: 

Department of Treasury

Date: 
Fri, 10/14/2022 - 23:59

Tribal governments are able to apply for their allocation of the Capital Projects Fund through the Treasury Submission Portal. Deadline is October 14, 2022.

See Capital Projects Fund Guidance for Tribal Governments



FCC Provides Tentative Agenda for October Open Meeting

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced that the items below are tentatively on the agenda for the October Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 27, 2022. The Commission will consider: