What's on the agenda for policymakers.
Agenda
Congressional Budget Office Scores the NTIA Reauthorization Act of 2023
The NTIA Reauthorization Act of 2023 (H.R. 4510) would authorize the appropriation of $62 million for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to carry out its operations. The bill would codify some existing responsibilities and programs of the NTIA, such as the Office of Public Safety Communications and the Office of International Affairs. H.R. 4510 also would require the NTIA to carry out other responsibilities including a cybersecurity literacy campaign and studying the cybersecurity of mobile service networks.
FCC’s Net Neutrality Docket Heats Up — Again
Fans of Title II-based network neutrality rules are once again flooding the Federal Communications Commission’s net neutrality comment docket with identical calls for restoration of the rules, as the Democrat-controlled agency has proposed. The docket already has almost 20,000 comments and, as such, is the commission’s most active proceeding, far outstripping the second-place docket for rules on international communications and spectrum issues, which has less than 3,000.
The AI wave has generated excitement but also debate, as policymakers across the globe grapple with tough policy questions. We’re collectively wondering: How do we approach regulation in the US? How do we get the right safeguards in place when it comes to privacy and other harms? How do we treat open source? How do we create policies that enable a diverse AI landscape that works for everyone?
The event will feature a fireside chat, followed by an expert panel discussion. A happy hour with drinks and light fare will follow.
A workshop as part of their ongoing efforts to facilitate public dialogue on the 2023 Draft Merger Guidelines. The event will feature three panel discussions with FTC and DOJ leaders, state enforcers, academics, and practitioners regarding questions and issues on which public comment will be most useful. A full list of participants.
The Connected Future of Maternity Care Roundtable will gather public and private sector thought leaders from a variety of disciplines on the front lines of the maternal health crisis, including policymakers, telecommunications, public health, clinical, research, and data analytics experts, to explore the intersection between broadband connectivity and maternal health and why broadband is critically important in maternal health.
One More BEAD Map Challenge
There is still one more chance for local communities or broadband service providers to fix the maps that will be used to allocate Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program grant funding. Under the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) rules for the BEAD grant process, every State Broadband Office (SBO) must conduct one more challenge process to the broadband maps.
FCC, NTIA leaders talk spectrum sharing at New America event
At a New America Open Technology Institute event, Jonathan Campbell, legal advisor for Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, talked about spectrum sharing. In terms of the lower 3 GHz, he said, “We are ready to fulfill our obligation of moving forward with an auction for any of the spectrum that is identified through the Department of Commerce report and continuing to collaborate with our federal partners.” Of course, the FCC doesn’t even have auction authority right now.
FCC Announces ACP High-Cost Area Benefit Application Submission Timing and Processes
The Federal Communications Commission established a mechanism by which a participating provider in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) can apply to offer an enhanced monthly discount of up to $75 for broadband services to ACP-enrolled households in a high-cost area, upon the provider’s showing of particularized economic hardship. Now the FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau provides additional information on the application process and announces that ACP providers may begin submitting applications on Wednesday, January 17, 2024 seeking approval to offer the high-cost area benefit in a gi
The Telecom Executive Policy Summit is an opportunity for industry executives to come together in Washington, D.C., to make their voices heard and advocate for their communities and the future of rural broadband. This small group conference allows attendees to get up close and personal with legislators, regulators and experts to discuss rural broadband and other timely matters.
FCC Launches Inquiry to Increase Minimum Broadband Speed Benchmark, Set Gigabit Future Goal
The Federal Communications Commission launched an inquiry to kick off the agency’s evaluation of the state of broadband across the country, as required by section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.