Lobbying
Description: As we all navigate through the new normal of social distancing having a strong digital advocacy strategy for your memers and clients has become essential to success. Join us to learn the best strategies to mobilize your members and clients to participate in political advocacy through the use of technology and social media.
Speaker: Eric Storey, Director of Grassroots and Digital Advocacy, American Bar Association
To Close the Digital Divide, Congress Must Care About All Americans
If the coronavirus pandemic has taught the technology and communications policy world anything, it is that policymakers have utterly failed to meet the mission of the National Broadband Plan. Although the National Broadband Plan provided a road map and initially tracked progress, we have seen a relatively nonpartisan tech policy space abandon consensus views on the technicalities of the network and the importance of universal service principles.
Facebook is quietly helping to set up a new pro-tech advocacy group to battle Washington
Facebook is working behind the scenes to help launch a new political advocacy group that would combat US lawmakers and regulators trying to rein in the tech industry, escalating Silicon Valley’s war with Washington at a moment when government officials are threatening to break up large companies. The organization is called American Edge, and it aims through a barrage of advertising and other political spending to convince policymakers that Silicon Valley is essential to the US economy and the future of free speech, apparently.
AT&T, Verizon part of new 31-member Open RAN Policy Coalition
A new coalition, backed by a wide range of players in the mobile ecosystem --, including U.S. operators AT&T and Verizon -- has formed to advocate for government policy that helps drive open radio access network (RAN) adoption to fund research and development of open and interoperable 5G networks. Executive director for the 31-member Open RAN Policy Coalition, launched today, is former Acting Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Diane Rinaldo.
Once Bankrupt, Tiny Broadband Company Ligado Thrives in the Trump Era
Ligado Networks LLC overcame powerful opposition to its proposed broadband network with some help from inside-the-Beltway figures close to President Donald Trump’s White House. The Reston (VA)-based company prevailed with a costly persuasion campaign overseen by a blue-chip roster of lobbyists and board members.
What tech wants from Washington amid coronavirus
As the markets crash and foreshadow a potential economic downturn, some people in the tech industry are also asking what Washington can do for them — particularly as Congress weighs stimulus packages to protect future structure of the American economy. Here's what to watch when it comes to the tech industry and the coronavirus recovery effort.
Ben Scott seeks to rewrite anti-tech lobbying rulebook
From an office in London's diamond district, Ben Scott has his eyes set on Big Tech.
Rep Cicilline, Sen Klobuchar and Others Express Serious Concerns over Reports that DOJ Official Urged Dish Executive to Lobby Sens to Influence FCC Regulatory Process
House Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman David Cicilline (D-RI) and Senate Antitrust Subcommittee Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) sent a letter with members of their respective subcommittees, expressing serious concerns over the Justice Department’s handling of the proposed T-Mobile/Sprint merger.
NTCA's Shirley Bloomfield on Helping rural areas get connected
Amid the mad dash to develop fifth-generation (5G) wireless technologies, Shirley Bloomfield likes to remind people that vast swaths of America have other hurdles to clear first. “As everybody gets super excited about 5G ... we just tell them in rural America we’re still waiting for 1G in some areas,” said the CEO of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association.
ITTA—The Voice of America's Broadband Providers Will Shut Down Jan 31
ITTA-The Voice of America's Broadband Providers "will be shutting its doors effective January 31, 2020 after over a one-quarter century representing wireline communications service providers in Washington." ITTA cited "financial constraints in the wireline service provider sector" for shutting its doors, saying those financial challenges had been "insurmountable." Broadband providers still have a voice via ACA Connects, which represents smaller and midsized providers, NCTA-The Internet & Television Association, NTCCA-The Rural Broadband Association, USTelecom, CTIA and others.