1. Monthly archive
  2. August 2018

August 2018

Sen Markey and Rep Eshoo Lead Members of Congress in Amicus Brief Challenging the FCC’s Net Neutrality Repeal

Sen Ed Markey (D-MA), Rep Anna Eshoo (D-CA), 27 senators, and 76 representatives filed an Amicus Brief with the DC Circuit Court of Appeals challenging the Federal Communication Commission’s December 2017 decision to eliminate network neutrality rules. The FCC’s decision repealed the 2015 Open Internet rules, which categorized broadband internet access as a telecommunications service and prohibited Internet Service Providers (ISPs) from engaging in discriminatory practices, such as blocking or throttling online content and establishing internet fast and slow lanes.   

Sen Wyden Confirms Cell-Site Simulators Disrupt Emergency Calls

Sen Ron Wyden (D-OR) has sent a letter to the Department of Justice concerning disruptions to 911 emergency services caused by law enforcement’s use of cell-site simulators (CSS, also known as IMSI catchers or Stingrays). In the letter, Sen Wyden states that: "Senior officials from the Harris Corporation—the manufacturer of the cell-site simulators used most frequently by U.S. law enforcement agencies—have confirmed to my office that Harris’ cell-site simulators completely disrupt the communications of targeted phones for as long as the surveillance is ongoing.

Electric Cooperative Gigabit Gains Traction

Electric cooperative gigabit is becoming more commonplace, as news from Aug 28 about four electric cooperative gigabit deployments illustrates.

Estimation of the Net Benefits of Indiana Statewide Adoption of Rural Broadband

This paper projects the statewide net benefits that could be obtained from installation of rural broadband in all of the areas served by Rural Electric Member Cooperatives (REMC) in the state of Indiana. This analysis draws heavily upon an initial analysis that was done for the Tipmont Cooperative. Then six additional Indiana REMCs were added, although with somewhat less precision than the original Tipmont analysis.

Chairman Pai Statement on Eight Circuit Decision Upholding Core Actions on BDS

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai issued the following statement regarding Aug 28's ruling from the Eighth Circuit, which upheld the FCC’s decision to remove onerous regulations on certain business data services in competitive markets: "It’s a good day for forward-thinking regulation. Here’s why: Last year, based on a thorough analysis of a massive amount of data, the Commission adopted a ‘competitive market test’ to determine where regulation of business data services was still needed and where it would impede investment, innovation, and competition.

CAF Phase II Auction Closes, Allocates $1.488 Billion to Close the Digital Divide

Bidding in the Connect America Fund Phase II auction concluded on August 21, 2018. There were 103 winning bidders in the auction, with the 10-year support amount totaling $1.488 billion and covering 713,176 locations in 45 states. Of the 974,223 locations in the 30,033 eligible census block groups (CBGs), approximately 73 percent of the locations are covered by winning bids. While winning bids are for a range of performance tiers, winning bids for downstream speeds of at least 100 megabits per second (Mbps) cover 53 percent of these locations.

What Does Technological Innovation and the Digital Divide Mean for the Workforce?

This book aims to reframe workforce development efforts as investments that can result in better economic outcomes for individuals, businesses, and regions. The book is divided into three volumes: Investing in Workers, Investing in Work, and Investing in Systems for Employment Opportunity. Within each volume are discrete sections made up of chapters that identify specific workforce development programs and policies that provide positive returns to society, to employers, and to job seekers.

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