Chairman Pai Testimony Before House Appropriations Subcommittee
Here are the Federal Communications Commission's priorities for the next year:
April 2019
Facebook's Ad Algorithm is a Race and Gender Stereotyping Machine, New Research Suggests (Intercept, The)
Submitted by benton on Thu, 04/04/2019 - 06:21
Testimony of Commissioner Rosenworcel Before House Appropriations Subcommittee
Communications technologies power one-sixth of the nation’s economy—and every American needs access to these technologies to have a fair shot at 21st century success. That is why the budget request from the Administration before you today is so striking. It asks for less than the $339,000,000 the agency is set to spend in the current fiscal year and is almost $4,000,000 less than the budget level authorized by Congress.
FCC ready to authorize Connect America Fund Phase II auction (Auction 903) support to winning bids (Federal Communications Commission)
Submitted by benton on Wed, 04/03/2019 - 15:52Reps. Cárdenas, Brooks, Vela and Banks introduce E-FRONTIER Act, a bill to protect 5G networks from nationalization (House of Representatives)
Submitted by benton on Wed, 04/03/2019 - 15:46Democrats Seek FCC Explanation of Faulty Broadband Coverage Data
House Commerce Committee leadership -- Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Communications Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle (D-PA), and Rep. A. Donald McEachin (D-VA) -- wrote the Federal Communications Commission looking for answers as to how inaccurate broadband data made it into a draft of its upcoming Sec. 706 report to Congress on the availability of advanced communications. “If we don’t have accurate information about where broadband Internet is available, how are we ever going to connect our rural and underserved communities?” Rep. McEachin said.
FTC says it only has 40 employees overseeing privacy and data security
The Federal Trade Commission told Congress that it only has 40 full-time employees dedicated to overseeing internet privacy and data security and requested lawmakers give the agency more resources to adequately police tech companies. FTC Chairman Joseph Simons wrote in a letter to House leaders that the commission lags far behind other developed countries’ data watchdogs.
Airband Rural Wireless Program Has Eight Service Provider Partners, 230 More on Microsoft Wireless ISP Program
When Microsoft announced plans in 2017 to work with network operators to bring broadband to rural areas lacking broadband service, the company had no problem finding network operators to participate in the program, dubbed Microsoft Airband. Microsoft’s initial plans called for 12 rural broadband projects in 12 states, with a strong emphasis on fixed wireless technology. The company later extended the timeframe and raised the goal to 25 states.