July 2019

Examination of the Local Telecommunications Networks and Related Policies and Practices of AT&T California and Frontier California

Corporate choices made by AT&T and Verizon, and Frontier Communications’ dire financial condition created the growing divide between relatively modern telecommunications infrastructure in affluent urban and suburban communities and the decaying infrastructure in poor and rural ones. The result is “deteriorating service quality”, “persistent disinvestment”, an “investment focus on higher-income communities” and an “increased focus on areas most heavily impacted by competition.” When addressing service quality going forward, the California Public Utilities Commission should:

Why Facebook should fear a Democratic win in 2020

The Democratic anger over Facebook is the most potent sign yet of the peril Silicon Valley faces if the party regains full power in Washington: Investigations could become more intrusive, and the online industry could face punishments that have never realistically been on the table — including a ban on the kind of behavior-based advertising that supplies Facebook's fortune. Such repercussions could go even beyond the backlash that tech is experiencing under the Trump administration.

Doubts over Dish's strength as a fourth wireless player

Dish has been a potential wireless entrant for some time, having scooped up a significant amount of spectrum in recent years — spectrum it is under pressure to use soon or risk losing. And, back in 2013, Dish lost out in a bidding war with SoftBank for control of Sprint.

Plan approved to spend Georgia tax money on rural internet lines

Georgia recently finalized a plan to spend the public’s money on subsidies for high-speed internet lines, laying the foundation for broadband expansion in rural areas. Representatives for some internet providers criticized the state’s subsidy rules as being overly burdensome. They also worried that government funding might not go to areas where it’s most needed.