1. Monthly archive
  2. September 2019

September 2019

FCC Should Take Efforts to Promote Tribal Access to Spectrum

In 2018, the GAO released a report related to spectrum use for broadband services by tribal entities and selected updates. Specifically, it discusses (1) tribal entities' ability to obtain and access spectrum to provide broadband services and the reported barriers that may exist, and (2) the extent to which FCC promotes and supports tribal efforts to obtain and access spectrum. For that report, GAO interviewed 16 tribal entities that were using wireless technologies. Selected entities varied geographically, among other characteristics.

House lawmakers are planning to unveil legislation to probe social media and online extremism

Congressional lawmakers are drafting a bill to create a “national commission” at the Department of Homeland Security to study the ways that social media can be weaponized — and the effectiveness of tech giants’ efforts to protect users from harmful content online. The draft House bill is slated to be introduced and considered next week. If passed, the commission would be empowered — with the authority to hold hearings and issue subpoenas — to study the way social media companies police the Web and to recommend potential legislation.

FCC and FTC Budgets Advances in Senate

The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government approved its FY2020 spending bill which includes:

  • $339 million for the Federal Communications Commission, which is offset by regulatory fees and equal to the enacted level.  The bill also provides $132.5 million for the spectrum auctions program.
  • $312.3 million for the Federal Trade Commission, which is $2.6 million more than the FY2019 enacted level and equal to the FY2020 budget request.

Talking the Future of Fiber in Breckenridge

Senior Program Manager Cat Blake presented on Fiber and the Future of Mountain Communities, an informational panel hosted by the town of Breckenridge (CO). Panelists discussed the importance of investing in broadband infrastructure and the future of connectivity in the region. The discussion began with a question on the value of internet access in a community like Breckenridge, with panelists noting potential job growth and new educational resources.

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