1. Monthly archive
  2. November 2019

November 2019

CBO Scores the National Commission on Online Platforms and Homeland Security Act

The National Commission on Online Platforms and Homeland Security Act (HR 4782) would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to research how online platforms may be used to facilitate acts of terrorism. On the basis of information from DHS regarding the costs of similar research efforts, CBO estimates implementing that provision would cost $4 million. The bill also would establish a national commission to study how entities have used social media and other online platforms to threaten US national security.

Democratic Presidential Candidate Tom Steyer Proposes $135 Billion for Rural Broadband

As part of his just-announced "Partnership with Rural Communities," Democratic presidential candidate Tom Steyer has proposed a massive rural broadband connectivity program that includes $135 billion in investment and "protecting" municipal and co-op broadband networks. "The modern economy is a knowledge economy," Steyer's plan points out. "Full participation in commerce depends on reliable, fast, affordable access to the Internet.

Digital divide persists in North Carolina despite broadband availability; task force seeks to drive up usage

North Carolinians aren’t the quickest adopters when it comes to broadband. Despite the fact that around 94.8 percent of North Carolinians have access to high-speed internet, only 59.4 percent of households adopt it, according to the Federal Communications Commission. “It’s pretty low. That’s a good 40 percent of the population that has access but is still not adopting,” said Amy Huffman, NC Department of Information Technology’s digital equity and digital inclusion program manager. It affects rural and urban areas equally. “That’s a big problem,” she said.

Sponsor 

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Department of Commerce

Date 
Wed, 12/04/2019 - 15:00 to Thu, 12/05/2019 - 22:30

The agenda is expected to include the following items:

  1. Briefing on Testing and Conformance Programs used by the Federal Government,
  2. Briefing on work in Election Infrastructure Cybersecurity,
  3. Briefing on the Cybersecurity Solarium Report,
  4. Discussion by the Board on Cybersecurity and Privacy Issues in the Federal Government,
  5. Discussions by the Board on recent Legislative Proposals and GAO findings in Cybersecurity and Privacy.

Sponsor 

Federal Communications Commission

Date 
Wed, 12/04/2019 - 16:00 to 21:00

At the December 4th meeting, the FCC Technological Advisory Council will discuss progress on work initiatives from the previous meeting and provide the final recommendations from each working group.

The FCC will attempt to accommodate as many people as possible. However, admittance will be limited to seating availability. Meetings are also broadcast live with open captioning over the internet from the FCC Live web page at http:// www.fcc.gov/live/. The public may submit written comments before the meeting


Jonathan Sallet on the Need to Reset U.S. Broadband Policy

Benton Senior Fellow Jonathan Sallet called for a new national broadband agenda. Over the past year, Jon has been talking to broadband leaders around the country, asking about who’s currently connected and who’s not. You can read Jon’s findings in Broadband for America’s Future: A Vision for the 2020s. Jon delivered the keynote address at the Broadband Communities conference in Virginia on Wednesday.

© 1994-2026 Benton Institute for Broadband & Society. All Rights Reserved.