1. Monthly archive
  2. May 2020

May 2020

Executive Order on Regulatory Relief to Support Economic Recovery

It is the policy of the United States to combat the economic consequences of COVID-19 with the same vigor and resourcefulness with which the fight against COVID-19 itself has been waged.  Agencies should address this economic emergency by rescinding, modifying, waiving, or providing exemptions from regulations and other requirements that may inhibit economic recovery, consistent with applicable law and with protection of the public health and safety, with national and homeland security, and with budgetary priorities and operational feasibility.  They should also give businesses, especially

Black students desperately need a new federal Lifeline

The federal Lifeline program was created in the 1980s under President Ronald Reagan to help low-income Americans afford telephone service. It has been expanded over the years to help provide access to a basic cellphone with a limited amount of data. The most recent evolution, to accommodate broadband, was demonized by some Republicans who labeled it the “Obamaphone” program.

Local Officials Share Insights on How Broadband Impacts Population Growth, Economic Development, and Education in Illinois

The University of Illinois Extension Local Government Education Program and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Illinois Office of Broadband partnered with the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society to implement the Developing Broadband Leadership Webinar Series. The leadership series is a four-part workshop launched as part of the Connect Illinois initiative, a phased $420 million initiative implemented to expand broadband in unserved and underserved municipalities statewide. On May 13, 2020, Illinois Governor J.B.

Public Knowledge Joins More than 30 Organizations Urging Congress to Support FCC’s Move to Deploy 5G

Public Knowledge joined more than 30 public interest groups (including the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society), advocacy organizations, trade associations, academics, and former administration officials in a letter urging both the Senate and House Armed Services Committees to support the Federal Communications Commission’s 

Broadband network capacity strong but provider challenges persist

Companies say internet network capacity has stayed strong the last two months, but some providers are struggling to repay loans, provide internet routers, or find enough personal protective equipment to protect workers from COVID-19. Federal Communications Commission Chair Ajit Pai told the House Communications Subcommittee May 19 one reason the networks have been able to handle the traffic increase is because of investments and improvements in broadband infrastructure in recent years. “Since 2016, for example, Internet speeds are up over 80%.

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