1. Monthly archive
  2. December 2020

December 2020

FCC Waives Some Broadband Rate Reporting Requirements

By its own motion, the Federal Communications Commission waived its rules to allow rate-of-return carriers (i.e. a telephone company that provided local service prior to the Telecommunications Act of 1996 which owns most of the local loops and facilities in a serving area) to include their actual rates for consumer broadband-only lines for the first three months of 2019 on their FCC Form 509, rather than imputing revenues based on the maximum rate that would have been assessable.

European Commission clears acquisition of Fitbit by Google, subject to conditions

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of Fitbit by Google. The approval is conditional on full compliance with a commitments package offered by Google. The decision follows an in-depth investigation of the proposed transaction, which combines Google's and Fitbit's complementary activities. Fitbit has a limited market share in Europe in the fast-growing smartwatch segment where many larger competitors are present, such as Apple, Garmin and Samsung.

Sponsor 

Brookings

Date 
Wed, 01/06/2021 - 20:00 to 21:00

COVID-19 has exacerbated a range of systemic inequalities impacting communities of color. Simultaneously, the public health crisis has made clear the need to recognize broadband access as a household necessity, like food and housing. As the incoming Biden Administration works to address income, educational, workforce, and health care divides, prioritizing broadband access and reforming the mechanisms that drive its deployment and adoption will be key.


Bar Harbor, Maine, plans its own fiber network to avoid tenfold internet price increase

The town of Bar Harbor, Maine, is planning a $750,000 project to connect fiber optic cable to town-owned properties so its staff can have broadband internet access at work. The town has such access now but will have to start paying $45,000 a year to Charter Communications to continue using the company’s fiber network infrastructure because of an expiring agreement that has allowed the town to use the fiber at no cost beyond what it pays its internet service providers. The town pays currently approximately $4,500 per year for internet access.

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