1. Monthly archive
  2. February 2021

February 2021

FCC Commissioner Starks Remarks to Emergency Broadband Benefit Roundtable

There are lots of details to work out, but the two biggest issues we face in setting up the Emergency Broadband Benefit program are both on the agenda today: First, how will we get the word out? We need a broad, collaborative outreach effort that must coordinate across the federal government and also include state and local governments, broadband providers, nonprofits, philanthropy, educators, and direct service providers. It also means making the sign-up process as straightforward and simple as possible.

The biggest RDOF winner, LTD Broadband, responds to naysayers

LTD Broadband garnered the largest award of any company in the Federal Communications Commission’s recent Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) reverse auction. As part of its RDOF pledge, LTD will provide broadband in parts of 15 states at speeds of at least 1 Gbps down and 500 Mbps up. And it’s promised to lay fiber when necessary to achieve those gigabit speeds, which may mean it will primarily be laying fiber with its RDOF money. Corey Hauer, CEO of LTD Broadband, said LTD plans to deliver

Sponsor 

Broadband Breakfast

Date 
Wed, 02/17/2021 - 12:00

This event is part of a five-part event series, “Tools for Broadband: Preparing for Success,” on Broadband Breakfast Live Online.

Panelists include:

  • Mark DeFalco, Telecommunications Initiative Manager at the Appalachian Regional Commission
  • Dr. Christopher Ali, Professor of Media Studies at the University of Virginia
  • Other guests have been invited
  • Drew Clark (Moderator), Editor and Publisher, Broadband Breakfast

Chairwoman Cantwell Makes History on Commerce Committee

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) officially became the first woman to chair the Senate Commerce Committee, and she pledged to use the gavel to work on improving diversity in STEM fields. "To my fellow colleagues, all of you but particularly the women, I hope that we can do a better job on strategies to help women in the workforce, particularly in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering, and math," she said.

Sponsor 

Free State Foundation

Date 
Tue, 02/16/2021 - 11:00 to 12:00

Principles to Protect Free Expression on the Internet

Section 230 of the Communications Act has been dubbed the “twenty six words” that created the interactive free expression of the internet: No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider. This simple piece of legislation provides immunity from liability as a speaker or publisher for providers and users of an “interactive computer service” who host and moderate information provid

Sponsor 

Universal Service Administrative Company

Date 
Tue, 03/02/2021 - 15:00

Sponsor 

Universal Service Administrative Company

Date 
Tue, 02/23/2021 - 13:00

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress directed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to create a $3.2 billion Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBBP) to help low-income consumers afford broadband service and connected internet devices. The program will build on the framework and systems created for Lifeline, the FCC’s existing program, to help provide affordable communications service to low-income consumers. The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) administers the Lifeline program and will administer the EBBP. 


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