The House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government convened an oversight hearing of the Federal Communications Commission. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr was the sole witness. Subcommittee Chairman Dave Joyce (R-OH) noted that since Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, the FCC has received flat funding of $390.2 million.
Sen Ron Wyden (D-OR) revealed which wireless carriers protect the privacy of their customers by notifying them about government surveillance requests for their information, in a letter he sent to his colleagues. He urged senators to choose a phone company that will notify them about government surveillance requests.
Verizon is officially asking for a waiver of the Federal Communications Commission's phone unlocking requirements. Verizon faces phone unlocking requirements stemming from its acquisition of 700MHz spectrum in 2008, and also from conditions the FCC placed on the operator's
Broadband Internet connectivity is seen by many to be essential for modern life, not only because of the significant private benefits to its users, but also because of the alleged sizable social payoff—a “broadband bonus” above and beyond the purely private benefits of the service.
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