benton's blog

At the end of October, Jonathan Baker, Fiona Scott Morton, and I organized a day-long conference entitled Unlocking the Promise of Antitrust Enforcement. Our premise was simple: In a time when the purpose and future of antitrust is again an important topic of political discourse, we need to understand what antitrust enforcers can do today with the laws that exist right now.

News reports indicate that we should expect to see Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai's proposal on net neutrality rules this week in advance of a December 14 vote on the rules. Whatever you think about net neutrality, Chairman Pai's move to release FCC rules before they are voted on is a step in the direction of good government. Transparency is a key ingredient to facilitate democratic participation, accountability, and trust in government.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai will soon release a draft order that eliminates the FCC's rules that protect broadband internet access service customers from many abuses by their broadband providers.

On November 16, 2017, the Federal Communications Commission will vote on an item that will impact the commission's Lifeline program, which provides discounts on telecommunications services for qualifying low-income consumers. On October 26, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai released a draft of the item in advance of the November vote. Here we break down the rules that the FCC plans on changing immediately at the November meeting, the new proposals the FCC is seeking comment on, and the more general evaluation the FCC is launching into the program's "ultimate purposes."

On October 17, President Donald Trump launched a vague, yet ominous Twitter-driven attack on NBC, rhetorically asking, “With all of the Fake News coming out of NBC and the Networks, at what point is it appropriate to challenge their License?  Bad for country!”

FCC Announces Plan to Scrap Ownership Limits


You’re reading the Benton Foundation’s Weekly Round-up, a recap of the biggest (or most overlooked) telecommunications stories of the week. The round-up is delivered via e-mail each Friday; to get your own copy, subscribe www.benton.org/user/register


Round-Up for the Week of October 23-27, 2017

Pai Breaks His Silence -- Was It Good For You?

You’re reading the Benton Foundation’s Weekly Round-up, a recap of the biggest (or most overlooked) telecommunications stories of the week. The round-up is delivered via e-mail each Friday; to get your own copy, subscribe at www.benton.org/user/register

Robbie's Round-Up for the Week of October 16-20, 2017

Broadband access and adoption are essential for full participation in our society, for education, for public health, and for public safety. But nagging gaps in broadband adoption exist in too many U.S. communities. In Digital Inclusion and Meaningful Broadband Adoption Initiatives, Dr. Colin Rhinesmith explores successful, local efforts to help low-income individuals and families overcome the barriers to broadband adoption. Dr.

Remarks of Former-FCC Commissioner Michael Copps
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
Ottawa, Canada
October 18, 2017