Headlines

HUD Sec Carson accuses Facebook of enabling housing discrimination

FCC Won't Extend Broadband Competition Comment Deadline

But provides brief relief for deployment report.

Corporate concentration threatens American democracy

 Corporate concentration in the United States is not only increasing inequality but also undermining competition and consumers’ standard of living. Politically, the commensurate lobbying influence of big tech, big finance and other large conglomerates has created what political scientist Francis Fukuyama calls a “vetocracy” — where vested concerns have amassed the clout to choke off legislative reforms that would diminish their spoils. 

FCC Directs USAC to Fully Fund Eligible Category 1 and 2 E-Rate Requests

In this notice, the FCC announces that there is sufficient funding available to fully meet the USAC estimated demand for category one and category two requests for E-Rate supported services for FY 2018.

CBO Scores the Measuring the Economic Impact of Broadband Act of 2018 (S 645)

The Measuring the Economic Impact of Broadband Act of 2018 (S 645) would direct the Department of Commerce (DOC) to assess and analyze the contributions of the digital economy to the economy of the United States and produce a report every two years. The analysis would include the effect of digital-enabling infrastructure, broadband, e-commerce, and digital media.

Gov Rick Snyder (R-MI) unveils plan to expand broadband access

Gov Rick Snyder (R-MI) announced a plan to expand access to high-speed internet to every Michigan resident.

High-speed internet service may be poised for a price hike

US broadband service, already slower and more expensive than in many other countries, could get even pricier. That's because major internet providers such as AT&T and Verizon want the Federal Communications Commission to scrap a key provision that some say helps keep broadband costs low for small businesses and consumers.

A Time for Tech Transparency

 Powerful social media companies are filtering the information that users receive on their platforms. As a result, the picture we get of politics is partial and distorted, like a carnival mirror.

CTA Study: China Tariffs Will Cost the U.S. Economy up to $2.4 Billion Annually

The Trump administration's consideration of tariffs on Chinese printed circuit assemblies and connected devices would cost the economy $520.8 million and $2.4 billion annually for the 10 percent and 25 percent tariffs, respectively, according to a new study commissioned by the CTA. 

NTCA Rural Anchor Institution Fiber Connectivity Report: 82.4% of Schools Served by Rural Telcos Have FTTP

More than three-quarters (82.4%) of K-12 schools in areas served by rural telecommunication companies are connected to the internet over fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) infrastructure, according to a new survey of rural telco members of NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association. 

President Trump gives the military more latitude to use offensive cyber tools against adversaries

The Trump administration has moved to give the military more latitude to conduct offensive cyber operations against American adversaries, continuing an effort begun in 2017 to grant commanders more leeway to make battlefield decisions.

Inside Facebook’s plan to protect the U.S. midterm elections

You can boil Facebook’s election plan down into three main challenges. 

Internet Association Weighs In On President Trump's Twitter Blocks

Tech companies appear to be concerned that they might face some unintended consequences as a result of a battle over whether President Donald Trump violates the First Amendment by blocking critics on Twitter.

Content Creators Seek FTC Help From Dominant Platform 'Abuses'

Says dominant platforms aren't protecting their content and profiting from the practice.

Silicon Valley's attempts to self-police are anti-democratic. They're also not new.

“Operation Golden Gate” was the name of a 1948 plan among the followers of a political movement known as Technocracy Inc. to converge on the San Francisco Bay area. These self-described Technocrats gathered from around the country to educate the public in their central belief: that politicians lacked the ability to effectively manage the complexities of the modern world and that the public should delegate decision-making instead to a small group of technological experts.

Regional Economic Development Planning Efforts in Rural Communities

The USDA is seeking applications to support regional economic development planning efforts in rural communities under the Rural Economic Development Innovation initiative.

Analysis of the FCC’s Third Report and Order and Declaratory Ruling on Pole Attachments and Wireless Siting, One-Touch Make-Ready

The FCC significantly revised its rules and regulations governing the pole attachment “make-ready” process, including the establishment of a one-touch make-ready (OTMR) process

Net Neutrality in the Courts: Two Cases, Two Courts; The One You Have Been Following, And The One You May Have Forgotten About

After months of relative inactivity, there will soon be some important movement in litigation over the Federal Communications Commission’s network neutrality rules.

Fake America Great Again: Inside the Race to Catch Real Fakes Using AI

Photo fakery is far from new, but artificial intelligence will completely change the game.

FCC Oversight and Overlooks

In light of 24 million Americans lacking broadband, a controversial net neutrality proceeding, and a President unabashedly attacking the press, one was left wondering how much of the hearing was oversight, and how much was overlook. 

‘Weaponized Ad Technology’: Facebook’s Moneymaker Gets a Critical Eye

Microtargeting is coming under increased scrutiny in the United States and Europe