The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) just announced plans to unleash more than $1 billion in fresh funding for rural broadband via its Broadband ReConnect Program, but not everyone is rejoicing. Claude Aiken, CEO of the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA), warned new rules adopted for the latest funding round could effectively cut fixed wireless access providers out of the running. Aiken argued that “innovators and entrepreneurs on the front lines of closing the digital divide likely will find themselves unable to access this funding, and, worse yet, could have their efforts to connect rural America undone by the funding.” This $1.15 billion in funding announced by the USDA will be distributed as part of the ReConnect Program’s third funding round. In earlier funding rounds, the USDA specified applicants must target areas that lacked access to broadband service with speeds of at least 10 Mbps upstream and 1 Mbps downstream. Projects receiving funding were required to provide service offering at least 25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up. But those two metrics have been changed for the third round: providers will be permitted to apply for funding to serve areas lacking access to service of at least 100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up and they must promise to deliver symmetrical 100 Mbps service in order to be eligible for funding. Aiken concluded, “Put simply, this will hurt small, rural internet service providers. The end result will be inefficient overbuilding of these vibrant community-based networks that have served this country so well.”

Sens Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security, announced that their subcommittee would take additional steps to look into Facebook’s knowledge of its platforms’ negative impact on teenagers and young users. “It is clear that Facebook is incapable of holding itself accountable," the senators stated. "The Wall Street Journal’s reporting reveals Facebook’s leadership to be focused on a growth-at-all-costs mindset that valued profits over the health and lives of children and teens. When given the opportunity to come clean to us about their knowledge of Instagram’s impact on young users, Facebook provided evasive answers that were misleading and covered up clear evidence of significant harm. We are in touch with a Facebook whistleblower and will use every resource at our disposal to investigate what Facebook knew and when they knew it – including seeking further documents and pursuing witness testimony."

The Federal Communications Commission adopted an order ending China Telecom America’s ability to provide domestic interstate and international telecommunications services within the United States. The Order on Revocation and Termination directs China Telecom Americas to discontinue any domestic or international services that it provides pursuant to its section 214 authority within sixty days following the release of the order. Promoting national security is an integral part of the FCC’s responsibility to advance the public interest, and today’s action carries out that mission to safeguard the nation’s telecommunications infrastructure from potential security threats. Based in part on the recommendation of the Executive Branch agencies, the FCC found that China Telecom Americas failed to rebut the serious concerns of the Executive Branch about its continued presence in the United States. In December 2020, the FCC launched a proceeding and established a process that allowed for China Telecom Americas, the Executive Branch agencies, and the public to present any remaining arguments or evidence in the matter. Based on the totality of the extensive unclassified record alone, the FCC’s public interest analysis finds that the present and future public interest, convenience, and necessity is no longer served by China Telecom Americas’ retention of its section 214 authority.

Verizon and Amazon's Project Kuiper announced a strategic collaboration to develop connectivity solutions for unserved and underserved communities. Project Kuiper is an initiative to increase global broadband access through a constellation of 3,236 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) around the planet. The system will serve individual households, as well as schools, hospitals, businesses and other organizations operating in places where internet access is limited or unavailable. Amazon has committed an initial $10 billion to the program, which will deliver fast, affordable broadband to customers and communities around the world. The partnership seeks to expand coverage and deliver new customer-focused connectivity solutions that combine Amazon’s advanced LEO satellite system and Verizon’s wireless technology and infrastructure. To begin, Amazon and Verizon will focus on expanding Verizon data networks using cellular backhaul solutions from Project Kuiper. The integration will leverage antenna development already in progress from the Project Kuiper team, and both engineering teams are now working together to define technical requirements to help extend fixed wireless coverage to rural and remote communities across the United States. This partnership will also pave the way for Project Kuiper and Verizon to design and deploy new connectivity solutions across a range of domestic and global industries, from agriculture and energy to manufacturing and transportation.