Tuesday, November 26, 2019
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Rep Meng Introduces Legislation to Close the Nation's Homework Gap
Broadcast Ownership Deregulation Could Be Headed to Supreme Court
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Rep Grace Meng (D-NY) announced the introduction of the Closing the Homework Gap Through Mobile Hotspots Act, which would create a $100 million grant program for schools, libraries, US territories, and federally recognized Indian Tribes to purchase mobile hotspots to help close the nation’s homework gap. They would use the funds to create mobile hotspot programs for students to have internet access to complete their homework. As many as 12 million students in the US lack broadband at home.
“Every child deserves their best chance at pursuing an education. But it breaks my heart knowing that millions of kids, every night, are unable to finish their homework simply because they are without internet access. Before the internet became ubiquitous, students completed their homework with pencil and paper—today, that is no longer case,” said Rep Meng. “We cannot allow this to go on. My bill is simple and does not require investing funds in developing new technologies to close the 'homework gap;' instead, it builds on and expands existing infrastructures. Mobile hotspot devices already exist, and with my bill, we can get them to more students who need them. Essentially, students can 'check-out' these mobile hotspots from their schools or local libraries – just as they do for books. I encourage all my colleagues in the House to support my bill – and help break down barriers to education.”
Don’t be surprised if the Federal Communications Commission and National Association of Broadcasters ask the US Supreme Court to weigh in on broadcast ownership deregulation. That comes after the full 3rd US Circuit Court of Appeals refused to hear the FCC’s appeal, supported by NAB as an intervenor, of a lower court decision to throw out most of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's deregulation order. That order included eliminating the newspaper-broadcast and radio-TV cross-ownership rules.
If the FCC and Justice Department do not appeal, NAB would be unlikely to do so. Broadcasters could go it alone, but he said as far as he knew the court has never picked up a case sought by an intervenor supporting the government when the government itself didn’t seek the appeal. Chairman Pai said Nov 22 the FCC was considering its options but had made no decision. Given his view of the 3rd Circuit, and with deregulatory-minded former US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit Judge Brett Kavanaugh now on the high court, Chairman Pai might like his chances.
TX Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that his office reached a settlement with T-Mobile resolving the state’s antitrust claims against the proposed merger of mobile wireless telecommunications service providers Sprint and T-Mobile. The agreement is designed to prevent the New T-Mobile from increasing prices for wireless services on Texans for five years after the merger is complete. The agreement also commits the New T-Mobile to build out a 5G network throughout Texas, including rural areas, during the next six years. Terms of the agreement include requirements that the New T-Mobile:
- Give all Texas customers access to the same or better unlimited talk, text, and data rate plans as those offered by T-Mobile as of the date of the agreement for the next five years;
- Give all Texas customers access to T-Mobile limited data rate plans at a cost far below what is currently offered in the industry;
- Commit to provide 5G wireless broadband coverage to areas where most Texans live, including most Texans living in rural portions of the state within the next three years and to expand that 5G coverage dramatically within the next six years;
- Offer Texas residents that are currently employed by Sprint and T-Mobile substantially similar employment with the New T-Mobile.
The week of Nov 18, Senate Democratic leaders released a set of privacy principles that help to frame the debate on federal privacy legislation. The substance of the principles is at high-level of generality but stakes some notable ground in the privacy debate:
- An emphasis on addressing how companies collect, use, and share personal data
- A shoutout for civil rights
- Strong enforcement at several levels
- A private right of action without federal preemption
Benton (www.benton.org) provides the only free, reliable, and non-partisan daily digest that curates and distributes news related to universal broadband, while connecting communications, democracy, and public interest issues. Posted Monday through Friday, this service provides updates on important industry developments, policy issues, and other related news events. While the summaries are factually accurate, their sometimes informal tone may not always represent the tone of the original articles. Headlines are compiled by Kevin Taglang (headlines AT benton DOT org) and Robbie McBeath (rmcbeath AT benton DOT org) — we welcome your comments.
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