Friday, January 22, 2021
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Biden's (Acting) Team Broadband
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Executive Order on Supporting the Reopening and Continuing Operation of Schools
Here’s what Biden can do right now to get more Americans on the Internet
Day 2
Biden's (Acting) Team Broadband | Read below | Kevin Taglang | Analysis | Benton Institute for Broadband & Society 
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Day 2
On January 20, John G. Roberts, Jr., the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, swore in President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. In the (few) hours since, President Biden has been very busy. On Thursday, we learned who will be heading the key agencies with jurisdiction over broadband as President Biden named the acting leaders of the Federal Communications Commission, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and the Federal Trade Commission. Here's a look at all three.
I am honored to be designated as the Acting Chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission by President Biden. I thank the President for the opportunity to lead an agency with such a vital mission and talented staff. It is a privilege to serve the American people and work on their behalf to expand the reach of communications opportunity in the digital age.
Congratulations to my friend and colleague Jessica Rosenworcel on her designation as acting Chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission. For many years, Jessica has been a passionate advocate for bringing the benefits of broadband to all Americans—particularly our children. Her designation comes at a critical juncture for the Commission, as COVID-19 has made bold action to end internet inequality more vital than ever. I look forward to working with her to close the digital divide and on the wide range of pressing issues facing the Commission.
Executive Order on Supporting the Reopening and Continuing Operation of Schools and Early Childhood Education Providers
To ensure that students receive a high-quality education during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and to support the safe reopening and continued operation of schools, child care providers, Head Start programs, and institutions of higher education, President Joe Biden encouraged the Federal Communications Commission to increase connectivity options for students lacking reliable home broadband, so that they can continue to learn if their schools are operating remotely.
Public Knowledge Senior Advisor Gene Kimmelman announced his resignation in order to serve as Senior Counselor for President Joe Biden’s Associate Attorney General at the Department of Justice. This will be a limited duration position.
In the fourth quarter of 2020, many broadband internet service providers introduced or expanded low-priced broadband plans, which the authors define as $60 or less per month, resulting in 70% of Americans having access to low-priced internet at speeds of 25 mbps download / 3 mbps upload and 30% at the higher threshold of 100 mbps download / 25 upload. Ninety-four ISPs added low-priced plans that were not available in Q3. National providers, such as CenturyLink and Xfinity were among them. Just 52% of Americans had access to low-priced plans in the fourth quarter of 2019. Other key findings:
- Rhode Island remains the state with the highest percentage of residents with access to low-priced plans of speeds 100 Mbps download and 25 Mbps upload.
- While 78% of Americans have access to wired providers who report that they can service speeds of 100 Mbps download / 25 Mbps upload, only 30% of Americans have access to low-priced plans at that speed.
- For the first time, residents in Alaska have gained access to low-priced broadband plans. Despite this, less than 1% of the population has access. All 50 states plus the District of Columbia now have some level of access to low-priced plans.
- 21 states had improved or steady internet latency, compared to Q3. The state with the least latency is New Jersey, the one with the most is Hawaii.
Today, there’s a glaring inequity in one crucial area that guarantees inequity in myriad others: Internet access. President Joe Biden has signaled a desire to bring broadband to all. Step one is obvious: Install a Federal Communications Commission chair to replace Ajit Pai. The commission must bolster the E-Rate program, designed to help schools and libraries obtain affordable broadband, and suspend the illogical rule that prevents funding recipients from using the money to provide hotspots and purchase devices that keep kids online even when they’re at home. Next comes the low-income Lifeline program. The incoming FCC majority must first reverse changes that have discouraged participation over the past four years, lifting eligibility obstacles for recipients and bringing exiled providers back into the fold. The agency must also further strengthen the program. Bringing the Web to the whole country, and the whole country to the Web, will take time. But every step closer is a victory, and there are leaps that the new president can take right away.
The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund is looking more and more like one of the most wasteful projects in Federal Communications Commission history. Critiquing the FCC for awarding more than $2 billion to unproven companies using questionable technologies to serve questionable areas is fully valid. So is raising concerns about awards to a bankrupt incumbent. These two critiques can coexist. Yet FCC Chairman Pai views them as the bread of a “job well done” policy sandwich.
In accordance with the Secure 5G and Beyond Act of 2020, the Executive Branch has developed a comprehensive implementation plan associated with the National Strategy to Secure 5G. This implementation plan will be managed under the leadership of the National Security Council and the National Economic Council, supported by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and with contributions from and coordination among a wide range of departments and agencies. The first line of effort establishes a new research and development initiative to develop advanced communications and networking capabilities to achieve security, resilience, safety, privacy, and coverage of 5G and beyond at an affordable cost. The second line of effort is oriented toward identifying and assessing risks and vulnerabilities to 5G infrastructure, building on existing capabilities in assessing and managing supply chain risk. The third line of effort involves addressing the risks to United States economic and national security during the development and deployment of 5G infrastructure worldwide. The fourth line of effort addresses the responsible global development and deployment of 5G technology.
Policymakers
Minority Leader Rodgers Announces House Commerce Committee Republican Subcommittee Leaders and Republican Roster
House Commerce Committee Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) announced the Republican subcommittee leaders and subcommittee rosters for the 117th Congress.
The six subcommittees and their Republican Subcommittee Leaders are:
- Subcommittee on Communications and Technology –Rep. Robert Latta (OH)
- Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce – Rep. Gus Bilirakis (FL)
- Subcommittee on Energy – Rep. Fred Upton (MI)
- Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change – Rep. David McKinley (WV)
- Subcommittee on Health – Rep. Brett Guthrie (KY)
- Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations – Rep. Morgan Griffith (VA)
Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
- Republican Subcommittee Leader Robert E. Latta (OH)
- Rep. Steve Scalise (LA)
- Rep. Brett Guthrie (KY)
- Rep. Adam Kinzinger (IL)
- Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis (FL)
- Rep. Bill Johnson (OH)
- Rep. Billy Long (MO)
- Rep. Richard Hudson (NC)
- Rep. Markwayne Mullin (OK)
- Rep. Tim Walberg (MI)
- Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (GA)
- Rep. Jeff Duncan (SC)
- Rep. John Curtis (UT)
- Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA) (Ex officio)
Google parent Alphabet is shutting down Loon, a high-profile subsidiary spun out from its research labs that used high-altitude helium balloons to deliver cellular connectivity from the stratosphere. Nearly a decade after it began the project, Alphabet pulled the plug on Loon because it did not see a way to reduce costs to create a sustainable business. Along with the self-driving car unit Waymo, Loon was one of the most hyped “moonshot” technology projects to emerge from Alphabet’s research lab, X. Loon was starting to run out of money and had turned to Alphabet to keep its business solvent while it sought another investor in the project.
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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