The Internet for All initiative is a critical component of the Biden-Harris Administration’s overall strategy to build a more dynamic economy. It will enable American workers and businesses to compete on the global stage and generate new economic opportunities in overlooked communities throughout the country. Internet for All will create as many as 150,000 jobs nationwide – but to maximize the economic potential of this initiative, manufacturers and Internet service providers will need to build right here in America. President Biden made clear that while Buy America has been the law of the land since 1933, too many administrations have found ways to skirt its requirements. We will not. The iron and steel, manufactured products, and construction materials needed to deliver affordable, reliable, high-speed Internet service to millions of Americans is an opportunity to create jobs and opportunities right here in America. That’s why the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) believes that if it can be Made in America, it should be made in America – and it’s why we’ll strictly enforce ‘Build America, Buy America’ (BABA) requirements outlined in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Internet for All Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs). We look forward to working with suppliers and manufacturers to ensure that the future of affordable, reliable, high-speed Internet service in America is built right here at home.

EducationSuperHighway released LearnACP, a new training course and certification for states, cities, and community-based organizations working to increase awareness and adoption of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The new training is offered for free by the national non-profit and is designed to prepare individuals who support potential beneficiaries to determine if they qualify for the program, complete the application, and enroll in an affordable internet plan. LearnACP takes 45-60 minutes to complete, providing enrollment advocates with a comprehensive understanding of the adoption process to confidently answer questions and support eligible individuals. Those who enroll will learn how the ACP can help households get connected, who is eligible, and how to:  

• Navigate the ACP application with screen-by-screen guidance, tips, and advice on special considerations;
• Apply for the applicant’s ACP benefit with an internet service provider;
• Assist special populations, including Tribal communities, undocumented, and houseless individuals, through the application process;
• Access resources to use when assisting your community members in enrolling in the ACP and avoiding common pitfalls. 

Upon completion of the course, users receive a certificate of completion, creating a community of trained ACP enrollment specialists nationwide that are critical to increasing ACP enrollment and closing the broadband affordability gap.

Verizon’s all-digital Visible prepaid brand is trying to give back to communities, and one way is through Connection Protection, a new program designed to help people keep a wireless connection when they’re laid off. The program provides three months of free Visible service to people who qualify through its partner, Empower Work, a non-profit providing resources for people who are laid off. Of course, Visible hopes people will stick with its brand after those three months; it offers single-line $30/month unlimited plans. The program was launched in conjunction with Visible Impacts, a new social impact platform focused on powering connections to people’s most basic needs. Connection Protection customers need to pay $5 per month for the first three months to receive service, and they’ll be reimbursed with a gift card once enrolled to cover this expense. 

Tiny Gerlach, NV, looks like the ideal place to receive some of the $42.5 billion in Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding targeted to provide internet access to underserved areas. There’s just one catch: The town of 161, gateway to the state’s Black Rock Desert, already has broadband access, according to a government map showing that T-Mobile US Inc. provides service there. If that’s true, Gerlach is unlikely to be eligible for help from the once-in-a-generation program. “There is no reliable broadband up there,” insists Washoe County Manager Eric Brown, whose jurisdiction includes Gerlach. “The fact that the maps reflect that is inaccurate.” Wireless providers have exaggerated the breadth and quality of their service — complicating efforts to identify areas in need, according to state and local officials, consultants, and US lawmakers. By doing so, they can block potential rivals from obtaining subsidies and invading their markets. T-Mobile claims its fixed wireless can serve 45 million addresses or more than one-third of the 114 million places listed in the maps when they were revealed last fall. Verizon Communications Inc. said it can reach almost 19 million. According to Christopher Ali, a telecommunications professor at Pennsylvania State University, carriers are allowed to report places they could potentially reach and those they already serve. “They’re reporting hypothetical service, not actual service,” Ali said. The practice follows rules set down by the Federal Communications Commission, yet creates “the false impression of rural and connected America. But we know this is wrong.”

The American Library Association and the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition spoke with the Federal Communications Commission's Broadband Data Task Force staff and FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s advisor on Feb. 6, 2023 about including community anchor institutions (CAIs) on the FCC’s National Broadband Map. The groups expressed concerns about the current treatment of libraries and said CAIs that purchase mass-market broadband service should be included on the map. They asserted the FCC’s fabric and the map make the inaccurate assumption CAIs purchase custom broadband service and are classified as not broadband serviceable simply because E-rate Program participants are required to issue a request for proposal (RFP) for service. They recommended the presumption should be CAIs in rural areas purchase mass-market service and designated as broadband serviceable locations in the next version of the map’s underlying fabric, with the ability for broadband providers to prove otherwise.

The Federal Communications Commission's International Bureau granted, subject to conditions, the application of Kuiper Systems LLC for modification of its license for a non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite constellation providing fixed-satellite service (FSS) and Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) using Ka-band radio frequencies. Specifically, the bureau grants Kuiper’s request for approval of its updated orbital debris mitigation plan, thereby satisfying a condition of the FCC's action in 2020 conditionally granting Kuiper’s request to deploy and operate its NGSO system. This decision will allow Kuiper to begin deployment of its constellation in order to bring high-speed broadband connectivity to customers around the world. In granting this modification, the bureau has considered the issues raised by interested parties in the record. These issues include, but are not limited to, collision risk, post-mission disposal reliability, completion of satellite design, and orbital separation. To address these and other issues, the FCC is requiring Kuiper to comply with a series of conditions. Kuiper will report mitigation actions taken to avoid collisions in space and to coordinate and collaborate with NASA to ensure continued availability of launch windows and on other matters.

Since announcing his policy of a “general amnesty” for banned Twitter users in November 2022, Elon Musk has reinstated tens of thousands of accounts, including neo-Nazis, white supremacists, misogynists, and spreaders of dangerous conspiracy theories. Now new research by the Center for Countering Digital Hate estimates the value of these reinstatements to Twitter, providing further evidence that Musk’s decision to welcome them back is driven by a desperate drive for revenues. By analyzing new publicly available figures on tweet impressions, the Center estimates that just ten reinstated accounts renowned for publishing hateful content and dangerous conspiracies will generate up to $19 million a year in advertising revenue for Twitter. The analysis shows that the ten accounts have already amassed 2.5 billion tweet impressions since Twitter rolled out publicly visible impression counts on 15th December 2022, putting them on track to reach 20 billion impressions over the course of a year. The Center has also found ads appearing next to toxic content from each of these reinstated accounts, showing how companies are putting their brand safety and consumer trust at risk by continuing to advertise on Twitter. Finally, industry information from the social media analytics firm Brandwatch shows that Twitter ads cost an average of $6.46 per 1,000 impressions. Pulling these elements together results in a total figure of up to $19 million in estimated annual ad revenues across the accounts.

The committee's oversight plan for the 118th Congress. Concerning "Communications and Technology Issues," the committee will focus on the following:

• A Modern Communications Framework for the Innovation Age: Continue to exercise its jurisdiction over wired and wireless communications to ensure our nation’s policies governing voice, video, audio, and data services are promoting investment, innovation, and job creation. The Committee will examine whether regulations should be updated to better meet the communications needs of the country and to ensure its citizens enjoy cutting-edge services and the economic benefits they bring.
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC): Conduct oversight of the FCC, including the efforts to reverse the reclassification of Broadband Internet Access Service as a telecommunications service subject to Title II of the Communications Act of 1934 and efforts to bring transparency and accountability to the Commission’s processes. The Committee will also focus its oversight efforts on the Commission’s administration of funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF), and investigate cases of waste, fraud, and abuse.
• National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA): Conduct oversight of the NTIA, including its administration of broadband grant programs created in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and efforts to bring transparency and accountability to NTIA’s processes. The Committee will also look into NTIA’s authorities and determine whether NTIA needs additional authorities to keep pace with the advancement of modern technology and the advancement of the communications marketplace.
• Spectrum Management: Conduct oversight of the Federal Communications Commission’s and the NTIA's management and allocation of the nation’s spectrum for commercial and government use. The Committee will evaluate spectrum management policies to ensure efficient use of the public airwaves for innovative communications services. The Committee will also examine whether plans for allocating spectrum maximize broadband deployment and encourages investment.
• Availability of Broadband: Investigate whether regulatory policies are helping or hindering broadband deployment. In particular, the Committee will examine the need for reforms to State and Federal permitting processes to speed the deployment of fiber optic systems and 5G wireless services. Additionally, the Committee will conduct oversight of funding mechanisms for broadband deployment and adoption, including the $9 billion per year Universal Service Fund, the $42 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grant program created in the IIJA, and other federal grant programs that could be awarded for broadband deployment.
• Internet: Exercise its jurisdiction over wired and wireless communications to ensure continued growth and investment in the Internet. In particular, the Committee will monitor efforts to employ the multi-stakeholder model of Internet governance—in which governmental and non-governmental entities develop best practices for the management of Internet networks and content.