Agenda

The State of Broadband Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Senate Commerce Committee examined the ongoing initiatives led by the Federal Communications Commission to maintain and expand high-speed and reliable broadband connections to all Americans during this national public health emergency. The hearing also examined the impact of funds provided through the CARES Act to support broadband initiatives at the federal, state, and local levels, and legislative proposals focused on addressing the digital divide during the COVID-19 outbreak. Senators were joined by four witnesses: 

FCC Takes Steps to Expand Deployment and Use of Satellite Earth Stations in Motion

The Federal Communications Commission took action to facilitate the continued deployment of earth stations used to provide satellite-based communications services on ships, airplanes, and vehicles. Satellite earth stations in motion (ESIMs) provide continuous and consistent broadband services to moving platforms by connecting them with satellites.

House Democrats Propose Bill to Keep Americans Connected During Pandemic

House Democratic leadership unveiled a $3 trillion relief package, the HEROES Act, that includes provisions to connect people to broadband. The legislation:

Sponsor: 

Northwestern University

Date: 
Fri, 05/15/2020 - 17:00 to 18:00

As we follow the recommendations for physical distancing, the importance of online connectivity increases. Schools and universities have moved to distant learning, telework has become the norm for many industries and workers, and essential public and government services have moved online.  Yet millions of Americans, disproportionately low income households, senior citizens, communities of color and rural Americans, don't have access to or can't afford needed broadband Internet connections.



What's on the FTC's Radar During COVID-19

Federal Trade Commission Chairman Joe Simons told House lawmakers that the agency is “very, very closely” watching how contact tracing efforts by Google, Apple and other tech companies affect Americans’ privacy. “We are all over that,” Chairman Simons said during a call with House Commerce Committee lawmakers, adding that the FTC has been talking to the companies involved. Chairman Simons noted that one of the major players in the effort, Google, is already under an FTC order to uphold certain privacy standards.

Sponsor: 

Merit Network

Date: 
Mon, 06/15/2020 - 17:00 to 18:00

The FCC is responsible for managing and licensing the electromagnetic spectrum for commercial and non-commercial users. When this project was first known as the Education Broadcast Service (EBS) spectrum, the 2.5GHz plan was underutilized, resulting in a recall and subsequent auctioning to the highest bidder.



Sponsor: 

Merit Network

Date: 
Thu, 05/28/2020 - 17:00 to 18:00

This presentation will explore some of the legal and regulatory issues posed by local broadband initiatives and public-private partnerships.

Jim Baller, President of Baller Stokes & Lide / President of Coalition for Local Internet Choice; Michael Watza, Partner, Kitch Drutchas Wagner et al/General Counsel to PROTEC.



Bipartisan Members Urge House Leaders to Promote Competition in Telecommunications Supply Chains

Reps Doris Matsui (D-CA), Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), along with 34 colleagues, sent a letter to House leadership, urging them to provide funding to support the development and deployment of open and interoperable radio access networks (RANs). RANs serve as the connection between phones or hotspots and a carrier’s core network and the internet. As mobile traffic continues to evolve – continued innovation is a necessity.

Sponsor: 

Federal Communications Commission

Date: 
Thu, 06/04/2020 - 15:00 to 20:00

At this meeting, the TAC will hear presentations from its four working groups: 5G/IOT/V-RAN, Future of Unlicensed Operations, Artificial Intelligence, and 5G Radio Access Network Technology.

This agenda may be modified at the discretion of the TAC Chair and the Designated Federal Officer (DFO).



Sponsor: 

The Federalist Society

Date: 
Mon, 05/11/2020 - 18:00

In Mozilla v. FCC, the D.C. Circuit upheld the Federal Communications Commission’s 2018 Restoring Internet Freedom Order in which the current Commission rejected the Obama Administration’s 'net neutrality' efforts to impose legacy common carrier regulation on the Internet and returned broadband Internet access service to a “light touch” regulatory regime under Title I of the Communications Act.  Mozilla was not a complete victory for the Commission, however.  Not only did the D.C.



Sponsor: 

Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee

House Commerce Committee

Date: 
Mon, 05/11/2020 - 17:00

A teleconference forum with Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Joseph J. Simons to discuss critical consumer protection issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.



Sponsor: 

New America

Date: 
Thu, 05/14/2020 - 16:30 to 18:15

We are seeing increasing numbers of pandemic response plans that rely on a combination of ramped up coronavirus testing and contact tracing to detect the people who need to be isolated and permit others to begin to return to life as normal. In this age of big data, these proposals seek to combine traditional public health contact tracing with digital tools.



With Push From Trump, Senate Moves to Install Contentious Filmmaker at US Media Agency

Senate Republican leaders, under pressure from President Donald Trump to install an ally who would dictate more favorable news coverage of his administration, are moving to swiftly confirm a conservative filmmaker to lead the independent agency in charge of state-funded media outlets.

Sponsor: 

Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Date: 
Thu, 05/14/2020 - 14:30

Nomination

Mr. Michael Packof Maryland, to be Chief Executive Officer of the Broadcasting Board of Governors for the term of three years.



Sponsor: 

New York Times

Date: 
Sun, 05/10/2020 - 20:30

Facts, fantasy, political fights or propaganda? The constant news and social media onslaught exploding on the internet can make it difficult to tell one from the other. Join us as we discuss why disinformation and superstition flourish in times of plague, and look at the present moment in the media through the lens of the history and literature of plagues past, from "The Decameron" to today.



Covid-19’s Next-Level Impact

The mounting human death toll and unfolding financial calamity of the current pandemic is one thing. But the ripple effects will last for years—and given the country’s bumbled handling of the virus itself, it seems an open question whether we’re in a strong position to respond and confront what comes after it. The US's ongoing, disastrous response to the pandemic—by almost any measure one of the worst in the developed world—is sending a clear message to other countries that the U.S.

Sponsor: 

Senate Commerce Committee

Date: 
Wed, 05/13/2020 - 15:00

he hearing will examine the ongoing initiatives led by the Federal Communications Commission to maintain and expand high-speed and reliable broadband connections to all Americans during this national public health emergency. The hearing will also examine the impact of funds provided through the CARES Act to support broadband initiatives at the federal, state, and local levels, and legislative proposals focused on addressing the digital divide during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Witnesses



Sponsor: 

Schools Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition

Date: 
Fri, 05/29/2020 - 18:00

Broadband legislation is having an unprecedented moment - a reaction to the urgent need to expedite connectivity amid COVID-19. Congress is considering bills to add $2 billion to the Rural Health Care Program, $4 billion to the E-rate program, $1 billion for Lifeline, $80 billion for broadband infrastructure, and $1.2 billion for digital literacy. Tune into SHLB's legislative update to hear from the key Congressional staff who are driving the effort to fund broadband connectivity for anchor institutions and everyone.



Sponsor: 

NetChoice

Date: 
Tue, 05/12/2020 - 19:00

During the pandemic, much face-to-face communication has moved online. People staying at home are using social media and search engines to find out up-to-date information and advice on how we can all help slow the spread of COVID-19.

America's tech industry has stepped up to the plate and is working hard to play their part in fighting COVID-19. This panel will demonstrate just some ways that tech is helping fight the virus, and how we can all use their tools to stay connected.

Panelists:



Sponsor: 

University of Illinois Extension Local Government Education Program, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Illinois Office of Broadband, and Benton Institute for Broadband & Society

Date: 
Wed, 05/20/2020 - 16:30 to 18:00

Internet has never been more important in facilitating daily activities. Households with quality broadband connections can work, learn, heal, shop, and interact to an extent not thought previously possible.

The unconnected – generally older, poorer, rural, and people of color – add connectivity to their list of challenges while educators, employers, healthcare professionals, retailers, and family members struggle to maintain connections.  



Sponsor: 

University of Illinois Extension Local Government Education Program, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Illinois Office of Broadband, and Benton Institute for Broadband & Society

Date: 
Wed, 05/13/2020 - 16:30 to 18:00

Internet has never been more important in facilitating daily activities. Households with quality broadband connections can work, learn, heal, shop, and interact to an extent not thought previously possible.

The unconnected – generally older, poorer, rural, and people of color – add connectivity to their list of challenges while educators, employers, healthcare professionals, retailers, and family members struggle to maintain connections.  



Sponsor: 

Fiber Broadband Association

Date: 
Thu, 05/07/2020 - 18:00

Today’s FTTH networks are under tremendous strain as remote working is at an all-time high combined with the growth of 4K streaming, cloud gaming, AR/VR and enterprise services. At the same time, most service providers are building out high-capacity broadband networks leveraging a range of fixed broadband technologies making gigabit service offerings common place.

Service providers across the globe are now at a point where they must identify the right next-gen access strategies to ensure their competitive position today and provide a path to a scalable network for their future.



AT&T, Verizon part of new 31-member Open RAN Policy Coalition

A new coalition, backed by a wide range of players in the mobile ecosystem --, including U.S. operators AT&T and Verizon -- has formed to advocate for government policy that helps drive open radio access network (RAN) adoption to fund research and development of open and interoperable 5G networks. Executive director for the 31-member Open RAN Policy Coalition, launched today, is former Acting Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Diane Rinaldo.

Sponsor: 

Representative Brenda L. Lawrence (MI-14)

FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks

Date: 
Thu, 05/07/2020 - 18:00

This event will explore how the digital divide has exacerbated already existing inequities that impact the city of Detroit and other similarly situated cities in Michigan and throughout the United States. Panelists will present solutions for addressing the digital divide on a local, state, and federal level and will particularly focus on the urgent matter of connecting children, low-income communities, and communities of color to affordable and reliable broadband.

Confirmed Panelists