What's on the agenda for policymakers.
Agenda
With the first round of FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC) behind us and the resulting maps released, the January 13 challenge filing deadline – and ongoing reporting – looms ahead for broadband providers. Tammie Herrlein, Sr. Analyst and BDC Specialist at Vantage Point, will advise on immediate steps for challenges and amendments; provide an update on timelines to expect in the next few months; and offer clarity and guidance for the next round of BDC filing (and the one after that, and the one after that, and the one after that…).
Everyone in Michigan can benefit from affordable, reliable high-speed internet service, but more than 30% of Michiganders either don’t have access to, can’t afford, or are missing the skills and technology needed for an internet connection.
We’re getting ready to change that.
Michigan is poised to receive more than $1.75 billion from the federal government to expand high-speed internet service and achieve digital equity. Every region and every community in our state has unique needs when it comes to getting everyone connected. We need input from them all.
Everyone in Michigan can benefit from affordable, reliable high-speed internet service, but more than 30% of Michiganders either don’t have access to, can’t afford, or are missing the skills and technology needed for an internet connection.
We’re getting ready to change that.
Michigan is poised to receive more than $1.75 billion from the federal government to expand high-speed internet service and achieve digital equity. Every region and every community in our state has unique needs when it comes to getting everyone connected. We need input from them all.
Everyone in Michigan can benefit from affordable, reliable high-speed internet service, but more than 30% of Michiganders either don’t have access to, can’t afford, or are missing the skills and technology needed for an internet connection.
We’re getting ready to change that.
Michigan is poised to receive more than $1.75 billion from the federal government to expand high-speed internet service and achieve digital equity. Every region and every community in our state has unique needs when it comes to getting everyone connected. We need input from them all.
Everyone in Michigan can benefit from affordable, reliable high-speed internet service, but more than 30% of Michiganders either don’t have access to, can’t afford, or are missing the skills and technology needed for an internet connection.
We’re getting ready to change that.
Michigan is poised to receive more than $1.75 billion from the federal government to expand high-speed internet service and achieve digital equity. Every region and every community in our state has unique needs when it comes to getting everyone connected. We need input from them all.
Everyone in Michigan can benefit from affordable, reliable high-speed internet service, but more than 30% of Michiganders either don’t have access to, can’t afford, or are missing the skills and technology needed for an internet connection.
We’re getting ready to change that.
Michigan is poised to receive more than $1.75 billion from the federal government to expand high-speed internet service and achieve digital equity. Every region and every community in our state has unique needs when it comes to getting everyone connected. We need input from them all.
Hispanic groups renew push for FCC pick as President Biden renominates Gigi Sohn
A coalition of Hispanic groups is renewing calls for President Joe Biden to “name a person of Latino descent” to the Federal Communications Commission. The campaign comes as the White House forges ahead with the long-stalled nomination of Gigi Sohn. The groups lamented that the FCC has lacked a Latino commissioner for over two decades and said appointing one would make it “more likely” the agency would “champion equitable language access” and push for more inclusive internet access policies.
An $8 Billion Phone Subsidy for Poor Is Targeted by Conservative Group
The $8.6 billion Universal Service Fund, a linchpin of US communications funding since the late 1990s, helps more than 8 million people afford phone and internet service. The conservative advocacy group Consumers’ Research filed lawsuits in three US courts saying the program should be invalidated because its funding is set by regulators, rather than by Congress, which has taxing authority. There’s a high chance one of the courts will strike down the program in 2023, shifting the battle to the Supreme Court, where justices skeptical of US regulatory agencies could hand the challengers a win.
FCC Announces Tentative Agenda for January Open Meeting
Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced the agenda for the January 26, 2023 Open Commission Meeting. The FCC will consider:
An FCC on Hold
For the first time in my memory, the Senate does not have the votes to approve the nominated FCC Commissioner, Gigi Sohn [Senior Fellow and Public Advocate at the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society]. This has meant that the FCC has been on hold and we’ve had a two-year deadlock between the two Democratic and Republican Commissioners on any controversial issues. There are a number of FCC initiatives that are on hold until there is a fifth Commissioner: