Government & Communications

There are many, many maps of New York City. There are the decor maps, sold on Amazon, and the tourist maps, which focus, erroneously, only on Manhattan. There’s the iconic subway map. There are the Eater and Grubhub maps, which tell us where to eat. And then there’s the map that really matters: the official legal map for the city, which quite literally rules the streets, complete with boundaries and widths. It’s also the map that doesn’t currently exist, at least in one singular and easy-to-use form. That’s changing, though.

Federal Communications Commissioner Olivia Trusty delivered remarks at the Media Institute's Free Speech America Gala. She spoke about free speech, broadcasting, and ensuring US leadership in communications innovation. "First, we must maintain a regulatory environment that encourages it," she said. "That means eliminating unnecessary legal barriers, streamlining outdated rules, and modernizing permitting to support investment and deployment. Second, we must use federal resources wisely. Spectrum must be put to its highest and best use.

On October 29, Senior Vice President at Public Knowledge Harold Feld testified at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing regarding First Amendment freedoms. "I have been an advocate for First Amendment freedoms––especially the right of the public to hear diverse views and production of local news critical to an informed democracy––for over 25 years," he said.

At a Senate hearing on government censorship of tech platforms, a Meta executive expressed regret to Republican lawmakers for failing to speak out more against the Biden administration’s requests that it remove health and election misinformation, including satire. Google, meanwhile, held firm in its stance, saying that evaluating — and often rejecting — government content requests is business as usual.

Federal Communications Commissioner Olivia Trusty announced a temporary staff change in her office. Will Holloway, who serves as Legal Advisor managing the wireless, space, international, engineering and technology, and public safety portfolios, will be on paternity leave for the next three months. During his absence, Nellie Foosaner will serve as Acting Legal Advisor. Nellie Foosaner will serve as Acting Legal Advisor in the Office of Commissioner Trusty, where she will lead legal and policy analysis on wireless, space, international, engineering and technology, and public safety issues.

As part of “Space Month,” the Federal Communications Commission proposed comprehensive siting reforms for earth stations—the antennas on Earth that connect to the satellites in orbit—in the upper microwave (UMFUS) spectrum bands. This proceeding continues the Commission’s Final Frontiers agenda to rethink legacy regulations from first principles so that America’s space innovators can continue to build and win on the global stage.

Last month, digital divide researchers convened at two major events: the Digital Access Research Forum and the Research Conference on Communications, Information and Internet Policy (better known as TPRC).

HumanX and Humanrace Capital have tapped Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA) to launch the AI Coalition, a nonprofit meant to help smaller AI companies and startups get access to Washington. Without a voice in D.C., startups fear they could be sidelined by the heavy compliance costs of inconsistent state laws or onerous federal rules.

So who are the true free-speech warriors: Democrats or Republicans? That argument got a public airing in a Senate hearing that didn’t necessarily turn out the way its organizers intended. Convened by Sen Ted Cruz (R-TX), the hearing was supposed to focus on accusations that the Biden administration improperly pressured social media companies to moderate misinformation, particularly around COVID-19.

Public Knowledge promoted Nat Purser, formerly a Government Affairs Policy Advocate, to Senior Policy Advocate for her work in championing consumer interests on Capitol Hill. Her portfolio will grow from broadband access, broadband affordability, and spectrum policy to also include artificial intelligence. Prior to joining Public Knowledge, Purser served as a Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) Fellow on Capitol Hill. She previously worked on competition, content moderation, and net neutrality policy at Yelp and in the Michigan legislature.