Policymakers

President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Jonathan Kanter for Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division at the Department of Justice. Kanter is a distinguished antitrust lawyer with over 20 years of experience. Throughout his career, Kanter has also been a leading advocate and expert in the effort to promote strong and meaningful antitrust enforcement and competition policy.

House Republicans launched a GOP caucus on Big Tech, seeking to build support for antitrust changes despite a divide among Republicans. The "Freedom from Big Tech Caucus" is co-chaired by House Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee top Republican Ken Buck (R-CO) and Rep Lance Gooden (R-TX), and counts Rep Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) as a vice chair.

Sen Steve Daines (R-MT) introduced the Preserving Political Speech Online Act (S.2338) to crack down on Big Tech and online platforms’ ability to discriminate against users based on their political speech and beliefs. Daines’ bill would enforce equal access to political candidates on online platforms as well as create a provision to prohibit the removal of content based on political beliefs. The Preserving Political Speech Online Act will:

Tim Wu is getting a second chance to change how the government regulates American corporations. Wu, a law professor and progressive antitrust leader, is a key architect of the executive order aimed at making US businesses more competitive. He helped write a similar order in the waning months of the Obama administration, which resulted in a handful of new regulations.

“Our economy thrives on competition," said Federal Communications Commission Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. "It is the reason the United States is home to some of the most dynamic companies in the world. I welcome this effort by the President to enhance competition in the American economy and in the nation’s communications sector.”

Ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee Roger Wicker (R-MS) sent a letter to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) asking the agency to reassess its data collection processes and sources, and to use only the most up-to-date and accurate data as it updates its map.

Sherwin Siy, former Vice President of Legal Affairs at Public Knowledge, has passed away at the age of 40. Sherwin championed the public interest throughout his career, serving as a member of the Public Knowledge staff from 2006 to 2015. His technology policy work spanned many subjects, including copyright, privacy, telecommunications, and free expression. “We are heartbroken to have lost a beloved member of the Public Knowledge family, former Vice President of Legal Affairs, Sherwin Siy," said CEO Chris Lewis in a statement on behalf of Public Knowledge.

The Federal Communications Commission is seeking nominations for membership on the Communications Equity and Diversity Council (CEDC).

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr.

Key Republicans are warming to an idea that was once anathema to the party—leveling taxes on big American companies to pay for internet subsidy programs. An idea from GOP Federal Communications Commissioner Brendan Carr to force tech companies to pay into a pool of money used to fund broadband programs is gaining steam with some key lawmakers, including GOP Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. Republican support of taxing Big Tech could help shore up the struggling Universal Service Fund; Commissioner Carr argues that Congress should direct the companies that benefit from using internet networks