What's on the agenda for policymakers.
Agenda
As cities and counties nationwide begin to harness American Rescue Plan funds to deploy broadband in underserved neighborhoods, a new report—authored by CTC Technology & Energy and commissioned by the Communications Workers of America (CWA)—details key public-private partnership strategies that have proven suc
White House wants universal broadband by 2030, but funding could take years to deliver
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said she is committed to the administration’s goal of universal broadband by 2030, but cautioned that distributing funds from the new infrastructure law to meet that deadline could take years. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes $65 billion to improve broadband access and affordability. Most of that is funneled through the Department of Commerce, and Sec Raimondo said that some of those dollars – such as money for tribal governments – are starting to trickle out. But the bulk of the funding will take longer.
Nearly Three-Fourths of Online Households Continue to Have Digital Privacy and Security Concerns
The security and privacy landscape has continued to evolve since NTIA first asked about it in the 2015 Internet Use Survey. High-profile data breaches and debates about the role of technology in people’s lives have kept concerns about privacy and security in the forefront. The spread of emerging technologies such as smart home devices and always-on voice assistants, as well as business models predicated on the collection, use, and sale of personal information, means these concerns have taken on increased urgency.
Bloomberg Technology Summit: Day One
BROADCAST
Starts 2 min before the session time
11:10 AM EST - Welcome / Announcements
- Brad Stone, Senior Executive Editor, Bloomberg News
11:15 AM EST - The Role of AI in Healthcare
Broadband & Democracy
Technology is a tool, a tool that can be used, if distributed equitably, to improve society. At the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, we are not for broadband just for broadband’s sake. In the "Broadband & Society" part of our name, we recognize that in our increasingly digital lives, equitable access to broadband and a just society are inseparable. Broadband's potential, its promise, is not just quicker communication, but improving education, healthcare, job training and acquisition, economic development, delivering government services, and so much more.
The internet has become a ubiquitous part of daily life and has become essential for education, financial services, social services, and more. And yet, an estimated 42 million people in America continue to lack broadband in the US. This disproportionately affects the elderly, people of color, low-income populations, and those who live in rural areas. These populations are left digitally invisible and unable to participate in the modern economy and ways of life.
FCC nominee Gigi Sohn will not receive a confirmation vote on December 15
The Senate Commerce Committee will not be voting next week on Federal Communications Commission nominee Gigi Sohn [Senior Fellow and Public Advocate at the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society]’s nomination because some committee members asked for more time to meet with her. That’s another ominous sign for her nomination, in the wake of fierce GOP criticism. And it seems to ensure that her possible confirmation — which is required to secure a Democratic majority at the FCC — won’t happen until 2022.