What's on the agenda for policymakers.
Agenda
The committee will consider the following measures and nominations:
FCC Issues Further Guidance for Affordable Connectivity Program
The Federal Communications Commission’s Wireline Competition Bureau waives certain provisions of rules governing the internet service offering, standard rate, provider participation, and election notice requirements for the end of the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program as a result of the text in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The Bureau also provides additional guidance to help consumers, participating service providers, program partners, and other stakeholders prepare for the transition from the EBB Program to the Affordable Connectivity Program.
How Biden can make his internet freedom agenda a success
The launch of President Biden's Alliance for the Future of the Internet has now been delayed after civil society activists and even some officials in the US government raised concerns that the new initiative would draw scarce resources away from existing fora dedicated to the advancement of internet freedom, deepen distrust between like-minded actors, and undermine the digital rights of those who live in repressive societies.
Congress recently created the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a new, long-term $14 billion program that will replace the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB Program). Households enrolled in the EBB Program as of December 31, 2021 will continue to receive their current monthly benefit during a 60-day transition period that ends March 1, 2022.
USAC will host an introductory webinar to provide an overview of the ACP and the transition from the EBB Program to ACP.
We will explore a wide range of issues including spectrum policy, intra-agency spectrum coordination processes, and the evolving regulatory environment for tech and telco. Chairman Pai will share his views on how the influx of billions of dollars to close the digital divide can best be put to use, and so much more.
Gigi Sohn‘s FCC Nomination Could Face Hold Threats
Federal Communications Commission nominee Gigi Sohn [Senior Fellow and Public Advocate at the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society] could be running into more Republican and industry headwinds in the Biden administration's effort to get a Democratic majority on the agency.
Senate confirms FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel to another term
The Senate voted 68-31 to confirm Federal Communications Commission Chair Jessica Rosenworcel, the first woman to hold that title, to another five-year term, narrowly avoiding a Republican majority at the agency once her current term was set to expire at the end of 2021. Rosenworcel will be tasked with expanding broadband connectivity, supporting 5G implementation and bringing back net neutrality rules.
Democrats Rush to Confirm Biden Picks as Year-End Deadline Looms
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is employing a two-pronged strategy to confirm more of President Joe Biden’s nominees before the end of the year, when many will have to be returned to the White House and renominated. He’s under increasing pressure to overcome the blockade Republicans have mounted on dozens of key defense and foreign policy positions, as well as noncontroversial positions, that are essential to the president carrying out his policy goals.
Trail of tweets haunts President Biden’s FCC and FTC nominees
Republican senators are alleging that the Twitter histories of Federal Communications Commission nominee Gigi Sohn [Senior Fellow and Public Advocate at the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society] and Federal Trade Commission nominee Alvaro Bedoya, which include jabs at Fox News and
Join NTIA for a series of virtual listening sessions starting in December 2021 focused on the new broadband grant programs authorized and funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program; the Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program; and the Digital Equity Act Programs, which include the State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program, State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program, and Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program, and additional funding for the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program. These public virtual listening