Upcoming event

A conversation about the research on tribal broadband and opportunities for tribes to improve their communities’ Internet access. This is the third event in the Center for Indian Country Development’s (CICD’s) 2023 webinar series: Cultivating Native Economies in the 21st Century. The series provides tribal leaders, policymakers, and practitioners with information they can use to strengthen and expand Indian Country economic prosperity.

A webinar on the importance of Public Comment for the Digital Equity Strategic Plan. Learn more about the plan and the steps you can take to share your comments for consideration in the final version.

Agenda

Advancing Digital Equity for Black Communities

One year after becoming law, the hearing will focus on the implementation and oversight of the CHIPS and Science Act by the Department of Commerce and the National Science Foundation. The hearing will highlight the rollout of investments to boost the United States’ innovation, research and competitiveness through domestic semiconductor manufacturing incentives, regional innovation programs and other science programs established under the law. 

The Federal Communications Commission's Task Force to Prevent Digital Discrimination will host the latest in a series of listening sessions to gain additional information and understanding from affected communities, state, local, and Tribal governments, public interest advocates, and providers about challenges, barriers and experiences in ensuring all people of the United States benefit from equal access to broadband. The purpose of the listening session is to continue the FCC's outreach in support of its ongoing efforts to promote equal access to broadband for everyone.

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau will host a workshop on the environmental compliance and historic preservation review process required for the construction of communications facilities supporting FCC licensed services. The workshop will include information relevant to the construction of new communications towers and the collocation of communications equipment on existing towers and other structures, including requirements for Antenna Structure Registration.

After years of market-based pricing for broadband, state and federal officials are considering price controls to ensure affordability. One might think that broadband is already affordable given that the industry grew faster than the US economy for 15 of the past 16 years. But federal officials are pressing states to introduce price controls for low-cost broadband and perhaps broadband for the middle class. Middle-class subsidies and price benchmarking are also being contemplated.

States are at the forefront for spending unprecedented billions of taxpayer dollars on broadband development. In 2020 and 2021 Congress allocated over $70 billion to improve broadband availability. Among political pressures to indulge favored constituents and impose market regulations, a lack of experience among many officials, and misinformation regarding lessons from the past, much can go wrong. Which states are leading the way, and how are they ensuring that taxpayers get their money’s worth?