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  2. December 2020

December 2020

FCC Releases 2020 Communications Marketplace Report

With this second 2020 Communications Marketplace Report, the Federal Communications Commission fulfills the requirement set forth in RAY BAUM’S Act of 2018 to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the state of competition in the communications marketplace in the US. As required, this Report assesses the state of all forms of competition in the communications marketplace; the state of deployment of communications capabilities; barriers to competitive entry, including market entry barriers for entrepreneurs and other small businesses.

Michael Pack Seeks Lasting Control Over Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia

Michael Pack's stormy tenure over the federal agency that oversees government-funded broadcasters abroad - including the Voice of America - appears to be coming to a close. Yet President Donald Trump's appointee has sparked an internal outcry by taking bold steps to try to cement his control over at least two of the networks and to shape the course of their journalism well into the Biden administration. Pack, the CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, also serves as chairman of the boards of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia.

FCC Grants Additional 2.5 GHz Rural Tribal Priority Window Licenses

The Federal Communications Commission has granted 22 additional applications for licenses to use the 2.5 GHz band to close the digital divide and to provide broadband and other advanced wireless services to rural Tribal communities. These spectrum licenses, which were granted to Tribal entities across the country through the agency’s first-of-its-kind Rural Tribal Priority Window, provide for exclusive use of up to 117.5 megahertz of 2.5 GHz band spectrum that can be used by Tribes to connect their communities.

FCC Names 3 Members to Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service

The Federal Communications Commission appoints the Honorable Michael A. Caron, Commissioner, Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority; the Honorable Karen Charles Peterson, Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Cable; and the Honorable Brandon Presley, Commissioner, Mississippi Public Service Commission, to serve on the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service. These appointments fill the positions held by the Honorable Stephen Michael Bloom, Commissioner, Oregon Public Utility Commission; the Honorable Sally A.

The Digital Divide in U.S. Mobile Technology and Speeds

This paper explores two research questions. First, is there a digital divide in how certain groups access mobile broadband as measured by the mobile connection technology? Second, is there a digital divide in the quality of their mobile broadband as measured by download and upload speeds? Overall, we conclude that the mobile digital divide does exist across certain dimensions. Rural areas are somewhat more dependent on non-Wi-Fi mobile technology and experience slower speeds on their mobile connections.

FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington Appoints Advisors

Federal Communications Commissioner Nathan Simington has appointed Tyler Bridegan to serve as his acting media advisor, Erin Boone to serve as his acting wireless advisor, and Jonathan Cannon to serve as his acting wireline advisor. 

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