By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 5-12-21 The FCC's launch of the $3.2-billion Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program Wednesday (May 12) proved popular inside the Beltway, particularly with Democrats and broadband providers who will benefit from the service boost, though providers were also making the point they have already been providing assistance to low-income households. [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 5-11-21 The majority of state attorneys general have called on Facebook to abandon plans to create a children's (under 13) version of Instagram. That came in a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg from a coalition of 44 state AGs. They argue that social media in general can be [...]
FOR RELEASE: May 7, 2021 Contact: Richard T. Kaplar The Media Institute 703-243-5700 Arlington, Va., May 7 – Media Institute President Richard T. Kaplar issued the following statement regarding a complaint to the Federal Communications Commission filed by the Baltimore State’s Attorney’s Office: “The Baltimore State’s Attorney’s Office announced it has filed a complaint [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 5-5-21 Facebook's outside oversight board has upheld the suspension of former president Donald Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts, but it has told the company that it was not appropriate for the company to impose a permanent ban, which it called an "indeterminate and standard-less penalty." Facebook took down the [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 4-14-21 A bipartisan bill has been introduced to speed broadband deployments by cutting right-of-way "red tape" in rural communities. Sens. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) have teamed up to introduce the Accelerating Rural Broadband Deployment Act, which they said will lead to easier and faster broadband installations. [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 4-12-21 Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) has joined with almost two dozen other Democratic House members to urge Facebook to crack down on "dangerous misinformation," including misleading ads, and providing ex post facto corrections for all disinformation. The drumbeat of criticism of that social platform has been one of the [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 4-12-21 Rep. Antonio Delgado (D-N.Y.) has introduced one bill that would require both better broadband speed measurement and tie funding to higher speeds, and re-introduced another to fund challenges to FCC broadband deployment data. The Broadband Speed Act would require ISPs to report accurate speed data to the FCC [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 4-12-21 With traditional linear TV viewing down, 42% of advertisers plan to increase spending on streaming, according to a study by Advertiser Perceptions. Top executives will discuss over-the-top video, addressability, and advanced targeting at the Advanced Advertising Summit, starting April 27 as part of the Future Spring TV 2021 week of [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 4-12-21 Republican FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr has slammed the Biden Administration's planned $100 billion in new broadband deployment investment, calling it a big potential blunder that demonstrates the new policy of "measure never, cut checks." That came in an April 8 op ed in The Hill. Carr, who headed up [...]
FOR RELEASE: April 5, 2021 Contact: Richard T. Kaplar The Media Institute 703-243-5700 Arlington, Va., April 5 – Media Institute President Richard T. Kaplar issued the following statement regarding the death of long-time Board member Kurt Wimmer: “We are extremely saddened by the passing of our good friend Kurt Wimmer. He was a member [...]
