By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 2-12-21 The House Energy & Commerce Committee has voted 31 to 24 to approve a massive COVID-19 relief/budget reconciliation package that includes billions for remote learning broadband service and devices. The broadband portion of the bill allocates $7.6 billion "to help bridge the digital divide for students and teachers [...]

By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 2-12-21 Some top Republican senators are pressing Acting FCC Chairman Jessica Rosenworcel for more details on the FCC's proposal to open up its E-Rate broadband subsidy funds to home broadband service and devices, suggesting they are concerned about the viability of the overarching Universal Service Fund subsidy program. They [...]

By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 2-12-21 House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is troubled by reports that YouTube continues to amplify extremist content after pledging to crack down on dangerous misinformation and disinformation. Last month, she joined dozens of other legislators on a letter to Big Tech CEOs, including of YouTube, saying they needed to [...]

By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 2-11-21 Fans of the Department of Justice consent decrees on music licensing organizations – those fans include broadcasters and computer companies – have called on the Biden Administration and Congress to keep the decrees in place. In letters to the President and House and Senate leaders, the MIC Coalition [...]

By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 2-10-21 Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said Wednesday (Feb. 10) that he plans to reintroduce the Internet Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act. That came in a video session at the INCOMPAS virtual Policy Summit Wednesday. The bill would invest $100 billion to close the digital divide. Clyburn, who [...]

By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 2-9-21 Top House Energy & Commerce Committee Democrats are labeling Apple's new privacy notices potentially "misleading" and "inaccurate." In a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook, Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.) and Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee Chair Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), cited a tech review [...]

By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 2-9-21 More fans of network neutrality rules have asked the FCC to return its bright-line rules against blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization, saying eliminated those rules has negatively impacted connectivity at a time – during the COVID–19 pandemic – when connectivity is a key public interest priority. That came [...]

By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 2-8-21 Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-Calif.) have reintroduced the National Broadband Plan for the Future Act, to the applause of some cable operators. The bill, which coincided with the 25th anniversary of the 1996 Telecommunications Act, would require the FCC to update its National [...]

By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 2-8-21 The Biden Justice Department has dropped the Trump Justice Department's challenge to California's net neutrality law. The court issued a one line statement: "Plaintiff the United States of America, by and through its counsel, hereby gives notice of its voluntary dismissal of this case." Congressional Democrats had pressed [...]

By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 2-5-21 INCOMPAS, whose members include competitive carriers and computer companies, has petitioned the FCC to restore its net neutrality rules. In a petition for reconsideration, the association told the FCC that it needs to reclassify Internet access services (ISPs) as Title II telecommunications service – subject to common carrier [...]