The House appears poised to agree later this week to Senate-passed changes to the American Rescue Plan Act COVID-19 budget reconciliation package, which includes emergency broadband and CPB funding. The Senate passed its amended version of HR-1319 Saturday 50-49 after a protracted floor battle in which Republicans proposed but ultimately didn’t seek votes on almost two dozen telecom amendments, as expected (see 2103030063). Telecom-focused Capitol Hill Republicans, meanwhile, pressed the FCC to explain why it now believes improved broadband coverage data maps won’t be available until at least late 2022 (see 2102170052).

Providers are gearing up to offer discounted services through the FCC emergency broadband benefit program. The $3.2 billion program is expected to help millions of low-income consumers and those hit hardest by the pandemic (see 2102260058).

Providers are gearing up to offer discounted services through the FCC emergency broadband benefit program. The $3.2 billion program is expected to help millions of low-income consumers and those hit hardest by the pandemic (see 2102260058).

Providers are gearing up to offer discounted services through the FCC emergency broadband benefit program. The $3.2 billion program is expected to help millions of low-income consumers and those hit hardest by the pandemic (see 2102260058).

BakerHostetler hires broadcast lawyer Daniel Kirkpatrick from Fletcher Heald as partner, and broadcast, inmate calling service and broadband attorney Davina Sashkin as counsel; Fletcher Heald partner Tony Lee replaces Kirkpatrick as that firm's co-managing partner ... Microsoft hires C.J. Mahoney from Office of U.S. Trade Representative as deputy general counsel-U.S. international trade and Azure cloud computing service.

BakerHostetler hires broadcast lawyer Daniel Kirkpatrick from Fletcher Heald as partner, and broadcast, inmate calling service and broadband attorney Davina Sashkin as counsel; Fletcher Heald partner Tony Lee replaces Kirkpatrick as that firm's co-managing partner ... Microsoft hires C.J. Mahoney from Office of U.S. Trade Representative as deputy general counsel-U.S. international trade and Azure cloud computing service.

Industry groups clashed with consumer advocates and wireless providers whether E-rate should be used for self-provisioning services to students, in replies posted Wednesday in docket 21-31 on a Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition's petition to temporarily support remote learning (see 2101260055). That would raise "practical, financial, and legal issues that are too complex," and funding should be used to support existing services, said Verizon. USTelecom, NTCA and NCTA agreed. ACA Connects said its members "readily install wireline service within days of getting an order," and it "exceeds the performance of mobile wireless service." A coalition of advocacy groups, including New America, Public Knowledge, Consumers Reports, Common Sense, Benton Institute for Broadband & Society and Access Humboldt, disagreed: Verizon's argument is "self-serving" and "willfully ignores the Herculean efforts many school districts have already undertaken" to connect students during the pandemic. Schools should be given the flexibility to "use hybrid approaches tailored to local circumstances," like fixed wireless services that "authenticate students directly to the school's network," the groups said. Approve the use of fixed wireless services because they can be deployed "very quickly," the Wireless ISP Association urged. Incompas agreed: Allow "hotspots, mobile wireless towers, or equipment that can reasonably be expected to support remote learning." UScellular and the National School Boards Association echoed that. "Setting aside support for any technology should be rejected in favor of permitting people to choose services that best suit their educational needs," said UScellular. Allow E-rate funds to be used for remote learning beyond the pandemic because "not all students will be able to reenter the classroom when doors reopen on day one," said Zoom.

Industry groups clashed with consumer advocates and wireless providers whether E-rate should be used for self-provisioning services to students, in replies posted Wednesday in docket 21-31 on a Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition's petition to temporarily support remote learning (see 2101260055). That would raise "practical, financial, and legal issues that are too complex," and funding should be used to support existing services, said Verizon. USTelecom, NTCA and NCTA agreed. ACA Connects said its members "readily install wireline service within days of getting an order," and it "exceeds the performance of mobile wireless service." A coalition of advocacy groups, including New America, Public Knowledge, Consumers Reports, Common Sense, Benton Institute for Broadband & Society and Access Humboldt, disagreed: Verizon's argument is "self-serving" and "willfully ignores the Herculean efforts many school districts have already undertaken" to connect students during the pandemic. Schools should be given the flexibility to "use hybrid approaches tailored to local circumstances," like fixed wireless services that "authenticate students directly to the school's network," the groups said. Approve the use of fixed wireless services because they can be deployed "very quickly," the Wireless ISP Association urged. Incompas agreed: Allow "hotspots, mobile wireless towers, or equipment that can reasonably be expected to support remote learning." UScellular and the National School Boards Association echoed that. "Setting aside support for any technology should be rejected in favor of permitting people to choose services that best suit their educational needs," said UScellular. Allow E-rate funds to be used for remote learning beyond the pandemic because "not all students will be able to reenter the classroom when doors reopen on day one," said Zoom.

The Biden administration should take more action on universal broadband access, trade groups wrote the White House Thursday. Reports about children doing their homework in parking lots due to a lack of broadband access are a "national tragedy," and the federal government should invest more in broadband and 5G infrastructure, per Incompas, NTCA and the Wireless Infrastructure Association. The groups asked the administration to increase "transparency and accountability by relying on verifiable maps that comply with Congress’ recently passed Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act." They support "any effort" to build on the $3.2 billion emergency broadband benefit program.

The Biden administration should take more action on universal broadband access, trade groups wrote the White House Thursday. Reports about children doing their homework in parking lots due to a lack of broadband access are a "national tragedy," and the federal government should invest more in broadband and 5G infrastructure, per Incompas, NTCA and the Wireless Infrastructure Association. The groups asked the administration to increase "transparency and accountability by relying on verifiable maps that comply with Congress’ recently passed Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act." They support "any effort" to build on the $3.2 billion emergency broadband benefit program.