There’s “emerging consensus” the next Senate-side COVID-19 aid bill will include funding to bolster E-rate and other broadband initiatives, Incompas CEO Chip Pickering said Thursday. Some GOP lawmakers voiced growing interest in including broadband funding in coming pandemic legislation since House passage last month of the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act. HR-6800’s broadband funding includes an $8.8 billion Emergency Broadband Connectivity Fund and $5 billion for E-rate (see 2005130059). President Donald Trump’s administration recently narrowed the scope of their desires for a fourth major aid measure (see 2006050058).
There’s “emerging consensus” the next Senate-side COVID-19 aid bill will include funding to bolster E-rate and other broadband initiatives, Incompas CEO Chip Pickering said Thursday. Some GOP lawmakers voiced growing interest in including broadband funding in coming pandemic legislation since House passage last month of the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act. HR-6800’s broadband funding includes an $8.8 billion Emergency Broadband Connectivity Fund and $5 billion for E-rate (see 2005130059). President Donald Trump’s administration recently narrowed the scope of their desires for a fourth major aid measure (see 2006050058).
ICANN Senior Vice President-Multistakeholder Strategy and Strategic Initiatives and co-deputy to CEO Theresa Swinehart assumes also permanent leadership, Global Domains Division; with Senior Vice President-Chief Operations Officer Susanna Bennett leaving effective July 1, ICANN CEO Goran Marby redistributing operations responsibilities: Senior Vice President-Chief Financial Officer Xavier Calvez assuming leadership of new planning department; Security Operations reporting to Senior Vice President-Global Human Resources Gina Villavicencio; and board operations under General Counsel-Secretary John Jeffrey ... WOW hires John Rego, ex-Telaria, as chief financial officer and Shannon Campain, ex-Fox, as chief commercial officer.
ICANN Senior Vice President-Multistakeholder Strategy and Strategic Initiatives and co-deputy to CEO Theresa Swinehart assumes also permanent leadership, Global Domains Division; with Senior Vice President-Chief Operations Officer Susanna Bennett leaving effective July 1, ICANN CEO Goran Marby redistributing operations responsibilities: Senior Vice President-Chief Financial Officer Xavier Calvez assuming leadership of new planning department; Security Operations reporting to Senior Vice President-Global Human Resources Gina Villavicencio; and board operations under General Counsel-Secretary John Jeffrey ... WOW hires John Rego, ex-Telaria, as chief financial officer and Shannon Campain, ex-Fox, as chief commercial officer.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday that would remove liability protections for online platforms that censure or edit content (see 2005270016). There would be a role for antitrust agencies and the FCC, whose commissioners reacted along party lines to the EO. “We’re here today to defend free speech from one of the greatest dangers,” Trump said, claiming tech monopolies have “unchecked power” to censor and restrict human interaction.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday that would remove liability protections for online platforms that censure or edit content (see 2005270016). There would be a role for antitrust agencies and the FCC, whose commissioners reacted along party lines to the EO. “We’re here today to defend free speech from one of the greatest dangers,” Trump said, claiming tech monopolies have “unchecked power” to censor and restrict human interaction.
Industry and public interest groups asked the FCC Tuesday to reallocate 500 MHz at 12.2-12.7 GHz for 5G. The Competitive Carriers Association, Computer & Communications Industry Association, Incompas, Open Technology Institute at New America and Public Knowledge asked the agency to act on a longstanding petition by the MVDDS 5G Coalition (see 1802070045). “Technical rules for 12.2-12.7 GHz are obsolete and burdensome, preventing use of this spectrum for 5G,” said the letter in RM-11768: “Given the changes in technology since these rules were first set by the Commission in 2002, maintaining these restrictions appears to be unwarranted.” If the FCC allows two-way, 5G wireless broadband, “initial use cases” would include fixed broadband, mobile 5G and the IoT, the groups said. “There is broad support for the FCC to move forward with conversations on the 12 GHz band, which will benefit consumers and the economy and help close the digital divide,” said CCA President Steve Berry. "It’s time for the FCC to kick start the 12 GHz conversation, get every argument out in the open," said Incompas CEO Chip Pickering.
Industry and public interest groups asked the FCC Tuesday to reallocate 500 MHz at 12.2-12.7 GHz for 5G. The Competitive Carriers Association, Computer & Communications Industry Association, Incompas, Open Technology Institute at New America and Public Knowledge asked the agency to act on a longstanding petition by the MVDDS 5G Coalition (see 1802070045). “Technical rules for 12.2-12.7 GHz are obsolete and burdensome, preventing use of this spectrum for 5G,” said the letter in RM-11768: “Given the changes in technology since these rules were first set by the Commission in 2002, maintaining these restrictions appears to be unwarranted.” If the FCC allows two-way, 5G wireless broadband, “initial use cases” would include fixed broadband, mobile 5G and the IoT, the groups said. “There is broad support for the FCC to move forward with conversations on the 12 GHz band, which will benefit consumers and the economy and help close the digital divide,” said CCA President Steve Berry. "It’s time for the FCC to kick start the 12 GHz conversation, get every argument out in the open," said Incompas CEO Chip Pickering.
Industry and public interest groups asked the FCC Tuesday to reallocate 500 MHz at 12.2-12.7 GHz for 5G. The Competitive Carriers Association, Computer & Communications Industry Association, Incompas, Open Technology Institute at New America and Public Knowledge asked the agency to act on a longstanding petition by the MVDDS 5G Coalition (see 1802070045). “Technical rules for 12.2-12.7 GHz are obsolete and burdensome, preventing use of this spectrum for 5G,” said the letter in RM-11768: “Given the changes in technology since these rules were first set by the Commission in 2002, maintaining these restrictions appears to be unwarranted.” If the FCC allows two-way, 5G wireless broadband, “initial use cases” would include fixed broadband, mobile 5G and the IoT, the groups said. “There is broad support for the FCC to move forward with conversations on the 12 GHz band, which will benefit consumers and the economy and help close the digital divide,” said CCA President Steve Berry. "It’s time for the FCC to kick start the 12 GHz conversation, get every argument out in the open," said Incompas CEO Chip Pickering.
Senate Communications Subcommittee ranking member Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, led filing of a companion version of the Healthcare Broadband Expansion During COVID-19 Act (HR-6474) Friday. The measure would allocate $2 billion more funding to the FCC’s existing $605 million Healthcare Connect Fund program (see 2004090041). HR-6474’s text was included in the House-passed Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (Heroes) Act (HR-6800), which also contains substantial broadband funding (see 2005130059). “We’ve seen a dramatic increase in the demand for telehealth,” Murkowski said. “Unfortunately, as a result, [the Rural Health Care program] has already outpaced the funding it was allocated prior to the outbreak and telehealth providers are facing significant connectivity challenges in their effort to provide care.” Six senators are co-sponsors: John Boozman, R-Ark.; Kevin Cramer, R-N.D.; Angus King, I-Maine; Ed Markey, D-Mass.; Gary Peters, D-Mich.; and Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska. Incompas, the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition and USTelecom lauded the bill’s filing.