Benton Institute for Broadband & Society - Letter

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Digital Content

Regulatory classification

Communications Act of 1934

Telecommunications Act of 1996

https://newdemocratcoalition.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/new-dems-impl…

New Dems Implore House Republicans to Join Democrats in Preventing 23 Million American Households From Losing Internet Access

zwalker@benton.org — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 19:23:57 +0000

New Democrat Coalition Rep Angie Craig (D-MN) and Freshman Leadership Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-IL) led 95 New Democrat Coalition Members in a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) calling on House Republican Leadership to take immediate bipartisan action to fund the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Without additional funding from Congress, the ACP will cease entirely on April 30th, and millions of households could lose crucial internet access. "As New Dems, we are committed to fighting to lower everyday costs for Americans; letting the ACP lapse will lead to a direct increase in broadband costs for consumers. We reaffirm our call to House Republicans to deliver for the American people and provide the ACP with the funding it needs without delay. In January 2024, the bipartisan, bicameral Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act was introduced, and, if adopted, would provide an additional $7 billion for the ACP. This Act has broad support, including over 224 co-sponsors. We stand ready and willing to partner with you and the Republican Conference to keep Americans connected to the internet."

Benton Content:

Teaser:

This is the latest action taken by New Dem Members to save the Affordable Connectivity Program, following repeated calls on Congressional Leadership over the past year to fund this vital program

Source:

New Democrat Coalition

Send date:

Fri, 04/19/2024

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 4/18/2024

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

Include summary in newsletter email:

Publish Date:

Thu, 04/18/2024

Coverage Type:

Affordable Connectivity Program (was Emergency Broadband Benefit Program)

https://www.freepress.net/news/press-releases/hundreds-groups-urge-congress-exte…

Hundreds of Groups Urge Congress to Extend Funding for Essential Broadband-Affordability Program That Serves Tens of Millions of U.S. Households

zwalker@benton.org — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 18:25:07 +0000

On April 15, a coalition of 271 civil-society groups and local, state and Tribal governments sent a letter to the House of Representatives that urges all members to sign a discharge petition filed by Rep Yvette Clarke (D-NY) in support of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Extension Act. By filing a discharge petition, a member of Congress can bring a bill out of committee to be voted on by the entire chamber. "The continuation of the ACP is critical not only for the futures of the families the program connects but also to other recent federal investments in closing the digital divide ... Unfortunately, in less than two weeks, the internet bills for one out of every six homes in the US are going to rise because Congress has thus far failed to appropriate more funding to keep those households online with ACP support. Just a few weeks after that, the program will lapse entirely. We urge you to sign the discharge petition put forth by Rep. Clarke because time is of the essence. We cannot let these families lose their vital connections merely because Congress failed to vote on an immensely popular bill with a bipartisan majority’s support."

Benton Content:

Teaser:

A coalition of 271 civil-society groups and local, state and Tribal governments sent a letter to the House of Representatives that urges all members to sign a discharge petition filed by Rep Yvette Clarke (D-NY) in support of the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act

Source:

Free Press

Send date:

Tue, 04/16/2024

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 4/15/2024

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

Include summary in newsletter email:

Publish Date:

Mon, 04/15/2024

Coverage Type:

Affordable Connectivity Program (was Emergency Broadband Benefit Program)

https://www.fcc.gov/document/chairwoman-rosenworcels-update-members-congress-reg…

Headlines Specific Topic:

Benton Foundation

Chairwoman Rosenworcel's Update to Members of Congress Regarding the Affordable Connectivity Program

benton — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 14:48:59 +0000

I am writing to provide an update on the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which is on the brink of shutting down due to lack of funding. This program is the largest broadband affordability effort in our Nation’s history. Today, more than 23 million households nationwide count on it to get online and stay online, including vulnerable seniors, veterans, school-aged children, and residents of rural and Tribal communities. Unless Congress acts, April will be the final month that those who count on the ACP—one in six households across the country—will receive the full benefit toward the cost of their broadband service.... To illustrate the extent of the service loss that may result from the end of this program, the attachment to this letter provides updated data on the number of enrolled ACP households in each state, territory, and congressional district. Based on estimates of state-by-state participation rates, more than three-quarters of the states, along with the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, have ACP participation rates among eligible households of 30 percent or higher.... When Congress asked the Commission to set up the ACP to further this goal, we did so in record time. The result has been the most consequential broadband affordability effort in our history. I want you to know that the agency remains ready to keep this program running, should Congress provide additional funding. We have come too far to allow this successful effort to promote internet access for all to end.

Benton Content:

Teaser:

FCC remains ready to keep ACP running, should Congress provide additional funding.

Source:

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel

Author:

Send date:

Wed, 04/03/2024

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 4/2/2024

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

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Publish Date:

Tue, 04/02/2024

Coverage Type:

https://democrats-energycommerce.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/democrats-energyco…

Access to internet service is meaningless to consumers if the cost of signing up is a barrier

benton — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 17:24:53 +0000

We write in support of your ongoing focus on internet affordability as you work to administer the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program enacted in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. For years, Democrats and Republicans expressed concern over the digital divide, and the $42 billion investment in the BEAD Program gives us a real opportunity to finally bridge this divide and connect every American to high-speed, reliable, and affordable internet. As recently as 2021, just before enactment of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, research indicated that one quarter of the U.S. population (about 80 million Americans) were on the wrong side of digital opportunity because they lacked a reliable, high-speed internet connection.... We urge you to continue to prioritize affordability in your administration of this bipartisan program and look forward to seeing it connect people in all communities across America to affordable, reliable internet service.

Benton Content:

Teaser:

Letter to National Telecommunications and Information Administration Administrator Alan Davidson

Source:

House Commerce Committee

Author:

Rep Frank Pallone (D-NJ)

Rep Doris Matsui (D-CA)

Rep Yvette Clarke (D-NY)

Rep Marc Veasey (D-TX)

Rep Darren Soto (D-FL)

Rep Anna Eshoo (D-CA)

Rep Tony Cárdenas (D-CA)

Rep Angie Craig (D-MN)

Rep Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX)

Rep Debbie Dingell (D-MI)

Rep Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH)

Rep Robin Kelly (D-IL)

Send date:

Wed, 03/27/2024

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 3/26/2024

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

Include summary in newsletter email:

Publish Date:

Tue, 03/26/2024

Coverage Type:

https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/10322043886883/1

Next Century Cities Advocates for Consumer Protections in ACP Wind-Down Process

zwalker@benton.org — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 21:40:07 +0000

On March 20, 2024, Next Century Cities (NCC) met with the Federal Communications Commission's Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) staff regarding the Affordable Connectivity Program wind-down. NCC said the CGB must work closely with the Wireline Competition Bureau to craft wind-down guidance that ensures customers are protected. NCC also urged the Federal Communications Commission to require providers to disclose how a consumers bill will increase. "The Commission should require providers to disclose, in plain language, how a consumer’s bill will increase when sending out required wind down notices to ACP recipients. This includes which fees will be added and how prices, fees, and taxes will increase."

Benton Content:

Teaser:

Next Century Cities urges FCC to ensure consumers are protected through the end of the ACP.

Source:

Next Century Cities

Author:

Ryan Johnston

Send date:

Tue, 03/26/2024

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 3/25/2024

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

Include summary in newsletter email:

Publish Date:

Mon, 03/25/2024

Coverage Type:

Digital Equity/Digital Inclusion

Affordable Connectivity Program (was Emergency Broadband Benefit Program)

https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/10319152141970/1

Organizations Urge FCC to Establish an Office of Civil Rights

Grace Tepper — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 04:06:28 +0000

In a March 19 letter to the Federal Communications Commission, the National Urban League (NUL), National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP), and Black Women’s Roundtable (BWR) write to express our strong support for the establishment of an Office of Civil Rights within the FCC. According to the organizations, the creation of such an office would be a fundamental step towards inclusivity and equity in the digital age and would ensure that the FCC’s policy initiatives are developed and implemented with a keen understanding of their effects on historically unserved and underserved communities. "The proposed Office of Civil Rights would be instrumental in identifying, investigating, and addressing instances of digital discrimination," said the letter. "The office would also serve as a central hub for expertise on the intersection of civil rights and telecommunications policy, aiding the FCC in developing remedies for discrimination and in promoting digital equity in alignment with President Biden’s Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government."

Benton Content:

Teaser:

Organizations send a letter to the FCC urging the agency to establish an Office of Civil Rights.

Source:

Send date:

Fri, 03/22/2024

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 3/21/2024

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

Include summary in newsletter email:

Publish Date:

Thu, 03/21/2024

Coverage Type:

Digital Equity/Digital Inclusion

https://publicknowledge.org/policy/public-interest-spectrum-hearing-acp-letter/

Public Interest Groups Urge Congress To Renew FCC Auction Authority, Fund ACP

zwalker@benton.org — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 21:47:59 +0000

On March 21, Public Knowledge joined 24 other public interest and consumer advocacy groups in a letter to congressional leaders about the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The groups urged Congress to renew the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) spectrum auction authority and use some of the projected revenue to help fund the ACP. "Congress has a unique opportunity to advance our national spectrum goals while simultaneously generating sufficient revenue to support the connectivity needs of millions of Americans," said the letter. "We urge you to take swift action to protect these gains in connectivity by passing legislation to renew the FCC’s auction authority and fund the ACP." The groups also highlighted the financial benefits of the ACP, adding "Due to the interconnected nature of the internet, the ACP offers a host of direct and indirect social and economic benefits. Research analysis from the Benton Institute has shown that for every dollar of ACP subsidy, there are nearly two dollars in financial returns to those using the program, including gains in professional productivity and opportunities as well as time saved from access to online commerce."

Benton Content:

Teaser:

Consumer advocacy groups urge Congress to renew the FCC’s spectrum auction authority to help fund the ACP

Source:

Public Knowledge

Send date:

Fri, 03/22/2024

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 3/21/2024

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

Include summary in newsletter email:

Publish Date:

Thu, 03/21/2024

Coverage Type:

Digital Equity/Digital Inclusion

Affordable Connectivity Program (was Emergency Broadband Benefit Program)

Universal Broadband

https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/10315040297272/1

Spectrum

Auctions

Headlines Specific Topic:

Benton Foundation

In letter to FCC, Altice USA says it will not deploy broadband in some Louisiana Rural Digital Opportunity Fund areas

benton — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 17:55:44 +0000

Altice USA was awarded Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (“RDOF”) funding to deploy 100/20 Mbps service to 18 census block groups (“CBGs”) in Louisiana. Now Altice notifies the Federal Communications Commission of its plans to surrender its awarded RDOF areas in Louisiana. Altice had begun connecting unserved locations in its RDOF areas. By relinquishing these CBGs now, however, Altice is ensuring that remaining unserved areas are eligible to receive federal funding to support symmetric gigabit speeds through programs like NTIA’s Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (“BEAD”) Program. Altice understands that it will no longer be entitled to receive further RDOF support for the surrendered CBGs and that it may be subject to the applicable non-compliance rules. Altice reserves and retains its rights to seek relief from any penalties, including waiver of the Commission’s rules, as well as seek other relief as may be necessary.

Benton Content:

Teaser:

Altice reserves and retains its rights to seek relief from any penalties, including waiver of the Commission’s rules, as well as seek other relief as may be necessary.

Source:

Altice USA

Author:

Cristina Chou

Send date:

Tue, 03/19/2024

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 3/18/2024

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

Include summary in newsletter email:

Publish Date:

Mon, 03/18/2024

Coverage Type:

Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program

Telecommunications Act of 1996