Benton Institute for Broadband & Society - Devices

States are Relying on the Federal Affordable Connectivity Program to Close the Digital Divide

benton — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 11:25:47 +0000

With the common aim of ensuring that all people and communities have the skills, technology, and capacity needed to reap the full benefits of our digital economy, each of the 50 states is currently drafting a digital equity plan through what one official called “the largest demonstration of participatory democracy that our country has ever seen." The states are tasked with developing long-term objectives for closing the digital divide by addressing the needs of eight "covered populations"—including low-income households. Several states have released their draft digital equity plans and one tool they all rely heavily on for connecting—and keeping connected—low-income households is the Federal Communications Commission's Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). However, estimates from the Federal Communications Commission project that funding for the ACP could run out within the next year. Also see:

Benton Content:

Benton Original Content

https://www.benton.org/blog/states-are-relying-federal-affordable-connectivity-p…

Teaser:

The impact of Affordable Connectivity Program funding on state digital equity plans

Source:

Benton Institute for Broadband & Society

Author:

Kevin Taglang

Grace Tepper

Send date:

Tue, 09/12/2023

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 9/11/2023

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Tue, 09/12/2023

Coverage Type:

Analysis

Samsung Electronics to Establish Leading-Edge Semiconductor Ecosystem in Central Texas

benton — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 10:43:56 +0000

The US Department of Commerce and Samsung Electronics have signed a non-binding preliminary memorandum of terms (PMT) to provide up to $6.4 billion in direct funding under the CHIPS and Science Act to strengthen the resilience of the U.S. semiconductor supply chain, advance U.S. technology leadership, and fuel U.S. global competitiveness. Samsung—the only leading-edge semiconductor company that is a leader in both advanced memory and advanced logic technologies—is expected to invest more than $40 billion dollars in the region in the coming years, and the proposed investment would support the creation of over 20,000 jobs. The proposed investment would turn Samsung’s existing presence in Texas into a comprehensive ecosystem for the development and production of leading-edge chips in the United States, including two new leading-edge logic fabs, an R&D fab, and an advanced packaging facility in Taylor, as well as an expansion to their existing Austin facility. It also demonstrates Samsung’s ongoing commitment to the United States, where it has been manufacturing chips since 1996. By continuing to develop the technologies of the future in the United States, Samsung is taking steps that would work towards strengthening U.S. economic and national security and increasing the resilience of both the U.S. and global semiconductor supply chains. Because of investments like Samsung’s, the United States is projected to be on track to produce roughly 20% of the world’s leading-edge logic chips by 2030.

Benton Content:

https://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2024/04/biden-harris-administration…

Teaser:

Proposed CHIPS Investment of up to $6.4 Billion

Source:

Department of Commerce

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Mon, 04/15/2024

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Daily Digest 4/12/2024

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Mon, 04/15/2024

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Streaming services really want you to buy stuff while you watch TV

zwalker@benton.org — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 18:11:15 +0000

For streamers like Paramount, Disney, Netflix, and Peacock, it’s not enough that you watch TV on the platform—they want to own what you do on your phone, too. Paramount announced today that it would launch a new “mobile shopping experience” during this weekend’s CMT Music Awards red carpet. Partnering with a company called Shopsense AI, Paramount says viewers will be able to browse and purchase items inspired by what’s happening on their TV. Streaming platforms have approached shopping in a few different ways. On Peacock, subscribers get ads for items related to what they’re watching, like the kitchen utensils being used on a cooking show. They then scan a QR code from their TV and can buy the items on their phone. In January, Disney announced it would test sending ads for products to viewers while they watched through emails or push notifications to their phone. Disney said the personalized notices would let audiences shop “without disrupting their viewing experience.” TV isn’t the only place where shopping is poised to play an even bigger role. Social media platforms like TikTok and Pinterest have added more and more e-commerce features in recent years for the same reason: they want to keep you in the walled garden, from discovering a product to hitting the “order” button.

Benton Content:

https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/5/24121896/streaming-services-second-screen-ads-…

Teaser:

Paramount is the latest company to introduce custom ads that appear mid-show

Source:

Vox

Author:

Mia Sato

Send date:

Mon, 04/08/2024

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Daily Digest 4/5/2024

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Fri, 04/05/2024

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Broadband providers are sneaking into the smart home

zwalker@benton.org — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 18:40:26 +0000

Just because it isn’t as futuristic as we pictured doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened yet: Smart devices are on the rise, and they’re creeping into the broadband world. Our refrigerators aren’t making us sandwiches and we don’t have laundry folding robots (yet), but subtle smart home devices (a.k.a. any gadget with internet connectivity) like washing machines, smoke detectors and locks are starting to nestle into more homes. According to Parks Associates, 45 percent of homes in the US have at least one smart home device. As broadband providers lose entertainment revenue to streaming services, they can find new revenue through value-added services like bundled offerings that include smart home device integration. The smart device is important to broadband providers now because it's a revenue driver, and can even boost Net Promoter Scores (NPS).

Benton Content:

https://www.fiercetelecom.com/broadband/broadband-providers-are-sneaking-smart-h…

Teaser:

The smart home market presents an opportunity for broadband providers to find new revenue through value-added services targeted at smart home devices

Source:

Fierce

Author:

Julia King

Send date:

Mon, 04/01/2024

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 3/29/2024

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Publish Date:

Fri, 03/29/2024

Coverage Type:

Reporting

Devices

Internet/Broadband

Justice Department Sues Apple for Monopolizing Smartphone Markets

Grace Tepper — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 03:38:38 +0000

The Justice Department, joined by 16 other state and district attorneys general, filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against Apple for monopolization or attempted monopolization of smartphone markets in violation of Section 2 of the Sherman Act. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, alleges that Apple illegally maintains a monopoly over smartphones by selectively imposing contractual restrictions on, and withholding critical access points from, developers. Apple undermines apps, products, and services that would otherwise make users less reliant on the iPhone, promote interoperability, and lower costs for consumers and developers. Apple exercises its monopoly power to extract more money from consumers, developers, content creators, artists, publishers, small businesses, and merchants, among others. Through this monopolization lawsuit, the Justice Department and state Attorneys General are seeking relief to restore competition to these vital markets on behalf of the American public.

Benton Content:

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-sues-apple-monopolizing-smartp…

Teaser:

The Justice Department files a civil antitrust lawsuit against Apple for monopolization or attempted monopolization of smartphone markets.

Source:

Department of Justice

Send date:

Fri, 03/22/2024

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 3/21/2024

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Publish Date:

Thu, 03/21/2024

Coverage Type:

Competition/Antitrust

Level of Government

Federal

Platforms

A Minimum Digital Living Standard for Households with Children

zwalker@benton.org — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 21:59:16 +0000

In a household-based assessment of digital needs conducted by the University of Liverpool, parents and young people defined what is ‘enough’ for a household with children to feel digitally included. Respondents considered devices and internet services, basic functional skills, and critical skills. This Minimal Digital Living Standard (MLDS) includes:

Digital Goods and Services: Reliable broadband; a smartphone per parent; a laptop, PC, or tablet per household; a set of headphones per school-aged child; a smart TV and entry-level TV subscription service.
Functional and Practical Skills: Parents should be able to use device functions; download and use apps and programs; save and recover documents; connect to the internet or hot spots; change settings; use Zoom/Google Meet; create an email account and send emails; delete files; monitor data usage; fill out online forms.
Critical Skills for Understanding and Managing Digital Risk: Parents should be able to use secure passwords; understand in-app purchases; use phone safety features; monitor banking activity online; identify risks and scams; manage social pressures and time online; evaluate quality of information.

For the full report and list of authors, visit: The Minimum Digital Living Survey for Households with Children

Benton Content:

https://mdls.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MDLS-final-report-v1.11-1.pdf

https://mdls.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MDLS-2024-overview-final.pdf

Teaser:

A minimum digital standard of living includes, but is more than, having accessible internet, adequate equipment, and the skills, knowledge and support people need

Source:

University of Liverpool

Author:

Send date:

Thu, 03/21/2024

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 3/20/2024

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Publish Date:

Wed, 03/20/2024

Coverage Type:

Research

Devices

Digital Equity/Digital Inclusion

Apple bows to Brussels over App Store in latest EU concession

zwalker@benton.org — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 15:16:05 +0000

Apple will allow iPhone apps to be downloaded directly from their developers’ websites for the first time, a major concession to European regulators that marks the third time this year the big tech group has been forced to change its plan to comply with landmark EU rules. The move to allow so-called sideloading in Europe, which will come into effect later this spring, comes after pressure from developers to be able to distribute their software outside the App Store and threatens a core component of Apple’s $85 billion-a-year global services business. As part of the changes, developers launching their own marketplace will be able solely to offer their own apps on an alternative app store and will be able to offer promotions directly to their customers in whatever way they want. Both changes are effective immediately for customers in Europe. The company on March 1 backtracked on plans to cut off access to apps that bypass its App Store, which it had said it needed to do to comply with the new digital rules. It later granted Epic Games access to its App Store, after Brussels said it was probing Apple over its move to ban the game developer’s account.

Benton Content:

https://www.ft.com/content/0b009a04-e10c-4311-bed8-e87b61feccc1

Teaser:

Tech giant seeks to comply with European law with approval for iPhone apps to be downloaded from developers’ websites

Source:

Financial Times

Author:

Javier Espinoza

Tim Bradshaw

Send date:

Wed, 03/13/2024

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 3/12/2024

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Publish Date:

Tue, 03/12/2024

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How Teens and Parents Approach Screen Time

zwalker@benton.org — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 19:37:40 +0000

Today’s teenagers are more digitally connected than ever. Most have access to smartphones and use social media, and nearly half say they are online almost constantly. But how are young people navigating this “always on” environment? To better understand their experiences, we surveyed both teens and parents on a range of screen time-related topics. Our questions explored the emotions teens tie to their devices, the impact of smartphones on youth, and the challenges parents face when raising children in the digital age. Key findings from the survey include:

Phone-less: 72 percent of U.S. teens say they often or sometimes feel peaceful when they don’t have their smartphone; 44 percent say it makes them feel anxious.
Good for hobbies, less so for socialization: 69 percent of teens say smartphones make it easier for youth to pursue hobbies and interests; fewer (30 percent) say it helps people their age learn good social skills.
Parental snooping: Half of parents say they have looked through their teen’s phone.
Smartphone standoffs: About four-in-ten parents and teens report regularly arguing with one another about time spent on their phone.
Distracted parenting: Nearly half of teens (46 percent) say their parent is at least sometimes distracted by their phone when they’re trying to talk to them.

Benton Content:

https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2024/03/11/how-teens-and-parents-approach-s…

Teaser:

Most teens at least sometimes feel happy and peaceful when they don’t have their phone, but 44% say this makes them anxious

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Author:

Send date:

Tue, 03/12/2024

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 3/11/2024

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Publish Date:

Mon, 03/11/2024

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Commissioner Starks Letters to Amazon, Sears, Shein, Temu, and Walmart

zwalker@benton.org — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 20:01:35 +0000

Federal Communications Commissioner Geoffrey Starks sent letters to five online marketplaces to identify ways to stop the unlawful sale of insecure IoT devices that violate Federal Communications Commission (FCC) equipment authorization requirements. The letters raise concerns about recent reports indicating that these websites sold and continue to sell easily hacked video doorbells. “Consumers have embraced the internet of things to make their lives better to the point that a large majority of American homes now have at least one or two IoT devices. With that reach and that penetration, these devices ought to be secure. That’s why I was angered to read recent reports showing that many video doorbells sold on some of the largest online marketplaces in the world lack even basic security measures and leave buyers exposed to chilling privacy invasions and network intrusions. Just as concerning were reports suggesting that some of these products violated the FCC’s equipment authorization rules, which protect the public from risky products entering our wireless supply chain. Working together, we must find better ways to stop risky and unlawful products from entering the commerce stream – and from seeing their sales irresponsibly boosted when they are listed online.”

Benton Content:

https://www.fcc.gov/document/starks-letters-amazon-sears-shein-temu-and-walmart

Teaser:

Federal Communications Commissioner Starks calls on online marketplaces to stop the sale of insecure and unauthorized IoT devices

Source:

Federal Communications Commission

Author:

Federal Communications Commissioner Geoffrey Starks

Send date:

Mon, 03/11/2024

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 3/8/2024

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Not Available

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Publish Date:

Fri, 03/08/2024

Coverage Type:

Press Release

Agenda

Upcoming policy issue

Cybersecurity and Cyberwarfare

Devices

Federal Agency

Federal Communications Commission

How Wi-Fi sensing became usable tech

zwalker@benton.org — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 16:39:09 +0000

Over a decade ago, Neal Patwari lay in a hospital bed, carefully timing his breathing. Around him, 20 wireless transceivers stood sentry. As Patwari’s chest rose and fell, their electromagnetic waves rippled around him. Patwari, now a professor at Washington University in St. Louis, had just demonstrated that those ripples could reveal his breathing patterns. A few years later, researchers from MIT were building a startup around the idea of using Wi-Fi signals to detect falls. They hoped to help seniors live more independently in their homes. It’s a tantalizing idea: that the same routers bringing you the internet could also detect your movements. Fast-forward nearly a decade: we have yet to see a commercially viable Wi-Fi device for tracking breathing or detecting falls. In 2022, the lighting company Sengled demonstrated a Wi-Fi lightbulb that could supposedly do both—but it still hasn’t been released. Wi-Fi sensing as a way to monitor individual health metrics has, for the most part, been eclipsed by other technologies, like ultra-wideband radar. But Wi-Fi sensing hasn’t gone away. Instead, it has quietly become available in millions of homes, supported by leading internet service providers, smart-home companies, and chip manufacturers. Soon, thanks to better algorithms and more standardized chip designs, it could be invisibly monitoring our day-to-day movements for all sorts of surprising—and sometimes alarming—purposes. Yes, it could track your breathing. The flip side of this, however, is that it could also be used for any number of more nefarious purposes.

Benton Content:

https://www.technologyreview.com/2024/02/27/1088154/wifi-sensing-tracking-moveme…

Teaser:

After a decade of obscurity, the technology is being used to track people’s movements

Source:

MIT Technology Review

Author:

Meg Duff

Send date:

Wed, 02/28/2024

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 2/27/2024