Public Knowledge

Last week, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released its Report and Order about the new Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF), which provides $20.4 billion to fund broadband deployment in rural areas over 10 years. However, the Order, as written, could actually broaden the digital divide by punishing states that have taken steps to fund broadband […]

A few weeks ago, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Committee on the Judiciary both voted to move bills reauthorizing parts of STELAR (the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act Reauthorization) to the full House floor. You might be wondering: What is STELAR, how does it affect consumers, and what should […]

On January 1, 2020, the nation’s strictest privacy law, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), will take effect. The law empowers consumers to (1) be informed about what personal information a company has collected about them; (2) delete that data; and (3) opt out of companies selling that data to third parties. On top of […]

The Universal Service Fund (USF) is a vital program administered through the Federal Communications Commission intended to ensure that U.S. residents, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities have access to affordable communication services, including broadband. In May, the FCC proposed capping the total amount it would expend for USF programs and combining two USF programs – the E-Rate and Rural Telehealth programs. This is a bad idea, as […]

Let me tell you a story about my attempts to get broadband internet access at my old apartment building. I had just finished law school and moved into a large corporate apartment in the Washington, D.C. area. After doing some research, I picked the broadband and cable plan that was best for me and my […]