Public Knowledge

Back in the day, copper was king. Copper strands were not only the infrastructure that our telephone service was carried over, but also the original internet connectivity point. Over time, telephone companies upgraded the copper technology to deliver better internet speeds in an effort to keep up with the new offerings coming from cable companies, […]

A lot of people who live in low-income or marginalized communities — including urban, rural and Tribal communities — can tell you that they have super slow broadband (if they even have it at all). Meanwhile, just a few blocks away, a hamlet over, or just outside the reservation boundaries, their wealthier (and often whiter) […]

The 117th Congress has convened at an inflection point in our nation’s history, unprecedented in more than a century. These are serious times, with the country going into its eleventh month of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, unemployment running high, and families facing so many challenges in their work and personal lives. Such times demand […]

On December 20th, something exciting is happening for television viewers, and no, it’s not a new Hallmark Christmas movie (although, we’re sure that’s happening too, and when it does happen, we’ll be there!). What’s happening is that FINALLY, consumers are going to get some transparency into how much they will spend on pay-TV service (e.g. […]

You’ve all seen the pictures. The West Coast is turning orange because of raging wildfires. Many were forced to quickly evacuate their homes, not knowing if they would have something to come back to. Hikers were stranded, not knowing if they would be rescued before burning alive because the winds shifted suddenly and the fire […]

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 […]