Public Knowledge Celebrates FCC Action To Connect the Vulnerable With New $50 Broadband Subsidy
February 26, 2021 Broadband Access , Broadband Affordability , broadband subsidy , coronavirus , Covid-19 , EBB , FCCYesterday, the Federal Communications Commission voted on circulation to approve a Report and Order to establish the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, a $3.2 billion federal initiative to provide qualifying households discounts on their internet service bills and an opportunity to receive a discount on a computer, laptop, or tablet. The program created by Congress subsidizes broadband and device payments for low-income consumers or families hit hard by the pandemic, including students and the unemployed.
Read MorePublic Knowledge Competition Policy Director Charlotte Slaiman to Testify Before House Judiciary on How Interoperability Can Rein In Big Tech
February 25, 2021 Digital Platform , House Judiciary , interoperability , Platform Competition , testimonyPublic Knowledge Competition Policy Director Charlotte Slaiman will testify before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law this Thursday, Feb. 25 at 10:00 a.m. Her testimony will argue for new laws and rules, like interoperability, to combat the power of Big Tech.
Read MorePublic Knowledge Celebrates Net Neutrality Victory in California
February 23, 2021 California , Net NeutralityIn a bench ruling, Judge John A. Mendez in the Eastern District of California rejected the attempt by a group of broadband providers to prevent California from enforcing its landmark net neutrality law, which grants the state’s residents the strongest net neutrality protections in the nation.
Read MorePublic Knowledge Fears Impact to Internet As Facebook Blocks Users from Sharing Australian News
February 18, 2021 Big Tech , EU , Facebook , Future of Journalism , Google , Internet Superfund , Link Tax , Local News , Platform Regulation , TV BlackoutsThis week, Facebook announced that the company “will restrict publishers and people in Australia from sharing or viewing Australian and international news content” in response to Australia’s “Media Bargaining law,” which would require Big Tech to pay publishers for linking to news content. There is no doubt that civic journalism faces a global crisis, but Public Knowledge contends that imposing public interest obligations, like an Internet Superfund, on dominant platforms is a better way to support local journalism for our communities as opposed to blocking users sharing news online or encouraging Big Tech and Big Media to strike deals that benefit themselves — both are predictable outcomes of this flawed legislation.
Read MorePublic Knowledge Files Comments Urging FCC to Expand the E-Rate Program to Connect Students During Pandemic
February 17, 2021 Broadband Access , coronavirus , Covid-19 , E-Rate , FCC , remote learningYesterday, Public Knowledge joined New America’s Open Technology Institute in filing comments in response to the Federal Communications Commission’s Public Notice on the use of E-Rate funds to enable remote learning.
Read MorePublic Knowledge Launches Report Examining Racial Diversity in Technology Policy
February 15, 2021 diversity , tech policy , tech policy advocacyWe conducted a survey on racial and ethnic diversity in early-career roles and the hiring processes in technology policy nonprofits to understand some of the barriers that people of color face in securing entry-level positions in our field while also advancing the conversation to remove these barriers.
Read MorePublic Knowledge Launches Principles Guiding Section 230 Reform to Protect Free Expression Online
February 11, 2021 Free Expression , principles , Public Knowledge , Section 230Today, Public Knowledge released principles to help guide discussions of possible Section 230 reform to ensure that any changes promote the public interest. These principles are meant to provide guardrails for policymakers to protect consumers’ ability to freely express themselves online while also addressing the challenges posed by content moderation.
Read MorePublic Knowledge Petitions FCC to Begin Reconsidering Trump-Era Broadband Deregulation
February 8, 2021 FCC , Net Neutrality , Open InternetToday, Public Knowledge filed a petition asking the Federal Communications Commission to reconsider the agency’s determination under Chairman Pai that its deregulatory agenda was more important than public safety, the infrastructure access necessary for broadband competition, or universal service.
Read MorePublic Knowledge Urges Media Giants to Ensure Viewers Can Watch the Super Bowl
February 5, 2021 blackouts , Super Bowl , Video MarketplaceRecently, CBS stations owned by Cox Media Group have been pulled from thousands of viewers across the country, and more blackouts may come soon. Unless resolved, this could prevent those viewers from watching the Super Bowl this Sunday.
Read MorePublic Knowledge Applauds Senator Klobuchar’s Antitrust Reform Bill Strengthening Enforcement
February 4, 2021 Anticompetitive mergers , Antitrust , Platform CompetitionToday, Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), incoming chair of the Senate Judiciary’s Antitrust Subcommittee, introduced the “Competition and Antitrust Law Enforcement Reform Act” to make it easier for the government to stop anticompetitive mergers and conduct.
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