Yesterday, the U.S. Copyright Office released a report evaluating the impact and effectiveness of the “safe harbor” provisions contained in Section 512 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. The report recommends “rebalancing” the “safe harbor” protection — jeopardizing one of the most important safeguards for the Open Internet without taking due account of ways the current system has been abused.

Today, Public Knowledge joined more than 30 public interest groups, advocacy organizations, trade associations, academics, and former administration officials in a letter urging both the Senate and House Armed Services Committees to support the Federal Communications Commission’s bipartisan decision to finalize rules for Ligado Networks’ 5G deployment. The letter argues that the organizations — so often at odds with each other on spectrum issues — have come together to support the FCC’s action to spur on “innovation and competition in new 5G services while… protecting GPS from harmful interference.”

Public Knowledge welcomes Kathleen Burke, Policy Counsel, to our team to enhance our legal capabilities and provide support for copyright reform and telecommunications policy.

Today, Public Knowledge sent a letter urging Assistant Attorney General Delrahim to take a comprehensive approach to its antitrust investigation into Google’s conduct in the digital advertising market. Recent news indicates that the Department of Justice plans litigation against Google for antitrust violations in the digital advertising market, Public Knowledge urges the DOJ to consider the broad set of business practices Google has engaged in over the years — practices that appear designed to control key elements of the digital advertising market to the exclusion of competitors.

Today, Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Mark Warner (D-VA) introduced the “Public Health Emergency Privacy Act” to protect Americans’ privacy even as contact tracing, exposure notification, and other coronavirus surveillance technology becomes commonplace.

Today, Public Knowledge sent a letter urging the House Antitrust Subcommittee to address competition issues in digital platform markets by improving the nation’s antitrust laws. The letter highlights concerns over the narrowing of antitrust law as well as the need for a competition regulator focused on digital platforms.

Public Knowledge Senior Advisor Gene Kimmelman will testify before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation today at 10:00 a.m. His testimony in the hearing on “The State of Broadband Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic” will urge Congress to pass a comprehensive legislative package to ensure that broadband is affordable, reliable, and available universally both during and after the pandemic.

Today, House Democrats introduced the “Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act” that, among other provisions, helps Americans access broadband — or stay connected — during the pandemic. Public Knowledge commends House Democrats and Sen. Merkley for championing broadband access for everyone during a time when no American can afford to be left behind.

Today, we’re happy to announce the latest addition to our tracking report logging digital platform responses to misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic: a “superfund for the internet” proposal. Such a fund would compel digital platforms like Google and Facebook to invest in tools our society needs to fight misinformation online — tools that have been proven during the pandemic.

Today, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, introduced the “National Broadband Plan for the Future Act.” The bill would instruct the Federal Communications Commission to update the National Broadband Plan, as well as study how the coronavirus pandemic has changed the way Americans connect and engage online.