Today, Public Knowledge and Communications Workers of America notified the Federal Communications Commission of the withdrawal of objections to the Verizon/TracFone merger in exchange for commitments from Verizon that protect TracFone’s most vulnerable subscribers. Access Humboldt, the Benton Institute for Broadband and Society, and the California Center for Rural Policy also joined the letter withdrawing objections. 

Today, Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced the “Open App Markets Act” to reduce gatekeeper power and realize the promise of true competition in the app economy. The bill would prohibit a host of anticompetitive conduct by app store operators and is in line with recommendations in Public Knowledge’s recent white paper, “Tending the Garden: How to Ensure That App Stores Put Users First.” Public Knowledge advocates to preserve the benefits of app stores while minimizing the downsides of the gatekeeper control they can involve.

Today, the U.S. Senate voted 69-30 to pass an infrastructure package that includes an estimated $65 billion dollar broadband proposal designed to “bring affordable, reliable, high-speed broadband to every American.” Public Knowledge commends the bipartisan group and the Biden administration for taking this important step to narrow the digital divide by funding more broadband deployment and working to make broadband affordable for everyone, but especially for low-income consumers.

Today, Public Knowledge joined 23 other public interest, consumer advocacy, and civil rights groups in a letter urging the Federal Trade Commission to protect civil rights and privacy in the digital economy by initiating a new rulemaking. The groups contend that the agency should also create an Office of Civil Rights and commit more resources to enforce against unfair and deceptive practices.

Today, the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals announced its opinion in NCTA v. Frey, handing a victory to the people of Maine.

Last Friday, Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY) introduced the “Anti-Digital Redlining Act of 2021” to require the Federal Communications Commission to create rules to prohibit digital redlining, and to prohibit exclusive agreements between broadband providers and multidwelling units that limit competition. Public Knowledge commends Rep. Clarke for working to ensure that everyone — regardless of their income or color of their skin — has access to high-quality, affordable broadband.

Last night, a bipartisan group of senators introduced an infrastructure package that includes an estimated $65 billion dollar broadband proposal designed to “bring affordable, reliable, high-speed broadband to every American.” Public Knowledge commends the bipartisan group and the Biden administration for taking this important step to narrow the digital divide by funding more broadband deployment and working to make broadband affordable for everyone, but especially for low-income consumers.

Today, Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced the “Local Journalism Sustainability Act” to create tax credits designed to encourage citizens, small businesses, and newsrooms to sustain and support local news.

Today, the Federal Trade Commission voted to approve a new policy statement to help consumers repair the products they own. The vote follows President Biden’s Executive Order calling on the agency to establish rules against anticompetitive practices that limit consumer’s ability to repair their devices.

Today, President Joe Biden nominated Jonathan Kanter as Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division at the Department of Justice.