Today, House Democrats announced “The Moving Forward Act,” a massive infrastructure bill funding broadband deployment as well as the building of roads, bridges, housing, rail, and clean energy services.

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, 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.

Today, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), along with Representatives Jim Clyburn (D-SC), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), and Anna Eshoo (D-CA), announced support for a broadband program to help close the digital divide. The proposal follows yesterday’s letter from Public Knowledge and 217 other public interest and industry groups urging Congress to include affordable broadband in future coronavirus stimulus packages. Public Knowledge commends Congressional Democrats for championing affordable broadband access during a time when it’s needed most in every community.

Today, the Federal Communications Commission voted to approve a Report and Order that would commit $20.4 billion from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) to fund broadband deployment.

Yesterday, Senators John Kennedy (R-LA) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) introduced the “The Spectrum Management And Reallocation for Taxpayers (or SMART) Act” to create a public auction for C-Band spectrum and use the revenue to provide funding for rural broadband and next-generation 911 services. Public Knowledge welcomes this bipartisan effort to help close the widening digital […]

Today, the House Energy & Commerce Communications and Technology Subcommittee marked up the “Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act (Broadband DATA Act).” The bill would improve broadband mapping data accuracy at the Federal Communications Commission. Public Knowledge supports requiring the FCC to collect more granular data to generate more accurate and detailed broadband maps.

Today, the Federal Communications Commission voted to approve a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to establish a $20.4 billion rural broadband investment fund, “The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund,” (RDOF) to help close the digital divide. According to the FCC, the fund will “provide funding through a reverse auction to broadband service providers that deploy infrastructure that provides up to gigabit-speed broadband” in rural America.

Today, the Federal Communications Commission released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Declaratory Ruling to reduce barriers to competitive broadband choices for consumers living in multi-tenant buildings, like apartments. Public Knowledge has long supported efforts to remove barriers to deployment and facilitate greater choice for residents of these buildings.