Today, the Federal Communications Commission unanimously adopted an Order reclaiming the 45 MHz spectrum band from the auto industry in order to help close the digital divide.

Today, the Federal Communications Commission voted to approve a Report and Order to help close the digital divide by allowing devices that use unlicensed spectrum to provide better broadband coverage in rural and unserved areas.

Yesterday, the Federal Communications Commission closed its 2.5 GHz Rural Tribal Priority Window, the agency’s first filing window designed to help rural Tribes secure spectrum needed to provide broadband for their communities.

Today, in a blow to Tribal communities, the Federal Communications Commission extended the 2.5 GHz Rural Tribal Priority Window (TPW) by just 30 days. This amount of time is not nearly enough to help Tribes that, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, have faced enormous obstacles in applying for the available spectrum during the […]

American Indian Tribes, Alaskan Native Villages, and the Hawaiian Homelands have some of the worst access to broadband in the United States. According to the Federal Communications Commission,  36% of housing units on Tribal lands do not have access to broadband; on non-Tribal lands, this number is only 8%. Tribes face hurdles to accessing the […]

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.

Every American should expect their communications systems to work regularly and reliably, especially during a public emergency. As we transition to new, more sophisticated and technologically-advanced networks that support an array of new services, users should expect those networks to work as reliably as the networks they replace. Those networks must also not disrupt services […]

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 […]

Today, the Federal Communications Commission voted to approve a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking public comment on the creation of a “Connected Care Pilot” program that would provide Universal Service Fund support to help health care providers defray the cost of broadband service, allowing low-income and veteran patients to access telehealth services. Public Knowledge applauds the FCC for taking this step to learn more about how to make health care more accessible and affordable for vulnerable communities and areas with shortages of health care providers.

Today, the Federal Communications Commission announced the “Facilitate America’s Superiority in 5G Technology (5G FAST) Plan” to ensure the United States wins the race to 5G wireless connectivity. The plan includes the nation’s largest spectrum auction in December 2019 and the promised future creation of a $20.4 billion rural broadband investment fund, “The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund,” to help close the digital divide.