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Capitol Hill
FCC Commissioner Confirmed: This afternoon, the U.S. Senate voted 55-43 to confirm Anna Gomez to serve as a commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Her confirmation gives Democrats a 3-2 majority at the agency, which has been deadlocked since the beginning of the Biden Administration. The previous nominee, Gigi Sohn, withdrew her nomination after facing months of delay over her confirmation vote. The new Democratic majority could reinstate net neutrality rules and update media ownership rules, among other contentious policy issues. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) touted Gomez's "considerable telecom experience and broad support from groups on both sides of the aisle" prior to the final vote on her nomination. Gomez most recently served as a senior advisor at the State Department's Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy. She also served in roles at the FCC, NTIA, NEC, Senate Commerce, and the private sector. Renomination votes for FCC Commissioners Geoffrey Starks and Brendan Carr are still pending before the full Senate.
Senate to Convene AI Forum: On September 13, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) plans to convene the first of nine “AI Insight Forums” that are intended to educate lawmakers about the risks and opportunities of artificial intelligence as Congress pursues legislation. While speaking on the Senate floor today, Schumer said, “We need to find an approach that balances both innovation and safety.” Next week’s forum, which is closed to the public and media, will focus on potential avenues for regulating AI and include representatives from the tech and defense industries, civil rights and labor groups, and the arts. The confirmed guest list includes the CEOs of Google, Meta, OpenAI, Microsoft, Nvidia, and X (formerly Twitter).
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Administration
NTIA Awards Middle-Mile Grants: The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced nearly $50 million in funding for four organizations to expand middle mile high-speed Internet infrastructure in New Hampshire, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wyoming. The middle mile projects will cover 27 counties across the four states and will deploy 518.5 miles of new fiber that will pass within 1,000 feet of 164 community anchor institutions.
NTIA Awards Tribal Broadband Grants: NTIA awarded almost $3.5 million to seven Tribal entities as part of the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP). The funding will help directly connect Tribal households and businesses to high-speed Internet service, plan for future Internet infrastructure investments, and upgrade network equipment. In July, NTIA announced a second Notice of Funding Opportunity with an application deadline of January 23, 2024.
FCC and HUD Formalize ACP Partnership: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) formalized a partnership to promote awareness of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) among federal housing assistance recipients. The partnership, reflected in a Memorandum of Understanding between the agencies, complements the FCC's Your Home, Your Internet pilot program, which provides grant funding to 23 local housing authorities to support innovative efforts to connect federal housing assistance recipients to high-speed internet service.
FCC Reaffirms Broadband Consumer Labels: The FCC released an Order on Reconsideration that addresses three petitions that requested clarification and reconsideration of the FCC’s new broadband label rules, which requires broadband internet services providers to display information about broadband prices, speeds, and data allowances at the point of sale. The agency declined to reconsider the rules, but made a few minor clarifications and changes, such as clarifying that wireless providers that opt to include government taxes in their base monthly price may note on the label that government taxes are included.
FCC Sets Deadline for USF Comments: The FCC’s Notice of Inquiry (NOI) concerning high-cost universal service fund (USF) support has been published in the Federal Register. As a result, comments are due on or before October 23, 2023, and reply comments are due on or before November 21, 2023. The NOI seeks comment on “methods for modifying the Universal Service Fund’s high-cost program to support ongoing expenses for broadband networks in light of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and other recent federal and state efforts.”
FCC Announces Enhanced A-CAM Model Support: The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau released model results and offer amounts for Enhanced Alternative Connect America Cost Model (A-CAM) support to fund the deployment of voice and broadband-capable networks. Carriers have until September 29, 2023 to indicate, on a state-by-state basis, whether they elect to receive the Enhanced A-CAM support.
FCC 911 Reliability Certification Filings Due Next Month: The FCC’s 911 Reliability Certification System is now open for filing annual reliability certifications. Under Commission rules, covered 9-1-1 service providers must take reasonable measures to provide reliable 911 service with respect to (i) 911 circuit diversity; (ii) central office backup power; and (iii) diverse network monitoring. Providers must certify as to their compliance with each of these requirements or to their implementation of reasonable alternative measures. Annual reliability certifications are due on October 16, 2023.
DOE Releases Cybersecurity Resources: The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) released two resources to support the implementation of several strategic recommendations from the National Cyber-Informed Engineering (CIE) Strategy. The CIE Resource Library consists of tools, case studies, and lessons which will continue to support designers, manufacturers, and asset owners and operators in applying CIE principles. The CIE Implementation Guide outlines questions engineering teams should consider during each phase of a system's life cycle to employ CIE principles.
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T-Mobile Cuts Workforce: Wireless carrier T-Mobile plans to shed seven percent -- about 5,000 employees -- from its workforce. The cuts will primarily affect employees in corporate, back-office, and technology roles. The cuts are an effort to rein in costs, according to a memo sent to employees by CEO Mike Sievert.
Altice USA Stabilizes Customer Losses: During its second quarter earnings call, Altice USA reported quarterly broadband net losses of 37,000 in Q2 2023, compared to 39,000 broadband net losses in Q2 2022. CFO Mark Sirota said the company has stabilized its broadband subscriber losses for the first time in five quarters. CEO Dennis Matthew said he is optimistic that the company is returning to sustainable broadband and cash flow growth. Altice USA delivers broadband, video, mobile, and other services to nearly five million residential and business customers across 21 states.
Cox Offers Discounted Bundle: As part of its long-term convergence plan, Cox Communications announced a discounted bundled package for its mobile and internet services. Cox Internet plans now start at $55 per month for 250 Mbps when combined with Cox Mobile.
Coalition Warns NTIA About BEAD Requirement: A coalition of almost 300 broadband experts, internet service providers (ISPs), local government leaders, and nonprofits joined forces to highlight concerns about the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. In a letter to NTIA head Alan Davidson and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, the group warned that the program’s letter of credit (LOC) requirement will block the vast majority of smaller operators, community-centered ISPs, and city-owned networks from securing BEAD grants. The group, which includes the National Association of Towns and Townships (NATaT) and the National Association of Counties (NACo), offered alternatives to the LOC requirement.
Coalition Seeks to Strengthen ReConnect: A coalition of national broadband associations and other business organizations sent a letter to the leadership of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees seeking their support to incorporate several principles from the Rural Internet Improvement Act into the Farm Bill to help strengthen the USDA ReConnect program. In doing so, the coalition said the grant and loan program could extend its reach, increase its efficiency, and better coordinate its impacts in delivering broadband dollars. The principles include focusing funding on truly unserved areas, protecting against waste from inexperienced participants, simplifying the application process, ensuring tech-neutrality, and improving interagency coordination.
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Hearings & Webinars
Defend Against Ransomware Attack Cyber Range Training
CISA
Sept. 12, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM EDT
Click here to register
State of 911 Webinar
911.gov
Sept. 12, 12:00 PM EDT
Click here to register
AI Bill of Rights Framework: Safe and Effective Systems & Human Fallbacks
ATARC
Sept. 12, 1:30 PM EDT
Click here to register
Hearing: The Need for Transparency in Artificial Intelligence
Senate Commerce Consumer Protection Subcommittee
Sept. 12, 2:30 PM EDT
Click here to register
Hearing: Lights, Camera, Subscriptions -- Assessing the State of the Video Marketplace
House Commerce Communications and Technology Subcommittee
Sept. 13, 2:00 PM EDT
Click here to register
Cybersecurity Advisory Committee Meeting
CISA
Sept. 13, 2:00 PM EDT
RSVP by 5:00 PM EDT Sept. 11 to CISA_CybersecurityAdvisoryCommittee@cisa.dhs.gov
What Do Constituents Want?
Government Technology
Sept. 14, 1:00 PM EDT
Click here to register
Transforming Government Services: The Tech That Drives Real Impact
Government Technology
Sept. 18, 1:00 PM EDT
Click here to register
The Impact of AI, Including on Cybersecurity
NIST
Sept. 20, 2:00 PM EDT
Click here to register
BEAD Implementation Summit
Broadband Breakfast
Sept. 21, 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM EDT
Click here to register
Monthly Open Meeting
FCC
Sept. 21, 10:30 AM EDT
Click here to view
Advanced Cybersecurity Technology (Act 1) Prize: Prize Overview and How to Compete
DOE
Sept. 27, 1:00 PM EDT
Click here to register
AI DC 2023: Securing America's Future
ICIT
Oct. 4, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM EDT
Click here to register
Digital Inclusion Research Forum
Dallas Fed
Oct. 12-13
Click here to register
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Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program: Feedback Should be Provided to Applicants Receiving Equitable Distribution Grants
GAO
Click here for the report
Infrastructure Codes,
Standards, and Regulations: FAQ
CRS
Click here for the report
CRS, OMB Issue Final
Guidance on "Buy America" Domestic Preference Requirements
CRS
Click here for the report
Applying the Telephone
Consumer Protection Act to Shared Phones
CRS
Click here for the report
Cable Broadband Marketshare Not as Big as You May Think
Fiber Broadband Association
Click here for the report
2023 CISO Survival Guide
to Emerging Trends from the Startup Ecosystem
Cisco
Click here for the report
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Community Highlights
How California is Bridging the Digital Divide on Tribal Land
Carnegie Endowment for
International Peace
Click here to view
New Research on Gaps in
Broadband Access in Texas
Texas Standard
Click here to view
NC Broadband Plan Receives
Federal Support
NC Department of IT
Click here to view
MN Draft Digital
Opportunity Plan
MN Office of Broadband Deployment
Click here to view
Federal Grants Fund
Broadband Internet Access for More Than 300,000 MI Residents
American Independent
Click here to view
Obstacles Abound as PA
Plans for Surge of Federal Broadband Funding
Spotlight PA
Click here to view
EDA Grant Lays Foundation for Significant Broadband Investments in Missouri
U.S. Economic Development Agency
Click here to view
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