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☆ ‘Should have been done yesterday’: Rural, older Americans could get hurt as affordable internet program runs out of cash
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Brian Fung | Jason Carroll | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

But in just a few weeks, her internet bills, and those of other Americans like her, could skyrocket by hundreds of dollars a year. The program is heavily used by Americans over age 50, military veterans and low-income working families nationwide, according to FCC data. Amira Karaoud/Reuters/FileRural and older usersThe ACP has quickly gained adoption since Congress created the program in the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law. Large swaths of the ACP’s user base trend older; Americans over 65 account for almost 20% of the program. The FCC’s Lifeline program, which dates to the Reagan administration, similarly gives low-income households a monthly discount on phone or internet service.

Persons: Cindy Westman, —, I’ll, ”, Westman, ’, Westman —, Gigi Sohn, “, Biden, Allison Bailey /, Cynthia George, George, ” George, Marc Veasey, They’re, Geoffrey Starks, “ It’s, ” Starks, Amira Karaoud, Walter Durham, I’m, ” Durham, Michelle McDonough, McDonough, she’ll, doesn’t, “ I’m, ” McDonough, Kamesha Scott, Louis, Megan Janicki, ” Janicki, Reagan, Mike Johnson, Blair Levin, Johnson didn’t, Levin, Jonathan Blaine, ” Blaine, they’re Organizations: CNN, Program, Social, Federal Communications Commission, FCC, Capitol, Getty, MSN, White, ” Texas Democratic, “, Comcast, ACP, Navy, American Library Association, Lifeline, Republicans, Republican, New, Research, ” Bills Locations: Eureka , Illinois, America, Dallas, Las Vegas, Kentucky, San Diego, United States, Maine, St, Vermont

☆ The US government is running out of funding for a program that could cut internet access for millions of Americans
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewMillions of Americans risk their internet access being disrupted if a critical government program runs out of funding next month. The Affordable Connectivity Program has been helping low-income households access the internet since the Federal Communications Commission launched it in 2021. Once the program ends, some ACP subscribers say they'll need to work more just to stay online. AdvertisementAccording to the outlet, ACP recipients are about 15% of Siyeh Communications' customer base, or about 2,000 subscribers in the Blackfeet reservation. The FCC, Sohn, Siyeh Communications, and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.

Persons: —, Gigi Sohn, Kamesha Scott —, Louis, I'm, Brian DeMarco, Sohn Organizations: Service, Federal Communications Commission, FCC, Business, Biden, Comcast, Benenson, CNN, Independents, Siyeh Communications, Fierce Telecom, White Locations: St, Montana

☆ ACP, a digital lifeline for millions of Americans, is in jeopardy. Here’s why
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Cynthia George is one of millions of Americans in jeopardy of losing their home internet access. Yet Congress is nowhere close to approving the $6 billion that President Joe Biden says would renew the ACP and avert calamity for tens of millions of Americans. Courtesy Michelle McDonoughLike George, McDonough also expects she’ll have to cut back on groceries if the ACP goes away. The FCC’s Lifeline program, which dates to the Reagan administration, similarly gives low-income households a monthly discount on phone or internet service. “You’re taking ACP away from the farmers that can check the local produce prices and be able to reasonably negotiate their prices with retailers.

Persons: Cynthia George, Cynthia George George, Joe Biden, Pedro Ugarte, ”, Gigi Sohn, “, George, ” George, Michelle McDonough, McDonough, she’ll, doesn’t, “ I’m, ” McDonough, Mandel Ngan, Gary Johnson, Paul, —, Kamesha Scott, Louis, Scott, Megan Janicki, ” Janicki, Reagan, Biden, ” Blair Levin, Bill Clark, Levin, Jonathan Blaine, ” Blaine, Blaine Organizations: Washington CNN, MSN, Federal Communications Commission, Program, Lawmakers, ACP, FCC, Getty, CNN, ”, White, Comcast, George, Congress, Paul Bunyan Communications, American Library Association, Lifeline, House Republicans, New, Research, Republican, ” Lawmakers Locations: Washington ,, AFP, United States, Maine, Washington , DC, Minnesota, St, “, Lake Havasu City, Ariz, Vermont

☆ Net neutrality, blunted under Trump, may soon be revived
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Demonstrator on the issue of net neutrality at the U.S. Capitol February 27, 2018 in Washington, DC. Net neutrality is poised for a resurgence after the Federal Communications Commission voted Thursday to begin the process of reestablishing the so-called open internet rules. The vote revives a debate that last came to a head in 2017 when the agency voted to reverse the net neutrality rules created just a couple of years earlier. Republican Commissioner Brendan Carr pointed to statements from Democratic lawmakers in support of net neutrality and called the earlier campaign for the rules a "viral disinformation campaign." "We're now faced with advocates who can't accept that they won and that we have de facto net neutrality," Republican Commissioner Nathan Simington said.

Persons: Democrats Rosenworcel, Gomez, Geoffrey Starks, Carr, Simington, Jessica Rosenworcel, Anna Gomez, Biden, Gigi Sohn, Brendan Carr, We're, Nathan Simington, Rosenworcel, They're Organizations: U.S, Capitol, Federal Communications, Democrats, Democratic, Republican, Communications, Comcast, CNBC, White Locations: Washington ,, California, Sacramento

☆ Biden’s pro-competition agenda put to the test as net neutrality, tech trials take shape
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Shortly after that, the Federal Communications Commission chair announced a proposal to reinstate net neutrality rules, which prohibit internet service providers from favoring certain websites over others. It included appointing strong enforcers and starting the White House Competition Council. Even as several prongs of competition policy take shape, the Biden administration is up against the clock. That timeline may be particularly concerning for the ability to implement and uphold net neutrality rules, given that the FCC didn't have a Democratic majority able to advance the rulemaking until just this week. Wu and other net neutrality advocates have blamed the telecom industry for opposing Biden's initial FCC nominee, Gigi Sohn, holding up her nomination for well over a year until she ultimately withdrew.

Persons: Joe Biden, Department's, Anna Gomez, Biden, Tim Wu, Wu, Hannah Garden, Gigi Sohn Organizations: White, Federal Trade Commission, Amazon, Federal Communications Commission, Department of Justice, Google, Washington , D.C, FCC, Antitrust, Biden, Competition Council, FTC, Competition, Democratic, CNBC, Comcast Locations: Washington U.S, Washington ,

☆ Senate confirms Anna Gomez to FCC, breaking yearslong deadlock at the agency
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Senate voted Thursday to confirm Democrat Anna Gomez to the Federal Communications Commission, breaking the deadlock at the agency that has lasted the entirety of the Biden presidency. Gomez's confirmation comes after a protracted battle to confirm Biden's initial pick for the commissioner seat, Gigi Sohn. As senators remained split on her confirmation, the FCC was left in a 2-2 deadlock of Republican and Democratic commissioners, limiting its agenda to items that both sides could agree on. That could include a push to return to net neutrality rules, which seek to prevent internet service providers from slowing or blocking service for select websites, for which President Joe Biden has voiced his support for. Disclosure: Comcast, an internet service provider, is also the owner of CNBC parent company NBCUniversal.

Persons: Anna Gomez, Biden, Gigi Sohn, Gomez, who's, Joe Biden, Sohn, she'd Organizations: Federal Communications Commission, FCC, Republican, Democratic, Comcast, CNBC, White

☆ US Senate panel to vote on key Biden telecom board nominee
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, July 6 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee plans to vote next week on President Joe Biden's nominee for a key fifth seat on the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). In July 2021, Biden signed an executive order encouraging the FCC to reinstate net neutrality rules adopted under Democratic then-President Barack Obama in 2015. Biden's first nominee for the open seat, former FCC official Gigi Sohn, withdrew in March after three hearings. The FCC has raised mounting concerns about Chinese telecom companies which had won permission to operate in the United States decades ago. In 2019, the FCC voted to deny state-owned Chinese telecom firm China Mobile Ltd (0941.HK) the right to provide U.S. services and later withdrew U.S. authorizations for several other Chinese telecom carriers, including China Telecom Corp (0728.HK).

Persons: Joe Biden's, Anna Gomez, Gomez, Brendan Carr, Geoffrey Starks, Donald Trump, Biden, Barack Obama, Biden's, Gigi Sohn, Sohn, David Shepardson Organizations: U.S, Senate, U.S . Federal Communications Commission, Democratic, State Department's Bureau, Cyberspace, Digital, Radio Conference, FCC, Republican, China Mobile Ltd, HK, China Telecom Corp, Thomson Locations: U.S, United States, United

☆ Biden nominates telecom attorney Anna Gomez to FCC after more than two years of deadlock
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

President Joe Biden nominated telecom attorney Anna Gomez to the Federal Communications Commission, his second attempt to fill an empty seat on the typically five-member panel that has left the agency in a 2-2 deadlock for his entire presidency thus far. Gomez has previously worked for the FCC in several positions over 12 years, the White House said. Jonathan Spalter, president and CEO of USTelecom, a trade group that represents broadband providers like AT&T and Verizon , congratulated Gomez in a statement. Free Press, a nonprofit advocacy group that supports net neutrality, said Gomez's nomination was long overdue. González called Gomez "eminently qualified" for the role and praised the nomination of a Latinx candidate to the position.

☆ Exclusive: Biden nominee to head FAA withdraws after Republican criticism
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

WASHINGTON, March 25 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden's nominee to head the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is withdrawing his nomination after Republican criticism that he was not qualified to serve as the top aviation regulator. Last year, Biden nominated Denver International Airport CEO Phil Washington to serve as FAA administrator. A White House official had earlier told Reuters "politics must not hold up confirming an administrator to lead the FAA, and we will move expeditiously to nominate a new candidate for FAA administrator." Some industry officials think the White House could name acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen as a new nominee. Nolen, who was named head of the FAA's aviation safety office, has been the acting FAA administrator since April 2022 and has received backing from many Republicans in Congress.

☆ Skullduggery at the FCC
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Gigi Sohn withdrew her stalled nomination for the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday after Joe Manchin (D., W.Va.) announced his opposition. Chair Jessica Rosenworcel will now have to advance her progressive agenda without a wingman, but her effort to kill a major media acquisition on the sly shows what she’s up to. Ms. Sohn blamed “unrelenting, dishonest and cruel attacks” for her failure to be confirmed in two Congresses. But she has a long record as an unrelenting partisan and her attacks on conservative media suggested she couldn’t be trusted to be fair-minded in regulating the airwaves.

☆ Sen. Ted Cruz on opposition to FCC nominee Gigi Sohn
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailSen. Ted Cruz on opposition to FCC nominee Gigi SohnSen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the Senator's opposition to Gigi Sohn, Sohn's frustrations with the Democratic party, and more.

☆ Biden pick for FCC withdraws, says agency will 'remain sidelined'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Sohn had been a senior aide to Tom Wheeler when he was the FCC chair under President Barack Obama. The open internet laws seek to bar internet service providers from blocking or slowing traffic or offering paid fast lanes. "The FCC deadlock, now over two years long, will remain so for a long time," Sohn said in a statement. Many Democrats said Republicans were doing the bidding of powerful telecom companies that did not want to face regulation from the FCC. In July 2021, Biden signed an executive order encouraging the FCC to reinstate the open internet net neutrality rules.

☆ Biden U.S. FCC pick in jeopardy after Democrat Manchin opposes
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) speaks to reporters following the weekly Democratic caucus luncheon at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 29, 2022. Senator Joe Manchin said on Tuesday he will vote against confirming Gigi Sohn as a commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), potentially imperiling her nomination by President Joe Biden. The open internet laws seek to bar internet service providers from blocking or slowing traffic or offering paid fast lanes. In July 2021, Biden signed an executive order encouraging the FCC to reinstate the open internet net neutrality rules. Reporting by David Shepardson and Katharine Jackson; writing by Rami Ayyub; Editing by Bill BerkrotOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Gigi Sohn Withdraws as Nominee for Federal Communications Commission
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Catherine Lucey | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Gigi Sohn informed the White House that she is withdrawing her nomination for FCC commissioner. Gigi Sohn has withdrawn her nomination to serve as a commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission after a stalled confirmation process. Ms. Sohn informed the White House she would be withdrawing. The Washington Post reported about her decision earlier.

Gigi Sohn testifies during a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee confirmation hearing, examining her nomination to be appointed Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission in Washington, D.C., February 9, 2022. Gigi Sohn, who was chosen by President Joe Biden to serve as telecommunications regulator to the Federal Communications Commission, said on Tuesday that she's withdrawing her nomination. After multiple hearings in the Senate Commerce Committee, it was still unclear if Sohn would have the votes for her nomination to pass the full Senate. During a 16-month battle with cable and media industry lobbyists, Sohn said she's been subject to "unrelenting, dishonest and cruel attacks" that have taken "an enormous toll" on her family. "And with the help of their friends in the Senate, the powerful cable and media companies have done just that."

☆ Watch Out, Gigi Sohn Is Back
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

His Federal Communications Commission nominee Gigi Sohn proved too partisan for the last Senate to confirm. Yet he has renominated her even as the commission considers a dangerous rule-making that has flown under media radar. We’ve written before about Ms. Sohn’s left-wing views and desire for political control of the airwaves. As a counselor to Obama FCC Chair Tom Wheeler , Ms. Sohn championed the net-neutrality regulation that classified broadband providers as common carriers under Title II of the 1934 Communications Act. Those rules were repealed by the Trump FCC to the great benefit of new investment and competition.

☆ Biden telecom board nominee says industry out to block her from position
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Gigi Sohn, who was nominated in October 2021, will have her third hearing for the job before the Senate Commerce Committee on Tuesday. Her written remarks said she will seek to answer the question, "Why am I still President Biden’s nominee for the 5th seat on the FCC?" In July 2021, Biden signed an executive order encouraging the FCC to reinstate the open internet net neutrality rules. Republicans have questioned Sohn's role as a board member of a nonprofit that operated a transmission service called Locast. "The work of the Commission - from net neutrality to closing the digital divide - is too important for this nomination to be delayed any further," said Senator Ed Markey.

☆ U.S. Senate panel sets new hearing for Biden telecom nominee
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Pete Marovich/Pool via REUTERSWASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. Senate committee on Tuesday set a third confirmation hearing for the Biden administration’s nominee to a seat on the Federal Communications Commission that has been vacant for more than two years. President Joe Biden last month renominated Gigi Sohn, a former FCC senior official under President Barack Obama, to serve as a commissioner. Biden first nominated Sohn in October 2021 but she was not confirmed despite hearings in 2021 and 2022. The Senate Commerce Committee said Tuesday she would appear at a hearing on Feb. 14. In July 2021, President Joe Biden signed an executive order encouraging the FCC to reinstate the rules.

☆ U.S. Senate will not take up FAA nomination before 2023 -lawmaker
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 29 (Reuters) - The U.S Senate does not plan to take up President Joe Biden's nominee to head the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) until next year, a key lawmaker said. Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell, who heads the panel that overseas the FAA, told Reuters late on Tuesday she planned to hold a hearing for Denver International Airport Chief Executive Phil Washington to head the FAA after the new Congress convenes in January. Cantwell said she plans to meet next week with Washington, who was nominated in July but not yet had a hearing. The Democratic lawmaker said she believes the White House will stand by Washington and renominate him next year. Washington, a former CEO of the Los Angeles public transport system, previously told Bloomberg News "all the allegations are false."

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