Washington, D.C. – Today, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai provided a preview of the FCC’s response to the DC Circuit Court regarding its narrow remand on specific issues related to the Restoring Internet Freedom Order. Last fall, the overwhelming majority of the Order, which rolled back the Obama era FCC’s attempt to impose so-called “net neutrality” rules, was upheld by the Court, with specific items related to its impact on public safety, pole attachments, and the Lifeline subsidized access program being kicked back to the Commission for further elaboration. The FCC’s response will make clear that the decision to return internet service providers (ISPs) to the light-touch regulatory framework (which preceded the net neutrality rules for two decades) will not have any significant or detrimental impact on public safety or the FCC’s ability to regulate pole attachments and administer the Lifeline program.

Washington, D.C. – The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA), and consumers across the country, are celebrating the news that the Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments regarding the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) efforts to modernize regulations governing local media ownership in the case Prometheus Radio Project v. FCC. For decades, FCC rules have prevented common-ownership of a local newspaper as well as a broadcast station (radio or television) in a given market. Rules similarly limited the number of broadcast stations a single entity could own as well as the ability for local media outlets to coordinate in advertising sales. Federal law explicitly instructs the FCC to review these rules and determine their necessity on a regular basis. While previous FCCs have neglected this duty, the current FCC (under the leadership of Chairman Ajit Pai), upheld their statutory duty and rightly determined these rules are no longer necessary in the digital age. However, the same panel of activist judges on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals have blocked similar efforts multiple times over the last two decades and did so once again last year.

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, Senator John Thune (R-SD), Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee’s subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet led a letter with 18 of his Senate GOP colleagues urging President Trump to “remain on the free-market path” on the issue of the ongoing buildout of a nationwide 5G wireless broadband network. The letter was in response to recent rumblings in the Department of Defense and other policy circles around the idea of a quasi-nationalized 5G network. The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is in firm agreement with the letter and echoes its calls for President Trump to continue facilitating 5G investment and infrastructure “by freeing up the necessary spectrum and eliminating unnecessary regulations.”

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, internet providers have stepped up to provide lightning-fast speeds and nationwide connectivity to Americans working (and learning) from home. Citing a recent report by WhistleOut, the Wall Street Journal reports, “As of July, average home internet speeds across the U.S. were running at 94.6 megabits per second, up from 84.9 megabits in March…The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) considers 25 megabits per second the minimum for broadband service.” These unprecedented, large-scale service improvements are due in large part to FCC initiatives allowing providers the spectrum and flexibility they need to serve struggling Americans. And in this month’s open meeting, the FCC is poised to adopt reforms that will further bolster the digital domain and help close the digital divide without taxpayer money. Below, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) analyzes three of the reforms on the agency’s September agenda.