The wireless industry has revolutionized the way we connect, from facilitating teleworking, distance learning, and telemedicine to allowing the American public to interact virtually in almost all other aspects of their daily...more
In the wake of several high-profile disagreements about use of the nation’s spectrum, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) within the Department...more
President Biden recently signed the long-awaited bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The law allocates over $1 trillion in new and repurposed funds to upgrade the country’s infrastructure. This funding...more
In February, the Arkansas Legislature unanimously approved Act 67 which amends the Telecommunications Regulatory Reform Act of 2013 (the “Act”). These amendments significantly increase local government options with respect...more
Upcoming Filing and Comment Deadlines - FCC Seeks Comment on Emergency Access to Wi-Fi Access Points: Comments are due October 1 on the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC or Commission) Public Notice seeking comment...more
Way back in the dark ages in May 2011 (about 2,345 Internet years ago) I wrote a column about Net neutrality, which was in court at the time. For those of you who are not sure, "Net neutrality" is short for "Internet...more
Will the repeal of the net neutrality rules negatively impact the provision of TELEHEALTH SERVICES, which require robust and reliable internet connectivity? Net neutrality is the principle that Internet Service Providers...more
On January 23, 2017, President Donald Trump named Ajit Pai as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). In his previous role as the senior Republican on the FCC under President Barack Obama, Mr. Pai was an...more
In an August 10, 2016 ruling, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the FCC’s preemption of state laws in Tennessee and North Carolina which prevented municipal broadband providers from expanding their networks beyond...more
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has decided a new federalism case. stopIn State of Tennessee, et al., v. Federal Communications Commission, decided on August 10, 2016, the Court of Appeals held that Section...more
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has struck a major blow to the FCC’s efforts to remove barriers to broadband service and promote competition in broadband markets. In State of Tennessee v. FCC, the court...more
Yesterday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit reversed the FCC’s order preempting Tennessee and North Carolina laws that prevented municipalities from deploying cable services, video services, and Internet...more
On March 10, 2016, the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”), Tom Wheeler, announced his proposal to empower consumers’ control over how their information is used by Internet Service Providers (“ISPs”). ...more
According to the Federal Communications Commission, 90 percent of Americans have access to broadband Internet access service at the FCC’s benchmark speeds of 25 Mbps for downloads/3 Mbps for uploads. But the FCC also found...more
On February 26, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) voted to adopt FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler’s proposal to reclassify broadband internet service providers (“ISPs”) as a public utility. The move, part of the...more
On February 26, 2015, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to adopt its Open Internet Order (Order). The Order reclassifies both wired and mobile “broadband Internet access service” as a “telecommunications...more
The order classifies broadband Internet access as a telecommunications service. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) today voted, by a 3-2 margin, to adopt rules designed to promote an open Internet...more
At its open meeting today, Feb. 26, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 3-2 along party lines to adopt an order on net neutrality, or open Internet. The text of the order is not yet released but, based upon...more
This past Monday, November 10, 2014, President Obama urged the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) in a written statement to “reclassify consumer broadband service under Title II of the Telecommunications Act — while at...more
After the Net Neutrality decision, the FCC has a number of options, all of which could have an important impact on providers and users alike....more
On Jan. 14, 2014, a D.C. Circuit panel struck down the portions of the FCC’s 2010 “Open Internet” (or “net neutrality”) rules that had banned blocking or discriminatory treatment of web sites or other online applications by...more
On Tuesday, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit vacated and remanded the operative portions of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC or Commission) network neutrality regulations....more
The 112th Congress saw a lot of activity focused on new and changing technologies, but few legislative breakthroughs. Early in the year, there was significant activity around intellectual property and online piracy issues,...more