{"id":2147192,"date":"2024-01-12T00:38:02","date_gmt":"2024-01-12T05:38:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/theres-reason-to-fret-about-the-fccs-digital-discrimination-rule-for-broadband-subsidies\/"},"modified":"2024-01-12T00:42:58","modified_gmt":"2024-01-12T05:42:58","slug":"theres-reason-to-fret-about-the-fccs-digital-discrimination-rule-for-broadband-subsidies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/theres-reason-to-fret-about-the-fccs-digital-discrimination-rule-for-broadband-subsidies\/","title":{"rendered":"Concerns arise over FCC&#8217;s broadband subsidy rule and digital discrimination"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftheres-reason-to-fret-about-the-fccs-digital-discrimination-rule-for-broadband-subsidies%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2147192&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Heralded as \u200da Rare \u200cBipartisan Achievement, a Spending Bill to\u2062 Expand\u2064 Internet Access Reveals Partisan \u200bCracks<\/h2>\n<p>When Congress and President\u2064 Joe \u2064Biden enacted $65\u200c billion worth of broadband subsidies as part of the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law, it \u2062also directed the \u200dFederal \u200dCommunications Commission (FCC) to adopt new rules\u200b to prevent &#8220;digital discrimination&#8221; in\u2064 the rollout of high-speed access. However, the FCC&#8217;s decision to go beyond banning &#8220;discriminatory intent&#8221; and instead prohibit &#8220;disparate impact&#8221; on broadband adoption \u2064has revealed partisan divisions in the program&#8217;s implementation.<\/p>\n<p>In the same year the legislation was passed, the\u200d Pew Research \u200dCenter found\u2062 that 23% \u200cof \u200cthe public did not have access to a broadband \u2063connection at home. The so-called digital divide is attributed to\u200b geographic\u200c impediments and socioeconomic hurdles. The issue gained prominence after COVID-19 \u2063lockdowns forced people to rely more on the internet, \u200bhighlighting the \u2064disadvantage faced by those without home\u2063 internet access in terms of learning,\u2063 employment, and \u200chealthcare opportunities.<\/p>\n<p>Congress passed the \u2064spending bill, which Biden\u200d signed into\u200b law \u2063on Nov. 15, 2021, recognizing the increasing importance of\u200b broadband connection and digital literacy \u200cin \u2062society, the economy, and civil institutions of the \u2062United States.<\/p>\n<p>Former New \u200cOrleans Mayor Mitch\u200c Landrieu, who \u2062was \u2062responsible for implementing\u200b the $1.2 trillion law,\u2063 compared it to the New Deal and the \u2062Eisenhower administration&#8217;s highway system, emphasizing its significance.<\/p>\n<p>Harold\u200b Feld, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-confirms-kathleen-hicks-as-deputy-defense-secretary\/\" title=\"Senate Confirms Kathleen Hicks as Deputy Defense Secretary\">senior vice president<\/a> at progressive think tank\u200b Public Knowledge, praised the bill for fighting digital redlining and requiring the FCC\u2062 to\u2062 create rules to end \u200bunderinvestment\u2063 in communities of color and lower-income communities.<\/p>\n<p>While there was broad \u2063agreement \u200don federal\u200d spending\u200d to close the \u200ddigital\u200b divide, \u200cthe details of how to distribute the funds,\u2064 delegated to the FCC, \u200dhave become \u2062a partisan issue.<\/p>\n<p>Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez emphasized \u2062the need \u2063for digital equity, while Republican Commissioner Brendan Carr \u200dcriticized the rules for giving the FCC excessive \u2062power to veto private sector decisions.<\/p>\n<p>Under \u200cthe \u2064new rules, government or third-party plaintiffs only need to show that different groups of people\u200d use the same services at different prices, including \u2063&#8221;income level,&#8221; to trigger a violation of civil rights law.<\/p>\n<p>A coalition of free-market and conservative groups warned Congress about the FCC&#8217;s overreach \u200band how it could discourage investment in new broadband infrastructure and participation \u200cin\u2063 the funding program to\u200c close the digital divide.<\/p>\n<p>Critics argue that the \u200dnew regulations will allow the FCC to micromanage private business \u2064decisions by broadband providers\u2064 and \u2062go \u2064beyond the\u2062 agency&#8217;s authority granted by Congress.<\/p>\n<p>If Congress\u200d does not \u2063intervene, the rules will go into effect, and the \u200dFCC will review consumer \u200ccomplaints and\u200d take action against violators.<\/p>\n<p>Many telecom policy observers and legal experts anticipate constitutional\u200d challenges to the new rules, which could pose a threat to \u2063the Biden administration&#8217;s achievements \u200cin an election year.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How has the pandemic highlighted the urgency of bridging the\u2063 digital\u2063 divide \u2064and providing internet access to underserved communities?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Especially \u200cin the wake of the \u200dpandemic. The legislation aimed to bridge the \u200cdigital divide and provide internet access to underserved communities across the country.<\/p>\n<p>The\u200c $65 \u2062billion in broadband subsidies were intended to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-reporter-grills-biden-admin-over-their-sanctions-on-cuba-it-doesnt-do-anything-new\/\" title=\"WATCH: Reporter Grills Biden Admin Over Their Sanctions On Cuba: \u2018It Doesn\u2019t Do Anything New\u2019\">expand internet access<\/a>\u200b to areas that currently lack reliable and affordable high-speed connections. The subsidies were intended to cover both the \u200bcost of\u200d broadband service \u200dand\u2063 the necessary equipment, such as modems and routers, for eligible households.<\/p>\n<p>The bipartisan nature\u2062 of the legislation\u2063 was\u200d seen as a\u200b rare achievement, with\u2063 both Democrats and Republicans recognizing the importance of closing the \u200ddigital divide. However, the implementation of the program has \u200brevealed partisan disagreements and differing interpretations of the law.<\/p>\n<p>One of the key points of contention \u2064is the FCC&#8217;s decision to\u2063 prohibit &#8220;disparate impact&#8221; on broadband adoption, in \u2063addition to banning &#8220;discriminatory intent.&#8221;\u200d While\u200c the intention behind this provision is to prevent any unintentional biases or barriers in the\u2063 rollout of internet access, opponents argue that it\u200b creates unnecessary regulatory burdens and could stifle innovation in the industry.<\/p>\n<p>Critics of the provision argue that it could\u200d lead to a one-size-fits-all approach, where ISPs are forced to prioritize certain communities over\u200b others, potentially leading to delays and \u2064inefficiencies in the deployment of broadband infrastructure. They argue that the focus should be\u200b on incentivizing investment and competition in the market, rather than imposing strict regulations on \u200dISPs.<\/p>\n<p>Supporters of the \u200cprovision argue that the digital divide disproportionately\u200b affects marginalized communities \u200cand that addressing disparate impact is necessary \u200dto ensure equitable access\u200d to broadband. They argue that the FCC&#8217;s\u200c rules are in line with the broader goal of promoting universal access and \u200cpreventing any form of discrimination in the provision of internet\u2063 services.<\/p>\n<p>The partisan divide over\u2063 the \u200bimplementation of the program also extends to funding allocations. Republicans have criticized the criteria used to determine eligibility for\u200b the subsidies, claiming that it favors urban areas\u200b over rural ones.\u2064 They argue that\u2063 the focus should be on providing internet access to rural and underserved communities, where\u200b the need is greatest.<\/p>\n<p>Democrats, on the other hand, argue that the funding allocations are based on a comprehensive analysis of need and\u200b that urban areas also\u200b face challenges in terms of affordability and accessibility.\u2063 They emphasize the importance of reaching all underserved communities, regardless of their location.<\/p>\n<p>As the\u2064 program begins to \u200croll out, it is clear \u200cthat there are deep partisan disagreements regarding the best approach to\u200d expanding \u200cinternet access. \u2064While there is broad agreement on the need to bridge the digital divide, the specific policies \u2062and \u2064regulations being implemented have become \u2064a subject of contention.<\/p>\n<p>Moving forward, it will be important for policymakers to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/md-gov-hogan-urges-biden-lawmakers-to-work-together-on-covid-19-relief-legislation\/\" title=\"Md. Gov. Hogan urges Biden, lawmakers to work together on COVID-19 relief legislation\">find common ground<\/a> and\u2064 address the concerns\u200d of both \u2062sides to ensure\u2063 a smooth and effective implementation of the broadband subsidies. \u2062The ultimate goal should be to provide equitable access to reliable and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-hypes-benefits-of-infrastructure-package-for-communities-of-color\/\" title=\"Biden Hypes Benefits Of Infrastructure Package For \u2018Communities Of Color\u2019\">affordable high-speed internet<\/a> for\u200d all \u200cAmericans, \u2063regardless of their location or socioeconomic status.<\/p>\n<p>Closing the digital divide \u2064is not only an issue of infrastructure\u200d and\u200c technology but \u200balso an \u200bessential step towards building an inclusive and equitable society. The ability to access\u2064 information, education, job opportunities, and telehealth services through the internet has become a necessity in today&#8217;s digital age.<\/p>\n<p>While the partisan cracks \u2063may be \u200brevealing\u2063 themselves in the implementation of the broadband \u200bsubsidies, it is \u200dcrucial that both sides come together to find common ground and prioritize the needs of underserved communities. \u200dBridging the digital divide should be a \u2062bipartisan priority, and the success of the program will \u200ddepend on the ability\u2063 of policymakers to put\u200b aside\u200c their differences and\u200c work towards this shared goal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The bipartisan spending bill for internet expansion, seen as a rare achievement, is now exposing hidden flaws. Alongside the $65 billion broadband subsidies in the infrastructure law, Congress and President Biden instructed the FCC to establish rules against &#8220;digital discrimination<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2694,"featured_media":2147193,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2147192","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2147192","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2694"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2147192"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2147192\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2147193"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2147192"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2147192"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2147192"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}