Public interest groups told the Republican and Democratic National Committee leaders they want to know where the parties stand on key telecom and tech issues and discuss those issues with the parties' platform committees. “Understanding where both political parties stand on issues such as protecting privacy online, or ensuring greater broadband access, deployment, and adoption in urban, rural, and tribal areas alike, will be crucial to helping voters make an informed choice on Election Day,” said a Monday letter signed by groups including the Center for Democracy and Technology, Common Cause, Demand Progress, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Free Press and Public Knowledge. “The important internet and technology policy issues we would like to discuss with the platform committees would include: Advancing Universal, Affordable Internet Access Defending a Free and Open Internet Protecting Individuals’ Information and Privacy Online.” Internet access is “essential,” they said: “A free and open internet is an engine of economic growth, healthcare modernization, and social movements and change, and it is crucial that we protect the personal information and rights of all Americans to communicate.” The groups said the RNC was expected to privately meet with tech and telecom lobbyists Monday, and the DNC “will also hold its first forum with testimony in Washington on June 8th and 9th.” The DNC confirms that forum along with others on its website and requests all platform feedback by June 18. Internet Association representatives were expected to be among the attendees of the Monday RNC meeting, a spokesman confirmed. BSA|The Software Alliance was represented at the RNC meeting Monday, a spokeswoman said. An NCTA spokesman declined comment.

Public interest groups told the Republican and Democratic National Committee leaders they want to know where the parties stand on key telecom and tech issues and discuss those issues with the parties' platform committees. “Understanding where both political parties stand on issues such as protecting privacy online, or ensuring greater broadband access, deployment, and adoption in urban, rural, and tribal areas alike, will be crucial to helping voters make an informed choice on Election Day,” said a Monday letter signed by groups including the Center for Democracy and Technology, Common Cause, Demand Progress, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Free Press and Public Knowledge. “The important internet and technology policy issues we would like to discuss with the platform committees would include: Advancing Universal, Affordable Internet Access Defending a Free and Open Internet Protecting Individuals’ Information and Privacy Online.” Internet access is “essential,” they said: “A free and open internet is an engine of economic growth, healthcare modernization, and social movements and change, and it is crucial that we protect the personal information and rights of all Americans to communicate.” The groups said the RNC was expected to privately meet with tech and telecom lobbyists Monday, and the DNC “will also hold its first forum with testimony in Washington on June 8th and 9th.” The DNC confirms that forum along with others on its website and requests all platform feedback by June 18. Internet Association representatives were expected to be among the attendees of the Monday RNC meeting, a spokesman confirmed. BSA|The Software Alliance was represented at the RNC meeting Monday, a spokeswoman said. An NCTA spokesman declined comment.

The FCC is committed to striking the right balance of cost and speed in its upcoming Connect America Fund Phase II reverse auction to spread broadband deployment further into high-cost areas, an FCC official said at the live-streamed Mountain Connect conference in Keystone, Colorado. “We’re dedicated to getting it right,” said Ryan Palmer, chief of the Telecommunications Access Policy Division in the FCC Wireline Bureau. Also, Palmer said top commission priorities this year include special access reform and tribal broadband access.

The government should let the IoT develop, with no need for IoT-specific regulation, CTIA told NTIA, responding to a request for comment on the government's role in encouraging the growth of the IoT (see 1604060030). The FTC counseled NTIA to take into account the benefits of IoT but also the threats, especially to security and consumer privacy. CTA encouraged the government to listen to industry. NTIA hasn't posted comments (see 1606020059), which were due Thursday. NTIA plans to release a green paper with a set of recommendations.

The government should let the IoT develop, with no need for IoT-specific regulation, CTIA told NTIA, responding to a request for comment on the government's role in encouraging the growth of the IoT (see 1604060030). The FTC counseled NTIA to take into account the benefits of IoT but also the threats, especially to security and consumer privacy. CTA encouraged the government to listen to industry. NTIA hasn't posted comments (see 1606020059), which were due Thursday. NTIA plans to release a green paper with a set of recommendations.

The government should let the IoT develop, with no need for IoT-specific regulation, CTIA told NTIA, responding to a request for comment on the government's role in encouraging the growth of the IoT (see 1604060030). The FTC counseled NTIA to take into account the benefits of IoT but also the threats, especially to security and consumer privacy. CTA encouraged the government to listen to industry. NTIA hasn't posted comments (see 1606020059), which were due Thursday. NTIA plans to release a green paper with a set of recommendations.

The FCC approved a Connect America Fund Phase II subsidy auction plan to provide $215 million in annual broadband-oriented support to unsubsidized rural areas traditionally served by larger telcos. At their Wednesday meeting, commissioners voted almost unanimously to adopt an order setting the CAF II auction framework and a Further NPRM to flesh out certain auction specifics, including "weights" for bidders offering different broadband service levels. Commissioner Mike O'Rielly partially dissented on the FNPRM, but even he credited his colleagues with making a fiber-oriented draft item more balanced among technologies: "We are still a long way from home, but at least we're back on course for now."

The FCC approved a Connect America Fund Phase II subsidy auction plan to provide $215 million in annual broadband-oriented support to unsubsidized rural areas traditionally served by larger telcos. At their Wednesday meeting, commissioners voted almost unanimously to adopt an order setting the CAF II auction framework and a Further NPRM to flesh out certain auction specifics, including "weights" for bidders offering different broadband service levels. Commissioner Mike O'Rielly partially dissented on the FNPRM, but even he credited his colleagues with making a fiber-oriented draft item more balanced among technologies: "We are still a long way from home, but at least we're back on course for now."

The FCC has more work to do in promoting broadband adoption after adopting a Lifeline modernization order, said Gigi Sohn, counselor to Chairman Tom Wheeler, Wednesday at the Net Inclusion 2016 gathering in Kansas City, Missouri. Sohn said the order directs the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau to develop a comprehensive digital inclusion plan to help the commission "better understand non-price barriers to broadband adoption" and to propose ways to remove those obstacles. The CGB is also to engage with community-based organizations, local and tribal governments, and industry stakeholders to pursue strategies for promoting broadband adoption through Lifeline and increased digital literacy, she said. The bureau is also tasked with helping broadband ISPs work with schools, libraries, community centers and others that serve low-income consumers, she said. Sohn asked for audience members to help. "Successful broadband adoption programs come from the bottom up, not the top down," she said in prepared remarks. "Trusted community-based organizations and anchor institutions know how best to serve residents most in need of the tools to get connected. We at the FCC will be counting on you and your partners to do one-on-one work with people in your communities to help eligible consumers who don’t have Internet access take advantage of the new Lifeline." A Wireline Bureau public notice asked any carriers with pending Lifeline compliance plan requests or petitions to be a Lifeline-only eligible telecom carrier to affirm in writing by June 7 that they still want bureau review of their applications. The Lifeline order is "part of a much greater accomplishment that I don’t think people rightly appreciate -- largely because it happened so gradually over a span of seven years," said Sohn, referring to FCC moves to shift various USF voice mechanisms to broadband support. "With the modernization of the FCC’s universal service programs -- notably Lifeline -- we are in a stronger position to bridge the digital opportunity gaps in the years ahead. If we seize this opportunity and do the day-to-day work to get people connected, we will look up in a few years and there will be millions more Americans enjoying the benefits of high-speed Internet -- for employment, for education, for entertainment, for health care, for civic engagement, for a better quality of life. Now that’s very gradual change we can believe in."

The FCC has more work to do in promoting broadband adoption after adopting a Lifeline modernization order, said Gigi Sohn, counselor to Chairman Tom Wheeler, Wednesday at the Net Inclusion 2016 gathering in Kansas City, Missouri. Sohn said the order directs the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau to develop a comprehensive digital inclusion plan to help the commission "better understand non-price barriers to broadband adoption" and to propose ways to remove those obstacles. The CGB is also to engage with community-based organizations, local and tribal governments, and industry stakeholders to pursue strategies for promoting broadband adoption through Lifeline and increased digital literacy, she said. The bureau is also tasked with helping broadband ISPs work with schools, libraries, community centers and others that serve low-income consumers, she said. Sohn asked for audience members to help. "Successful broadband adoption programs come from the bottom up, not the top down," she said in prepared remarks. "Trusted community-based organizations and anchor institutions know how best to serve residents most in need of the tools to get connected. We at the FCC will be counting on you and your partners to do one-on-one work with people in your communities to help eligible consumers who don’t have Internet access take advantage of the new Lifeline." A Wireline Bureau public notice asked any carriers with pending Lifeline compliance plan requests or petitions to be a Lifeline-only eligible telecom carrier to affirm in writing by June 7 that they still want bureau review of their applications. The Lifeline order is "part of a much greater accomplishment that I don’t think people rightly appreciate -- largely because it happened so gradually over a span of seven years," said Sohn, referring to FCC moves to shift various USF voice mechanisms to broadband support. "With the modernization of the FCC’s universal service programs -- notably Lifeline -- we are in a stronger position to bridge the digital opportunity gaps in the years ahead. If we seize this opportunity and do the day-to-day work to get people connected, we will look up in a few years and there will be millions more Americans enjoying the benefits of high-speed Internet -- for employment, for education, for entertainment, for health care, for civic engagement, for a better quality of life. Now that’s very gradual change we can believe in."