Glenn Richards

I am so happy to see the Federal Communications Commission's new poles process is in effect. INCOMPAS and its members support this effort to bring affordable, competitive broadband to everyone in the U.S. Below is the new landing page the FCC published. It states: The Commission is unwaveringly committed to ensuring that there is meaningful, nationwide access to broadband, which has become a necessity of modern life. Consumers depend on fixed and mobile broadband networks for work, healthcare services, education, and social activities. Through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Pub. L. No. 117-58, 135 Stat. 429 (2021), among other federal and state programs, more funding than ever is available to build the necessary infrastructure to bring much-needed broadband services to unserved and underserved areas in the United States. Key to these broadband projects are the utility poles that support the wires and the wireless equipment carrying broadband to American homes and businesses. In December 2023, the Commission took steps to speed broadband deployment by making the pole attachment process faster, more transparent, and more cost effective.  See Accelerating Wireline Broadband Deployment by Removing Barriers to Infrastructure Investment, WC Docket No. 17-84, FCC 23-109 (rel. Dec. 15, 2023). Among those measures was establishment of the Rapid Broadband Assessment Team (RBAT)—an intra-agency group with expertise in the Commission’s pole attachment rules and orders under 47 U.S.C. § 224. The RBAT’s mandate is to “prioritize and expedite the resolution of pole attachment disputes that are alleged to impede or delay the deployment of broadband facilities and to provide coordinated review and assessment of such disputes.”  See 47 CFR § 1.1415. Specifically, the RBAT expedites the resolution of disputes by swiftly engaging key stakeholders, gathering relevant information, and distilling issues in dispute. The RBAT provides guidance and advice to the parties on the most effective means of resolving their dispute, including RBAT-supervised mediation. The RBAT also has discretion to decide whether a complaint (or portion of a complaint) is suitable for inclusion on the Commission’s Accelerated Docket based on consideration of specified criteria. Parties seeking to request RBAT review and assessment of a pole attachment dispute that is impeding or delaying the deployment of a broadband facilities project should first contact the Chief of the Enforcement Bureau’s Market Disputes Resolution Division (MDRD) by phone (202.418.7330) and in writing ([email protected]). The MDRD Chief will then direct the party to instructions for completing and submitting FCC Form 5653 (FCC-5653 Request for Review and Assessment Form). Rapid Broadband Assessment Team (RBAT) Review and Assessment | Federal Communications Commission (fcc.gov)

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The Supreme Court ruled on the highly anticipated case, NetChoice v. Moody, that could impact the future of social media regulation and online free speech. How did the court rule, and what will it mean for content moderation and other efforts to regulate social media, such as efforts to ban or restrict use by children? I discuss on the latest episode of The Dynamist with Daphne Keller of the Stanford University Cyber Policy Center. Listen here: https://lnkd.in/e73wZ2Wz

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FCC Chairwoman just sent a letter to nine carriers asking them what they're doing about deepfakes. Going to point that finger right back at the Federal Communications Commission here. What are YOU folks doing about it? The carriers need clear guidance. The last few years the Commission has "passed the baton" to the carriers- but they've mostly abused their power and run amock in an unlawful speech licensing scheme. They're blocking good traffic and allowing bad. And I assume it's because of a lack of standards. Heck theyve even allowed a foreign-owned company to force politicians and businesses to register their speech as a prior restraint. (Hey, how've you been The Campaign Registry?) So many anti-trust problems with that, not to mention the free speech ones. Don't want to be ranty here, but peppering the carriers with letters and requests isn't regulating and it isnt helping. The Commission needs to being the carriers in line with their illegal call blocking and labeling campaigns, but also HELP them with clear regulations. If you need help give us a call. We'll do it for free, just like we do for Responsible Enterprises Against Consumer Harassment (R.E.A.C.H) Much love. #tcpa #ai #deepfakes #carriers #callblocking #freespeech #firstamendment #censorship #deservetowin

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FCC Chairwoman just sent a letter to nine carriers asking them what they're doing about deepfakes. Going to point that finger right back at the Federal Communications Commission here. What are YOU folks doing about it? The carriers need clear guidance. The last few years the Commission has "passed the baton" to the carriers- but they've mostly abused their power and run amock in an unlawful speech licensing scheme. They're blocking good traffic and allowing bad. And I assume it's because of a lack of standards. Heck theyve even allowed a foreign-owned company to force politicians and businesses to register their speech as a prior restraint. (Hey, how've you been The Campaign Registry?) So many anti-trust problems with that, not to mention the free speech ones. Don't want to be ranty here, but peppering the carriers with letters and requests isn't regulating and it isnt helping. The Commission needs to being the carriers in line with their illegal call blocking and labeling campaigns, but also HELP them with clear regulations. If you need help give us a call. We'll do it for free, just like we do for Responsible Enterprises Against Consumer Harassment (R.E.A.C.H) Much love. #tcpa #ai #deepfakes #carriers #callblocking #freespeech #firstamendment #censorship #deservetowin

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A great read on recent M&A deals. The featured slideshow details activity in the technology sphere, including the acquisition of Infocenter by Arizona-based value-added reseller (VAR) and managed services provider (MSP) Insight Enterprises, as well as the merger between Windstream and Uniti Group. #Technology #Mergers #Acquisitions

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Don't forget your economic development message when developing serious #fiber and #telecom projects. In this link, the USDA touts the economic power of high speed internet for farms. This message helps establish political capital for the major investment the USDA makes in rural broadband expansion. This same strategy will prove to be vital on the private side in what I see as a great expansion in fiber to meet (a) the connectivity demands of high powered data centers and (b) the country's goals of ubiquitous high speed internet access. In many cases, political capital will be necessary due to the major disruptions or changes to the way states and local governments coordinate fiber projects. #infrastructure #governmentrelations #broadband #datacenters #AI

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Compete or Non-Compete In the USA, Democratic Party appointed majority members of FTC ban non_compete agreements for many Americans. However buiness is not happy wirh the decision and will start legal battle that would delay change. In Türkiye, even tough non-compete agreement is allowed, it is not widely used and also the law restricts the application in many cases. There are huge competition law discussion as well with many recent decisions of authorities in many jurisdictions. It seems non-compete agreements will continue to be one of the hot topic this year. https://lnkd.in/d9guBjtu

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Judge David Tatel’s new memoir, Vision: A Memoir of Blindness and Justice, recalls his remarkable legal career. In this episode, Judge Tatel joins Jeffrey Rosen to discuss his experience as a civil rights lawyer, landmark cases he presided over as a federal judge, the challenges his blindness posed, and how he overcame them. Listen: https://ow.ly/rQWR50SFHEj

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