#FCC broadband map

[robpegoraro]

Weekly output: OpenAI-enhanced customer support, fixed-wireless upgrades, MLS Season Pass, app-store competition report, FCC broadband map, Matter, Next Level Networks, Twitter offer to creators

I blew off work Friday to do something I hadn’t done in four years: go downhill skiing. Slope conditions were not awesome and I had snow guns blowing in my face most of the time, but it still easily beat spending those hours in a warm, dry home office. 1/31/2023: Can OpenAI Tools Help Customer Service Reps Sound More Human?, PCMag The PR folks for Intercom gave me an advance on their news about…

[mostlysignssomeportents]

This day in history

#20yrsago Steven Levy on Trusted Computing https://web.archive.org/web/20031212101452/http://www.msnbc.com/news/998345.asp

#20yrsago London tube map, remixed https://memex.craphound.com/2003/12/11/london-tube-map-remixed/

#20yrsago Transformation from the Internet as a subset of telecom to telecom as a subset of the Internet https://web.archive.org/web/20040202211357/https://werbach.com/blog/2003/12/11.html#a1334

#15yrsago FCC commissioner: Warcraft is a “leading cause” of college dropouts https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/fcc-blames-world-of-warcraft-for-college-dropouts/

#15yrsago Carl Malamud, rogue archivist, in Wired https://www.wired.com/2008/12/online-rebel-publishes-millions-of-dollars-in-u-s-court-records-for-free/

#15yrsago Apple gets into the book-banning business https://mikecane2008.wordpress.com/2008/08/26/apple-forfeits-ebooks-by-banning-a-comic-book/

#15yrsago MPAA to Obama: censor the Internet, kick people off the Internet, break other countries’ Internet https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/12/mpaa-obama

#15yrsago Mexico to fingerprint mobile-phone owners https://web.archive.org/web/20081218201523/https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hbIC6ZYe2A2fSIe1q-1dnh4TphiwD94VK6K81

#15yrsago Last days of an NYC library https://www.drivenbyboredom.com/2008/12/11/the-donnell-library-center-a-eulogy-in-pictures/

#15yrsago UK culture secretary: “Screw the facts, I’m extending copyright anyway” https://www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/screw-the-evidence-says-burnham-lets-extend-copyright-term-anyway/

#10yrsago DHS stops NYT reporters at border, lies about it https://www.techdirt.com/2013/12/10/dhs-interrogates-ny-times-reporters-border-then-denies-having-any-records-about-them/

#10yrsago Little Brother stageplay now available for local performances https://littlebrotherlive.wordpress.com/2013/12/09/lets-get-little-brother-back-on-stage/

#10yrsago Potty with built-in tablet holder is “worst toy of 2013” https://web.archive.org/web/20151016182213/https://reasonsmysoniscrying.com/post/69503973203/this-was-just-named-the-worst-toy-of-2013-and-the

#10yrsago KC cop threatened to destroy home and kill pets unless he was allowed to conduct a warrantless search https://fox4kc.com/news/man-says-police-officer-threatened-to-kill-his-dogs/

#10yrsago Satanists offer “good taste” monument to complement Oklahoma Capitol’s Ten Commandments monument https://tulsaworld.com/news/government/satanists-seek-spot-on-oklahoma-statehouse-steps-next-to-ten/article_d7a11ac2-60dc-11e3-ac3b-0019bb30f31a.html

#10yrsago Why haunted houses have suits of armor https://longforgottenhauntedmansion.blogspot.com/2013/12/armor-gettin.html

#5yrsago Verizon writes down its Yahoo/AOL assets by $4.6 billion https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-12-11/verizon-writes-down-4-6-billion-of-value-of-aol-yahoo-business

#5yrsago Small Massachusetts town decides to spend $1.4m building its own fiber, rather than paying Comcast $500K for shitty broadband https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/12/comcast-rejected-by-small-town-residents-vote-for-municipal-fiber-instead/

#5yrsago Shitty Tumblr pornbot inception https://memex.craphound.com/2018/12/11/shitty-tumblr-pornbot-inception/

#5yrsago Surveillance libraries in common smartphone apps have amassed dossiers on the minute-to-minute movements of 200 million+ Americans https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/12/10/business/location-data-privacy-apps.html

#5yrsago Congressional Republicans say Equifax breach was “entirely preventable,” blames “aggressive growth strategy” but reject measures to prevent future breaches https://thehill.com/policy/technology/420582-house-panel-issues-scathing-report-on-entirely-preventable-equifax-data/

#5yrsago The EU says it wants Europeans to engage with it: now that 4 MILLION of them have opposed mass censorship through #Article13, will they listen? https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/12/four-million-europeans-signatures-opposing-article-13-have-been-delivered-european

#1yrago Plato Would Ban Ad-Blockers https://pluralistic.net/2022/12/11/plato-would-ban-ad-blockers/

[babblingfishes]

So your internet is supposed to be fast but instead it is terrible, and you want to file a complaint about it.

SOME NOTES BEFORE WE BEGIN:

This is a guide to filing a free informal complaint to the United States FCC. I am not a lawyer. I am a nerd. This is NOT a guide to filing a formal complaint.

This guide is not for your average internet problems. There are a lot of reasons internet can be slow: a bad router or modem, wifi interference from neighbors with overpowered routers (try an ethernet cable!), your microwave getting in the way of the wifi signal (ethernet cable!), your Amazon Alexa eating up bandwidth sending everything you say to Amazon, your roommate binging Netflix on their terrifying 4K smart TV... Make sure the problem is coming from outside the home. Specifically coming from your internet service provider.

Contact your provider directly first. They do typically want their service to work. If they keep blowing you off, that's when you get out the paperwork.

Make sure you know the download and upload speeds you are paying for. (Yes, even if it officially only says "up to". If it is "up to 500 mbps" and you are getting 1 mbps that is a major issue.) These will typically be listed when you log onto your account on the ISP's website. You could probably also call and ask customer service, or even visit their office in person if you are scary and I'm afraid of you.

We'll begin our journey at the FCC Broadband Map

This is a government website that lists, for every address in the US, which internet providers are available, what kind of connection they use, and the maximum download and upload speeds they offer.

This is an excellent resource that I highly recommend checking when house/apartment-hunting, especially if you expect internet service to be part of your bills. It's not always 100% accurate, but it is an official record, so if you're getting less than you're paying for you have grounds to challenge it.

If your ISP's stats here are total ass (for example, if they use antique copper wiring that can handle a max 0.2 mbps upload speed) you'll probably be better off switching providers. Even the cheapest fiber or cable plans are going to be faster, better maintained, and more reliable than satellite or copper.

(Sorry, I got really distracted here because I was wondering who the fuck "Space Exploration Technologies Corp." is, offering high-speed satellite to the middle of nowhere. It's Musk. It's Musk and his telescope-ruining yacht-internet. Anyway.)

If your ISP looks good here, and your connection is still hot garbage, it's time to bother them about it.

Gathering data for the complaint

I approach this as a combination bug report and legal case. You'll want to be as detailed as possible. If your ISP doesn't think there's a problem, then they also probably don't know what the problem is, so the more evidence you can supply the easier it'll be to fix. Also, unhappy customer with lots of evidence is VERY scary.

If you get no internet at all, then there's not much data to gather. Just do your best to estimate what time(s) the internet went out and for how long. You might take screenshots of your lack of internet beside your computer clock, or your router's connection status page.

If your internet is only bad during part of the day, take note of when that is. Try to test it when it's working AND when it's not. Take screenshots of the results with your computer time/date visible. Remember that you'll get the most accurate reading when your computer is the only one using the network.

Your biggest tool will be speed tests. If you're here you have probably used this a lot by now. The classic speed test that most people use is Ookla's Speedtest.net. Some ISPs even use it themselves. I've heard claims that providers pump up your speeds to this site to pass these tests, but typically if your connection is that bad, it'll show anyway. (Mine sure did.)

If you don't like Ookla's speed test, Fast.com is another popular speed test by Netflix (make sure you press "show more info" to get the upload speed). There's others out there too, but imo the more mainstream the better if you're trying to back up a legal complaint.

Another, less common thing you can check for is packet loss -- this is when the information your computer sends or receives gets lost in transit (which is bad). This can result in a connection that is both weird and slow, sites loading halfway and proceeding to shit themselves, voice calls connecting but being unusable, etc. Here's a handy HowToGeek article on how to test for it. (Although instead of a random website url I highly recommend using a DNS server like 8.8.8.8 -- this is Google's DNS server which should be extremely fast to respond.) Typically packet loss should be less than 5%. More than than 10% is Bad.

You may also want to keep note of interactions you've had with your ISP if relevant (for example, if their happy-helpful-official-web-chat-support guy told you this was all because of an outage they expected to have fixed by June 1st, and every time you ask them about it, they just keep pushing it back). If your ISP is mega-evil and you think you might end up Actually Suing Them or something, make sure you have copies of bills, documentation of the speeds you are paying for, etc.

Locate that informal complaint page baybeeeee

The FCC's site for formal and informal complaints is here. I recommend reading some of their FAQ's and stuff.

You will want an informal internet complaint, which is free to file. That form is currently here.

Now write the complaint

Again, there's a good chance your ISP doesn't actually Think There's A Problem, let alone Know What The Problem Is, so you'll want to be detailed and to the point.

Pinpoint when the problem started to the best of your ability ("sometime between November 12-13" is fine if that's all you recall). If your connection is only bad sometimes, you'll want to specify when. Explain what rates you are paying for and what happened when you called the company. Be reasonably polite. We are presenting only facts here.

I also like to emphasize the problems this is causing, especially if they can be phrased as common things that a Scary Businessman would expect from the internet, and *especially* if they are things that could be interpreted as losing money. "This is unacceptable because I am completely unable to attend voice calls and video meetings" is a great one. "This prevents me from accessing the tools and videos on my employer's website" is also fun. This reminds your ISP of capitalism and lawsuits, which will give them scary nightmares.

Don't forget to add your screenshots of tests and any other useful attachments.

I suggest keeping a copy of the complaint and everything you attached to it for your own reference as well.

Note: that you will be contacted by your ISP about this! They are required to contact you within 30 days. They will send you a written response and might call as well for more info. Don't freak out.

Ideally this will at least get you in touch with someone in charge of Why Your Internet Isn't Working instead of a random call center employee. Plus the FCC is there to be menacing, now. Good luck!

[cableandinternetinsight]

Finding the Internet Provider with the Best Customer Satisfaction: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

In the digital age, having reliable and fast internet access is a necessity. Whether for work, entertainment, or communication, the right internet service provider (ISP) can make a significant difference. However, with numerous providers vying for your attention, identifying the one that offers the best customer satisfaction can be a daunting task. In this guide, we’ll explore key factors to help you identify an ISP that meets your needs and is backed by strong customer satisfaction.

1. Read Customer Reviews and RatingsOne of the most straightforward ways to gauge customer satisfaction with an internet provider is by reading reviews and checking ratings. Websites like Trustpilot, Yelp, and Google Reviews provide valuable insight into the experiences of actual customers. You’ll find feedback on speed, reliability, customer service, and pricing. Make sure to look for trends in the reviews, as consistent complaints or praises can reveal the provider's strengths and weaknesses.

2. Look for Independent Customer Satisfaction SurveysAnother useful tool for determining the best ISP for customer satisfaction is independent surveys. Organizations like J.D. Power conduct annual surveys that rank ISPs based on their performance in areas like billing, customer service, reliability, and overall experience. These surveys often provide a comprehensive view of how well ISPs perform regionally and nationally, helping you pinpoint which providers consistently rank high in customer satisfaction.

3. Analyze Service Availability and Network PerformanceNo matter how positive the reviews are, it’s important to ensure the internet provider offers service in your area. Even the best-rated ISPs might not perform well in certain locations due to factors like outdated infrastructure or limited network capabilities. Look for providers that invest in advanced technologies such as fiber-optic networks, which tend to deliver faster and more reliable internet connections. Additionally, tools like Ookla's Speedtest or the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) broadband map can help you verify the actual speeds available in your area.

4. Examine Customer Support OptionsA provider's customer support can greatly impact your satisfaction. Look for ISPs that offer multiple channels of customer support, including phone, chat, and email. Availability of 24/7 customer support is a plus, ensuring you can reach help whenever you need it. Providers that have self-service portals or apps for troubleshooting are also convenient. Reading about the experiences of others with customer service can reveal how responsive and helpful an ISP truly is.

5. Investigate Contract Terms and Hidden FeesContract terms and hidden fees can also play a major role in customer satisfaction. Some internet providers may offer attractive introductory rates that later increase substantially. Others might impose data caps, overage fees, or require long-term contracts with hefty early termination fees. Carefully review the terms and conditions before signing up, and make sure you understand any potential costs that could affect your long-term satisfaction.

6. Pay Attention to Customer Loyalty Programs and IncentivesSome ISPs offer loyalty programs or incentives that enhance customer satisfaction. These programs might include rewards for long-term customers, discounts on additional services, or freebies such as free streaming subscriptions. While these perks may not be a decisive factor, they can add to the overall satisfaction and help differentiate between similarly rated providers.

Conclusion

Identifying the internet provider with the best customer satisfaction requires research and careful consideration of various factors. From customer reviews and independent surveys to network performance and customer support, every aspect matters when making an informed decision. By following these guidelines, you’ll be better equipped to choose an ISP that not only meets your technical needs but also provides a positive customer experience.

[bikerpoliticalreport]

Biden to Announce $42 Billion Broadband Plan

   President Joe Biden is expected to announce Monday his administration’s plans to distribute billions of dollars appropriated by Congress to deliver the internet to every household and small business in the United States.

   Likening the push for universal connectivity to the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, when the federal government installed the electric utility lines that brought light to the countryside all across the U.S., White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients said access to high-speed internet is as imperative to day-to-day life as electricity.

   “We all know how difficult life is when the electricity goes down after a storm or for other reasons,” Zients said on a Friday call with reporters to preview the announcement. “For millions of Americans in rural communities, in particular, the internet is down a lot. Sometimes there’s not even any access.”

   The amount each state, territory, and Washington, D.C., will receive from the $42.5 billion program depends primarily on the number of unserved locations in each jurisdiction or those locations that lack access to internet speeds of at least 25 megabits per second download and 3 Mbps upload.

   Download speeds involve retrieving information from the internet, including streaming movies and TV. Upload speeds determine how fast information travels from a computer to the internet, like sending emails or publishing photos online.

   More than 7% of the country falls under the underserved category, according to maps recently completed by the Federal Communications Commission to set the course for the massive undertaking.

   Congress approved the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program, or BEAD, along with several other internet expansion initiatives, through the infrastructure bill the Democratic president signed in 2021.

  Earlier this month, the Commerce Department announced winners of middle mile grants, which will fund projects that build the midsection of the infrastructure necessary to extend internet access to every corner of the country.

   States will have until the end of the year to submit initial proposals outlining how they plan to use the money, which won’t begin to be distributed until those plans are approved. Once the Commerce Department signs off on those plans, states can begin awarding grants to telecommunications companies, electric cooperatives, and other broadband providers to build infrastructure that links homes and small businesses to the Internet.

   Under the rules of the program, states must prioritize connecting predominantly unserved areas before bolstering service in underserved areas, or those without access to internet speeds of 100 Mbps/20 Mbps, and community anchor institutions, such as schools and libraries.

   Hinging the distribution of the nation’s largest-ever federal investment in FCC data has been somewhat controversial. Members of Congress pressed FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel about inaccuracies they said would negatively impact rural states’ allotments in particular, and state broadband officials were concerned about the short timeline to correct discrepancies in the first version of the map.

   The second version of the map, which was released at the end of May and used for allotments, reflects the net addition of 1 million locations, updated data from internet service providers, and the results of more than 3 million public challenges, Rosenworcel, who in the past has been a critic of how the FCC’s maps were developed, said in a May statement.

   Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.

[reasoningdaily]

Ars Technica: ISP admits lying to FCC about size of network to block funding to rivals

Ryan Grewell, who runs a small wireless Internet service provider in Ohio, last month received an email that confirmed some of his worst suspicions about cable companies.

Grewell, founder and general manager of Smart Way Communications, had heard from some of his customers that the Federal Communications Commission's new broadband map falsely claimed fiber Internet service was available at their homes from another company called Jefferson County Cable. Those customer reports spurred Grewell to submit a number of challenges to the FCC in an attempt to correct errors in Smart Way's service area.

One of Grewell's challenges elicited a response from Jefferson County Cable executive Bob Loveridge, who apparently thought Grewell was a resident at the challenged address rather than a competitor.

"You challenged that we do not have service at your residence and indeed we don't today," Loveridge wrote in a January 9 email that Grewell shared with Ars. "With our huge investment in upgrading our service to provide xgpon we reported to the BDC [Broadband Data Collection] that we have service at your residence so that they would not allocate addition [sic] broadband expansion money over [the] top of our private investment in our plant."

The email is reminiscent of our November 2022 article about a cable company accidentally telling a rival about its plan to block government grants to competitors.

Speaking to Ars in a phone interview, Grewell said, "This cable company happened to just say the quiet part out loud." He called it "a blatant attempt at blocking anyone else from getting funding in an area they intend to serve."

It's not clear when Jefferson County Cable plans to serve the area. Program rules do not allow ISPs to claim future coverage in their map submissions.

Jefferson County Cable ultimately admitted to the FCC that it filed incorrect data and was required to submit a correction. The challenge that the ISP conceded was for an address on State Route 43 in Bergholz, Ohio. The town is not one of the coverage areas listed on Jefferson County Cable's website.

While checking the FCC broadband map today, we confirmed that the address is no longer listed as having Jefferson County Cable service. But that one fix alone wouldn't prevent the company's grant-blocking strategy from working, because the FCC map still lists the company as serving the address right next door and others on the same road.

False data hurts ISPs seeking grants

False broadband data could hurt Smart Way directly because the ISP plans to apply for grants to upgrade its network. There have been over a million challenges submitted to the FCC nationwide, and it's unknown how many mistakes are on the map overall.

The new FCC map is supposed to show exactly which homes and businesses have access to Internet service and what types of service are available at each address. Using that data, the US government and states will decide how to allocate federal funding to projects that fill in broadband-availability gaps.

But the maps rely on Internet service providers to report where they offer service and are rife with errors that show ISPs claiming to serve more homes than they actually do. Nevada officials said they found more than 20,000 mistakes in their state alone. Vermont officials said the map is "missing or incorrectly lists the location of over 60,000 broadband-serviceable locations" and "lists service availability levels far beyond what the state has found through its mapping and what we are hearing about from residents."

If you'd like to submit challenges, you can search for reported broadband availability at specific addresses here and use that page to file challenges. In addition to the individual submissions, state governments and broadband-focused groups have been submitting bulk challenges.

Grewell said he submitted about a dozen challenges in late November, most of which pertained to addresses purportedly served by Jefferson County Cable. He said he filed the "challenges in areas that I knew there was no fiber-to-the-home whatsoever."

We haven't received a response to requests for comment from Loveridge or Jefferson County Cable. But Jefferson County Cable withdrew its coverage claim at the one address referenced in Loveridge's email after Grewell's challenge.

"The provider subject to your challenge has conceded the challenge and is required to submit a correction for the challenged location in the online portal within 30 days," the FCC told Grewell in an email notification on January 12.

Despite that one success, Grewell told us yesterday that he hasn't received responses for any of the other addresses he challenged. The successful challenge at one address also didn't trigger map updates to nearby homes, as previously mentioned.

[newswireml]

Gaps in broadband access is backdrop to Sohn’s FCC nomination fight #Gaps #broadband #access #backdrop #Sohns #FCC #nomination #fight

“Multiple reports have found that ISPs, big and small, provided false data to the FCC’s maps in an anti-competitive effort to block rival companies from getting a share of the $42.5 billion this committee provided for broadband,” Lujan said, referring to internet service providers.  Economic inequality Tens of millions of Americans lack broadband access, a gap that the 2021 law was meant to fill…

[mariacallous]

After the longest election for Speaker of the House since 1859, Congressman Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has finally taken the helm of a slim Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, potentially heralding a new era for congressional action on technology policy. With a White House and Senate under Democratic control, passing sweeping legislation may be a challenge for the GOP, but it’s likely that they will apply pressure on the current and forthcoming tech policy goals of the Biden-Harris administration.

Regarding the latter, President Biden recently published a rare op-ed in The Wall Street Journal calling for “bipartisan action from Congress to hold Big Tech accountable”—perhaps one issue where there appears to be some consensus. Partisan differences may lie in how Republicans are likely to use their new power over several House committees to ramp up oversight of recent government investments in infrastructure and their long-standing call for a more accurate broadband coverage map generated by the split-vote Federal Communications Commission (FCC). McCarthy has also signaled heightened interest in global supply chain issues related to China as evidenced by a newly formed House committee that plans to investigate competition, as well as supply chain resilience and sustainability.

These factors provide some insight into what to expect in the 118th Congress, particularly in the areas of big tech accountability, broadband infrastructure, relations with China, and the global supply chain.

Big Tech Accountability

As the Biden administration gets tougher on antitrust and conservative politicians continue to allege liberal bias in social media platforms’ content moderation, cracking down on big tech companies may be a course toward more bipartisanship around tech regulation. President Biden’s recent op-ed also called for expeditious privacy protections to limit the collection of sensitive data with a total prohibition on targeted advertising to children. In line with his grand plan for stronger antitrust and competition policies, the president reiterated his interest in leveling the “playing field” in the tech sector, echoing his administration’s play toward stricter scrutiny over the review and approval of mergers and acquisitions like Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision.

President Biden’s op-ed also dived into the need for actionable reform of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which both insulates online platforms from liability for their users’ posts while reinforcing their right to moderate that content. Not since former President Trump has the White House opined on this issue; at the time, two commissioners objected to Trump’s direction to the FCC to initiate a rulemaking proceeding without appropriate authority, which was never implemented. How Biden proceeds may finally encourage some movement among congressional Democrats, but his efforts may still be stalled by House GOP members.

Broadband

To date, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) at the U.S. Department of Commerce has distributed initial planning funds for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, a broadband expansion initiative created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s (IIJA) which allocated $65 billion to close the digital divide. Separately, the FCC has been updating the national broadband maps and adjusting to the congressional timeline that seeks updated maps to guide the appropriate allocations of BEAD funding. But members of the 118th Congress have started to lodge concerns around the accuracy of the FCC maps and, earlier this month, Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) sent a joint letter to the Commission urging additional actions. Further, Republicans have expressed frustration with the Biden administration on its big spending, and efforts are underway by the House majority to examine the spending and oversight of the IIJA’s broadband investments. Under Speaker McCarthy, the House will further scrutinize broadband expenditures, as well as the FCC’s coverage maps.

Despite Republicans’ concerns with the current administration’s spending, closing the digital divide should be an area of opportunity for bipartisan action, especially since many Republicans have constituents in severely underserved rural areas. In September 2020, the Senate Republican Policy Committee published a policy paper outlining Republican efforts to close the digital divide and improve the accuracy of FCC broadband availability data. In September 2022, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) called for more coordination between tribal, state, and federal governments to expand broadband access in native communities. Although Democrats and Republicans differ on approaches to greater broadband deployment and digital inclusion activities, there should be consensus in this area due to its national import.

China

Interestingly, one area where lawmakers have already coalesced is around the U.S.’s stance on China. Speaker McCarthy secured a bipartisan victory to form the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party. The committee has been authorized to investigate and submit policy recommendations concerning the status of the economic, technological, and security progress of China. Congressman Mike Gallagher (R-WI) will chair the new committee, comprised of nine Republicans and seven Democrats, pending assignments. In a joint op-ed with Speaker McCarthy, Rep. Gallagher wrote that the committee would focus chiefly on concerns of supply chains, economic dependence, defense, and data privacy. While these powers are largely investigative rather than legislative, the bipartisan move signals that the 118th Congress may have the political capital required to escalate the intensifying power competition between the U.S. and China.

Legislatively, the focus on advancing U.S. technology leadership may turn out to be a prominent focus of this Congress. In the 117th Congress, lawmakers passed the CHIPS and Science Act (CHIPS) with bipartisan support, providing monies for research and development for advanced technologies. Notably, these initiatives were designed to provide unique opportunities for rural America and economically marginalized communities to fully participate in the changing economy. The new Congress may opt to build on this momentum and ensure robust appropriations of the CHIPS Act, while also seeking out emerging investment opportunities that strengthen global competitiveness. Accordingly, an important question for this Congress will be whether the House GOP will search for legislative cooperation to further the U.S.-China great power competition or leverage the investigative and attention-grabbing nature of the new select committee on China. Regardless, how Congress and President Biden position U.S.-China relations will be an animating policy issue in 2023.

Although bipartisanship exists around the new select committee, it’s worth noting that lawmakers like Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA) hope that this effort does not contribute to the xenophobia discriminating against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) populations, who are likely to be villainized as Chinese business practices are further scrutinized. Going forward, it remains to be seen how both parties will make the interrogation of Chinese business practices constructive to deliver substantive policies that strengthen the U.S. economy.

Global Supply Chain

Over the past few years, global supply chains buckled under pressure from the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical crises such as the war in Ukraine, and even an avian flu. While the worst of this crisis may be behind us, supply chains have yet to fully stabilize, emphasizing the need for increased resiliency and sustainability—points that will be brought in the new Select Committee on China. In September 2022, Speaker McCarthy also published a suite of policy proposals from the GOP Jobs & the Economy Task Force, which may forecast the steps that the House, under his leadership, will take to secure U.S. supply chains, including technology. The report emphasizes U.S. dependence on foreign nations for energy resources and critical minerals, calling for tax deductions for “mining, reclaiming, or recycling of critical minerals and metals from the United States” and decrying President Biden’s easing of oil restrictions on Venezuela as “unacceptable.” A consistent theme throughout the task force’s proposals is that of cutting red tape, whether loosening the SEC’s climate regulations or lifting restrictions on infrastructure projects and truck deliveries, which likely previews the strategy the GOP will adopt for confronting the supply chain crisis.

5G

The future of 5G technology may be another critical policy area that the new Congress will likely focus on. Some analysts expected this issue to make an appearance in Congress’s omnibus spending bill last month, but it largely went unaddressed. One exception is the FCC’s authority to hold spectrum auctions, which was afforded a brief extension through March 9, 2023. However, how these auctions will be managed for 5G is still an open question. The American wireless industry has been lobbying lawmakers to reserve spectrum bands between 3.1GHz and 3.45GHz to be auctioned for 5G use under exclusive licenses. This proposal has been met with opposition from the military, which uses that band to operate radar operations. Where Congress falls in support of the reallocation of government spectrum, especially from the U.S. Department of Defense, will drive how this issue lands on the full list of other priorities of Democratic and Republican leaders.

While these and other policy considerations are likely to percolate on Capitol Hill, numerous congressional leadership positions have been filled. New committee chairs on tech-related issues include Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), who will chair the Energy and Commerce Committee, overseeing healthcare, energy, and technology policy. Within a few days of assuming the new role, the House passed her Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act, which would block the sale of crude oil from the SPR to China. The powerful Appropriations Committee will be chaired by Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX) whose implementation of McCarthy’s planned cuts to government expenditures could affect continued investment in broadband infrastructure. Another key leadership announcement was the renomination of Gigi Sohn to the FCC to break the current 2-2 deadlock, which has stalled movement on key Biden initiatives at the agency. The lack of a Democratic majority has also limited the ability of the FCC Chair, Jessica Rosenworcel, to codify her legacy while advancing the goals of expanded broadband infrastructure under the IIJA. Sohn’s name has been floated by the Biden administration for the last two years, but with a majority Senate, she may face fewer obstacles to a formal appointment.

Biden’s recent op-ed appears to be an attempt to throw out several “white flags” to build consensus around his tech policy agenda items. But Republican leaders in the House are thinking otherwise when it comes to what his administration started, and Speaker McCarthy faces the challenge of appealing to the concerns of the Freedom Caucus in his new role. With two years left in the White House, President Biden may have to choose a couple of areas to impact while relying on his Senate majority to secure his legacy through political appointments.

[lakelandg]

Floridians are Encouraged to Submit Internet Access Data by Friday Jan. 13

Floridians are Encouraged to Submit Internet Access Data by Friday Jan. 13

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity needs PCPS parents to verify their access to broadband internet by this Friday, Jan. 13th. The FCC map is used to determine funding given to various Florida entities to increase broadband internet access to communities. Floridians are encouraged to visit the FCC National Broadband Map and enter their home or business address to view a summary of the…

[robpegoraro]

Weekly output: FCC updates broadband map, Meta vs. California link-tax bill, passkeys, Mark Vena podcast

A holiday-shortened week got a little shorter with an overnight trip to New York for a press-preview event put on by the people behind the IFA trade show that’s brought me to Berlin since 2012. In addition to the posts below, Patreon readers got a bonus: my thoughts on note-taking alternatives to a significantly more expensive Evernote. 5/30/2023: FCC Updates Broadband Map With New ISP Data,…

[mostlysignssomeportents]

This day in history

#15yrsago God Save Stan Lee tee https://memex.craphound.com/2008/01/24/god-save-stan-lee-tee/

#15yrsago FBI whistleblower tells librarians about discriminatory practices and bad procedure at the Bureau https://web.archive.org/web/20080127183738/http://alfocus.ala.org/videos/fbi-whistleblower-answers-questions

#10yrsago Tim Wu: “Escape From Tomorrow” doesn’t violate Disney’s copyright https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/its-a-mad-mad-mad-mad-disney-world

#5yrsago EU fines Qualcomm over $1 billion for anti-competitive iPhone deal https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_18_421

#5yrsago The NSA’s new “core values” statement no longer includes “honor,” “honesty” or “openness” https://theintercept.com/2018/01/24/nsa-core-values-honesty-deleted/

#5yrsago For 100 minutes, more than a million tuned into Sanders’ Medicare for All town hall https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2018/01/24/bernie-sanders-talks-universal-medicare-and-1-1-million-people-click-to-watch-him/

#5yrsago California’s lax usury laws means out-of-state loan sharks are charging desperate Californians 183% APRs https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-installment-loans-20180119-htmlstory.html

#5yrsago Florida state cop says he can’t remember why he bought mobile stalking app https://www.vice.com/en/article/gyweyy/florida-cop-bought-powerful-phone-malware-that-can-intercept-emails-and-whatsapp

#5yrsago Congressional Budget Office will (eventually) investigate the millions of fraudulent anti-Net Neutrality comments sent to the FCC https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/24/16926952/fcc-net-neutrality-false-identities-comments

#5yrsago TWANG! A one-dimensional dungeon-crawler that uses a springy doorstop as a controller https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yf_VINmbTE

#5yrsago Despite the FCC, more than 750 predominantly conservative US communities have built their own publicly owned ISPs https://www.vice.com/en/article/a3np4a/new-municipal-broadband-map

[ramenjunkie]

Tuesday 2023-01-03 - Link List

Tuesday 2023-01-03 – Link List

Blogging Intensifies Link List for Tuesday 2023-01-03 22-Dec-2022 – TRON! Favorite Scenes from the 1982 Classic Brief Summary: “We share our personal favorite scenes from TRON! Given how revolutionary this movie was, it was hard for each of us to choose just one! When talented “ 03-Jan-2023 – FCC’s Attempt To Finally Map Broadband Continues To Be A Hot Mess Brief Summary: “We’ve noted for…

[daveg65]

231 - AirPods Pro Improved Latency and Black Friday Deals - With Jeff Gamet, Patrice, and Kelly

The latest In Touch With iOS with Dave he is joined by guests Patrice, Kelly, and, Jeff Gamet. The AirPods Pro 2 have improved Bluetooth latency. We discuss this and why lossless audio still is not working. The Apple One bundle is still a deal but is it worth it to you? The FCC orders all ISP’s to have labeling of speeds and pricing. We discuss this as well as the awesome broadband map the FCC offers. Black Friday deals there are some great Apple deals and more. 

The show notes are at InTouchwithiOS.com


Direct Link to Audio 

Links to our Show

Click this link Buy me a Coffee to support the show we would really appreciate it. intouchwithios.com/coffee 

Another way to support the show is to become a Patreon member patreon.com/intouchwithios

Website: In Touch With iOS

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News

Huh? Apple has reportedly 'expressed interest' in buying UK soccer team Manchester United 

Apple Pivots to Samsung for iPhone Memory Chips Following US Trade Ban Against Chinese Suppliers

SwiftKey is unexpectedly back on iOS

iCloud for Windows Users Complain of Corrupted Videos, Photos From Strangers

Apple Music App Spotted in Tesla Model S Museum Exhibit

Apple TV+ closing movie gap with rotating back catalog for subscribers

Topics

Beta this week. iOS16.2 Beta 3 continues this week. 

It has been awhile since we talked about the value of the Apple One bundle. With the prices going up is it still worth it? We discuss the pros and cons of these bundles and the value. What Is Apple One, and Should You Subscribe?    Apple One and a new game for Jeff SpongeBob SolitairePants

The AirPods have improved latency AirPods Pro 2 testing reveals significant improvement in Bluetooth latency 

Why is Lossless audio on on the AirPods Pro 2? Apple Engineer Addresses Lack of Lossless Support on New AirPods Pro 

We discuss the labeling ISP’s need to disclose and the speeds.  FCC orders ISPs to display labels clearly showing speeds and itemized fees  The FCC also added a National Broadband map FCC Broadband Map

Black Friday is this week and we discuss some of the great deals out there that you might have missed. Apple is having a event Black Friday & Cyber Monday Shopping Event - Apple Gift cards with purchase. There are so many things to buy this year.

Notable Deals

iMazing is 50% off iMazing

Grid Studio Framed iPhone 4s Teardown Grid Studio iPhone 4s Framed Work

Apple Pencil (second generation) - $40 off

Apple AirTag 4 Pack - $20 off

AirPods Pro 2 $199 $49 off

The Jackbox Party Pack 8 

The Jackbox Party Pack 9

Huge List of Black Friday Deals on Apple Accessories

All the Apple Black Friday Deals You Can Get Today

Other  Apple Black Friday Deals 

2021 iPad mini 64 GB - $100 off

2021 iPad Pro 12.9-inch Wi-Fi 1 TB - $400 off

2022 iPad Pro 12.9-inch Wi-Fi 128 GB - $100 off

Apple Watch Ultra - $60 off 

Apple Watch Series 8 41mm - $50 off

Apple Watch Series 8 45mm - $50 off

Our Host

Dave Ginsburg is an IT professional supporting Mac, iOS and Windows users and shares his wealth of knowledge of iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV and related technologies. Visit the YouTube channel https://youtube.com/intouchwithios follow him on Mastadon @daveg65, 

Twitter @daveg65.and the show @intouchwithios

Our Regular Contributors

Jeff Gamet is a podcaster, technology blogger, artist, and author. Previously, he was The Mac Observer’s managing editor, and Smile’s TextExpander Evangelist. You can find him on Mastadon @jgamet as well as Twitter and Instagram as @jgamet  His YouTube channel https://youtube.com/jgamet

About our Guests

Kelly Guimont is a podcaster and friend of the Rebel Alliance. She appears on The Incomparable network as well as hosts I Want My M(CU) TV. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram @verso

Patrice Brend’amour loves to create podcasts, automations or software. She also enjoys working with diverse sets of people, leading them to success and making a tiny difference in the world. Which she does as VP of Development at a Healthcare Software provider. She can be found at https://the-patrice.com and her podcast Foodie Flashback at https://foodieflashback.com

Here is our latest Episode!

[iia]

https://internetinnovation.org/general/iia-statement-on-fcc-open-meeting-item-improving-broadband-data-and-maps/