Adam Bender, Senior Editor, is the state and local telecommunications reporter for Communications Daily, where he also has covered Congress and the Federal Communications Commission. He has won awards for his Warren Communications News reporting from the Society of Professional Journalists, Specialized Information Publishers Association and the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing. Bender studied print journalism at American University and is the author of dystopian science-fiction novels. You can follow Bender at WatchAdam.blog and @WatchAdam on Twitter.
Biography for Adam BenderRecent Articles by Adam BenderCalifornia policymakers should reconsider what counts as free broadband service as it doles out public housing grants, said the California Broadband and Video Association (CalBroadband) Tuesday. In a petition at the California Public Utilities Commission, the state cable association raised concerns with a December CPUC resolution (T-17775), saying services made free by the federal affordable connectivity program (ACP) aren’t truly free. CalBroadband’s petition should be rejected, two consumer advocates responded Wednesday.Read More >>
A possible Texas preference for fiber split AT&T and Verizon at a Texas Senate Commerce Committee hearing livestreamed Tuesday. The committee heard testimony on a bill (SB-1238) meant to update Texas laws to prepare for incoming federal dollars from NTIA’s broadband, equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program. Also at the hearing, cities clashed with DirecTV and Dish Network over a bill (SB-1117) to ensure satellite and streaming TV services would not have to pay video franchise fees.Read More >>
The District of Columbia’s 911 office will improve processes and be “transparent and accountable to the public,” said its possible next director, Heather McGaffin, at a D.C. Council committee roundtable livestreamed Wednesday. Judiciary and Public Safety Committee Chair Brooke Pinto (D) pressed McGaffin on how she will make the Office of Unified Communications (OUC) more open about errors responding to emergency calls. The committee mulled confirming McGaffin (PR25-0115) to lead OUC and Lindsey Appiah to be deputy mayor-public safety and justice.Read More >>
Vermont legislators mulled a more restrictive telecom siting process at a livestreamed hearing Tuesday. The House Environment and Energy Committee considered whether to revise the state’s Section 248(a) application process as part of a proposed three-year extension. The Vermont Public Utility Commission, which administers the state process, supports an extension but has concerns that proposed changes could have “unforeseen consequences,” said Greg Faber, the PUC’s legislative liaison.Read More >>
Texas “cannot continue to wait on Washington, D.C., to protect” state residents’ privacy, said Rep. Giovanni Capriglione (R) at a livestreamed hearing Monday. The Texas House Business Committee heard testimony on a privacy bill (HB-4) that Microsoft and other businesses praised as being interoperable with other state laws they like.Read More >>
California policymakers should reconsider what counts as free broadband service as it doles out public housing grants, said the California Broadband and Video Association (CalBroadband) Tuesday. In a petition at the California Public Utilities Commission, the state cable association raised concerns with a December CPUC resolution (T-17775), saying services made free by the federal affordable connectivity program (ACP) aren’t truly free. CalBroadband’s petition should be rejected, two consumer advocates responded Wednesday.Read More >>
A possible Texas preference for fiber split AT&T and Verizon at a Texas Senate Commerce Committee hearing livestreamed Tuesday. The committee heard testimony on a bill (SB-1238) meant to update Texas laws to prepare for incoming federal dollars from NTIA’s broadband, equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program. Also at the hearing, cities clashed with DirecTV and Dish Network over a bill (SB-1117) to ensure satellite and streaming TV services would not have to pay video franchise fees.Read More >>
The District of Columbia’s 911 office will improve processes and be “transparent and accountable to the public,” said its possible next director, Heather McGaffin, at a D.C. Council committee roundtable livestreamed Wednesday. Judiciary and Public Safety Committee Chair Brooke Pinto (D) pressed McGaffin on how she will make the Office of Unified Communications (OUC) more open about errors responding to emergency calls. The committee mulled confirming McGaffin (PR25-0115) to lead OUC and Lindsey Appiah to be deputy mayor-public safety and justice.Read More >>
Vermont legislators mulled a more restrictive telecom siting process at a livestreamed hearing Tuesday. The House Environment and Energy Committee considered whether to revise the state’s Section 248(a) application process as part of a proposed three-year extension. The Vermont Public Utility Commission, which administers the state process, supports an extension but has concerns that proposed changes could have “unforeseen consequences,” said Greg Faber, the PUC’s legislative liaison.Read More >>
Texas “cannot continue to wait on Washington, D.C., to protect” state residents’ privacy, said Rep. Giovanni Capriglione (R) at a livestreamed hearing Monday. The Texas House Business Committee heard testimony on a privacy bill (HB-4) that Microsoft and other businesses praised as being interoperable with other state laws they like.Read More >>