Draft legislation to reform FCC processes, authored by House Energy and Commerce Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden, has evolved into a bipartisan debate.Read more

A unanimous, bipartisan vote at the FCC cemented rules that would require TV providers to play commercials at the same volume as the normal programming, fulfilling a mandate from last year’s Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act. Loud television commercials have been a persistent problem for viewers, and the FCC has received almost 6,000 complaints since 2008 on the issue.Read more

Multiple investigations into alleged violations of the Lifeline telephone subsidy have been launched, according to an FCC advisory issued last week. As a follow up to the advisory, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski wrote to state telecom commissions, state attorneys general and the Department of Justice to urge them to crack down on waste and fraud in the subsidy program.Read more

Late Friday, the FCC released its 759-page Universal Service Fund (USF) reform order that would create a $4.5 billion "Connect America Fund" to subsidize broadband in rural areas. The new fund would bring high-speed broadband access to seven million Americans in the next six years. The order was released 23 days after the commissioners unanimously voted on the reform.Read more

The House Energy and Commerce Communications and Technology Subcommittee recently passed two measures which would overhaul how the FCC operates. The subcommittee Republicans, led by Chairman Greg Walden, says the legislation will improve accountability and transparency at the FCC.Read more

A new program from the FCC is promoting broadband adoption and increased access to Internet by easing one of the barriers of entry for some low-income households. The initiative, announced Wednesday, will provide families who are eligible for the school-lunch program, approximately 25 million Americans, with monthly Internet service for $9.95 and a computer for $150.Read more