The FCC released further details last week for an upcoming roundtable on the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, scheduled for Feb. 12.
The commission originally announced the roundtable at the end of last month.
The $3.2 billion Emergency Broadband Benefit program was established via the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. The panel discussions will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to examine the FCC’s efforts.
The Feb. 12 meeting will include an opening statement from Acting Chairwoman Rosenworcel as well as remarks from three other FCC commissioners. After their statements, the Wireline Competition Bureau will moderate two, 50-minute question-and-answer panels regarding the program.
The first panel will discuss Emergency Broadband Benefit Program outreach and consumer enrollment considerations. The panel will include various telecom industry representatives and other stakeholders:
- Matthew Gerst, CTIA vice president, regulatory affairs
- Fallon Wilson, Telecom and Internet Council vice president of policy, multicultural media,
- Erica Myers, Microsoft Airband US-Rural lead,
- Trinity Thorpe-Lubneuski, Comcast Essentials, senior director, program administration
- Travis Noland, Cherokee Nation manager of government relations,
- Angela Siefer, National Digital Inclusion Alliance executive director,
- Olivia Wein, National Consumer Law Center attorney
The second panel will discuss consumer choice and broadband provider participation in the Emergency Broadband Benefit program as well as the enrollment process and ways to maximize customer choice. Panel members will include
- Virginia Lam Abrams, Starry, Inc. senior vice president, government affairs and strategic advancement
- Brenda Victoria Castillo, Hispanic Media Coalition president and CEO
- Anisa Green, AT&T, director, federal regulatory
- Steve Morris, NCTA vice president and deputy general counsel
- Jonathan Nez, Navajo Nation president
- Francella Ochillo, Next Century Cities executive director
- Michael Romano, NTCA senior vice president of industry affairs and business development
The Emergency Broadband Benefit discussions will be open to the public via a stream from the FCC’s webpage.
I applaud the great work and efforts of FCC Chair Rosenworcel, Broadband committees, and working groups are taking to help close the digital divide.