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1 1 (May 21, 2020)

handle is hein.crs/govdayt0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Resarh Service Broadband Connectivity and COVID-19: The FCC's Response May 21, 2020 As states and localities have directed their citizens to stay home in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, internet traffic in the United States has shifted dramatically. The greater number of individuals working remotely over the internet, participating in online education, and seeking online sources of entertainment threatens to place an increasing strain on American internet networks. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) has thus far focused its response on expanding internet access and ensuring that networks can support increased traffic. Along with its widely publicized Keep Americans Connected Initiative-an elective pledge for communications providers-the FCC has taken a number of regulatory actions aimed at promoting internet connectivity. This Sidebar provides an overview of how COVID-19 has affected the FCC's operations, some ways the FCC has responded thus far, and common criticisms and perceived shortcomings of the FCC's approach. Operations Affected by COVID-19 The FCC's regulatory authority under the Communications Act of 1934 encompasses communications made by wire or radio in interstate or foreign commerce. Over time, this authority has evolved to include a growing number of responsibilities relating to the provision of wireless internet and telephone services. The FCC also oversees a number of programs aimed at advancing internet and telephone accessibility among rural, low-income, and disabled individuals. Regulatory Authority over Wireless Internet Services Title III of the Communications Act establishes a federal policy of controlling radio spectrum in the United States and licensing its use. The FCC has primary responsibility for allocating nonfederal radio spectrum-i.e., designating the uses for bands of spectrum-and then licensing those bands to a variety of entities. When executing this authority, the Commission must consider whether the public interest, convenience, and necessity will be served by granting an entity a spectrum license. Among those who license spectrum from the FCC are wireless internet and voice service providers. The Commission has historically licensed spectrum to these providers from a band of frequencies known as the Advanced Wireless Services band. The FCC grants licenses to operate at a given frequency such that a particular entity's use of spectrum does not cause interference with another entity's. The amount of Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov LSB10475 CRS LegaM Sideba Prepaimed for Mernbei-s and Committees 4 o. C- --q s . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . ..-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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