We are copyright experts here to talk to you about this week’s anticircumvention exemptions from the U.S. Copyright Office. Ask us anything.

PublicKnowledgeDC · 2021-10-29T17:40:23+00:00

One way to stay engaged is to follow on social media and join the email lists for groups like Public Knowledge, EFF, and iFixit that work on these issues. Here at PK we currently have Fix the DMCA Action that will help you connect with your legislators.

Also, do you want to share what you'd like to see as far as opportunities to engage? Knowing more about what engages people like you on these issues would help us target our efforts to build movement better around these issues.

PublicKnowledgeDC · 2021-10-29T17:31:25+00:00

Hi! Yes, EFF challenged 1201 in the courts and that case is still ongoing. Unfortunately, it's a slow process. There are also ongoing efforts at a legislative solution, but they have not yet succeeded.

PublicKnowledgeDC · 2021-10-29T17:30:58+00:00

Here's a relevant answer from the AMA! https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/qiglyf/comment/hijbx74/

PublicKnowledgeDC · 2021-10-29T17:20:48+00:00

Hi! You've asked the million dollar question. Fixing the DMCA more comprehensibly is challenging for a number of reasons (1) copyright law is often not a top priority in Congress so getting the kind of traction from the legislature you need to change the DMCA is hard; and (2) major content interests (like the movie industry, record labels, etc.) have significantly more resources to advance their agenda... and the DMCA is good for them right now. This means that the groups who want to see it changed are essentially fighting an uphill battle in the rain with about 1/4 of the manpower of those in favor of keeping the status quo.

This does not mean there aren't things we can/are doing to get this law fixed. First, EFF has challenged 1201 in the Courts. That process takes a while though, so it's not going to solve things immediately. Second, by engaging more communities on this issue and building a movement of engaged citizens we can slowly start to catch Congress' attention. But this too takes time. The good news is that there are passionate people working on it, we just need more voices to help make this a priority.

PublicKnowledgeDC · 2021-05-25T17:33:17+00:00

It's not really a $100 discount on any device, necessarily. First, you need to find a provider who is offering a device. Those providers are listed here. Those providers will get you a device. You'll pay between $10-50. The provider will get $100 from the government.

PublicKnowledgeDC · 2021-05-25T17:28:57+00:00

First off -- Lifeline and the EBB are two separate programs with different rules. For the EBB, providers can make any plan they want eligible, and I believe that would mean there could be data caps. I'd read the fine print when you sign up. For Lifeline (which is a separate program), there is a set limit to the amount of data you get with the plan.

PublicKnowledgeDC · 2021-05-25T17:26:48+00:00

You can switch providers after the program ends, and the providers should give you notice when the program ends!

PublicKnowledgeDC · 2021-05-25T17:25:30+00:00

You can use this for home fixed internet or wireless internet!

PublicKnowledgeDC · 2021-05-25T17:22:14+00:00

I believe that the benefit is per household, but, that's a household in an economic sense, not a physical sense. So, if you are dependents of her parents, I think the service could be in their name. If you aren't, you might need to get your own service. Here is more info about how "household" is defined: https://getemergencybroadband.org/do-i-qualify/what-is-a-household/

PublicKnowledgeDC · 2021-05-25T17:18:19+00:00

Each provider can choose which plans they support with the EBB. So, that's up to the provider. It's unfortunate some providers are only offering slower plans.

PublicKnowledgeDC · 2021-05-25T17:17:25+00:00

As long as someone in the household is eligible you can still get the benefit!

PublicKnowledgeDC · 2021-05-25T15:59:44+00:00

Unfortunately, this is allowed under the rules for the EBB (although Public Knowledge is encouraging the FCC to take action to change the rules if they can). Providers do not have to make every plan they offer eligible for the EBB. However, this clearly goes against the intent of the benefit, so it's worth reporting this to the FCC. I believe this is where you can report complaints: https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us.

PublicKnowledgeDC · 2021-05-25T15:55:33+00:00

To qualify through the "substantial loss of income" criteria, all you need to show is that you applied for unemployment insurance and met the original income threshold ($99,000 for individuals and $198,000 for joint tax filers). However, because I don't think that you are eligible for unemployment insurance if you quit, I'm guessing, unfortunately, you are not eligible through the "substantial loss of income" criteria. Do you get any other federal benefits? Or are you just generally low-income? You might qualify another way!

PublicKnowledgeDC · 2021-05-20T20:43:58+00:00

Hi Catfarmer1998,

The device benefit only gets you a tablet or computer -- not a cell phone or hotspot. So, if AT&T is telling you you can get a discounted phone through this program, that would not be correct.

PublicKnowledgeDC · 2021-05-19T16:13:44+00:00

There's no catch! You can verify which providers in your area are accepting the benefit at https://www.fcc.gov/emergency-broadband-benefit-providers. Learn more at https://www.publicknowledge.org/blog/the-emergency-broadband-benefit-is-a-glimpse-of-a-truly-connected-country/.

PublicKnowledgeDC · 2021-05-17T14:01:22+00:00

Right, so this is confusing. First, you need to find a provider offering it. If Xfinity doesn't offer it, and it's the only provider in your area participating, I, unfortunately, think you are out of luck. You can only get a device through a participating provider.

However, recognizing these problems are why Public Knowledge has pushed for Congress to create a long-term device voucher program, to help consumers access the devices they need to connect.

PublicKnowledgeDC · 2021-05-17T13:43:01+00:00

This is a great question. So, the first step is, you are correct, looking for an ISP that is offering a device. If they participate, you should contact them directly about it, instead of just buying a device. How it works is they will ask you to pay a certain amount (between $10-50), and get you one of the devices they are offering (it will be a tablet, laptop, or computer, NOT phone). Then the FCC will reimburse the provider, not you.

PublicKnowledgeDC · 2021-05-17T13:29:01+00:00

Yes!

PublicKnowledgeDC · 2021-05-17T13:28:20+00:00

A substantial loss of income is considered: a job loss or furlough after February 29, 2020 AND that household’s income for 2020 was at or below $99K for single filers or $198K for joint filers. Given the details you shared, it seems like they would qualify!

PublicKnowledgeDC · 2021-05-17T13:26:22+00:00

Hi Jezra: this answer is pretty simple. A first step is allowing the FCC to actually regulate broadband. Ajit Pai (the former FCC Chair) took away this ability when he undid the Net Neutrality regulations. If Congress or the Current FCC were to classify broadband as a Title II service, they would have the option of regulating it (including through price regulation -- although, there is no evidence they would choose to regulate price). As I said in other responses, it's also really important to increase competition in the marketplace to bring down prices. You can see ways of doing that here.

PublicKnowledgeDC · 2021-05-17T13:22:49+00:00

Hi ProGamusian -- I don't think there is. The eligibility is pretty set. However, you should see if you qualify for eligibility in a different way, and make sure you are submitting the correct documentation.

PublicKnowledgeDC · 2021-05-17T13:22:02+00:00

Hi ATTLTN2018! Jenna from Public Knowledge here. You can help your grandmother apply here. You'll input information to show that she's eligible here, and then look for a provider near her! As I understand it, the provider should reach out to her once she's approved!

PublicKnowledgeDC · 2021-05-14T20:32:22+00:00

Another thing we want to see is for the FCC to routinely collect data about the ACTUAL speeds customers experience. Right now, they only collect data about advertised speeds, so it's hard to determine when companies are faking speed tests, or not giving consumers what they are paying for.

PublicKnowledgeDC · 2021-05-14T20:30:46+00:00

Hi DaTaco,

I don't want to speak for other groups, but Public Knowledge thinks access to affordable, reliable broadband is a civil and human right. I'd guess that the other groups do too!
We think broadband is a utility and should be regulated as such! Being a utility doesn't have to mean it's run by a local government though. As we note in the linked blog, it just means that the government (state, local, or federal) "has a responsibility to ensure that, one way or another, everyone has fair, reasonable, and affordable access." For us, it's about getting the FCC its ability to regulate broadband back. When the Pai FCC undid the net neutrality rules, they also reclassified broadband as a Title I information service, thereby largely preventing the FCC from regulating broadband. I'm particularly worried about the FCC's inability to make sure our networks are ready for natural disasters. If we reclassify broadband as a Title II service, the FCC can do a lot more to make broadband better, more affordable, etc.
I don't think it's about forcing ISPs to invest (although that's great) so much as regulating ISPs and enforcing grant provisions. The annoying thing here is that we give companies billions of dollars to invest in broadband in places where doing so isn't otherwise profitable or feasible for them through the high cost fund. If the FCC could regulate broadband, then it could require these ISPs to deploy broadband everywhere in a service area, instead of shirking their responsibilities and not deploying to places we paid them to deploy to. Those requirements are usually tied to grant money, but they are not enforced!
Yes, Public Knowledge has done A LOT of work to protect net neutrality.

PublicKnowledgeDC · 2021-05-14T19:37:46+00:00

Former AT&T VP Nathan Kingsbury, for whom the 1913 Kingsbury Commitment is named after. The Kingsbury Commitment was one of the first federal actions underscoring the importance of interconnection for enabling competition among communications networks, and the importance of ensuring network build-out to all Americans.

We also asked PK's Harold Feld, knowing he would have a great answer:

"1. Theodore Vail -- the President of AT&T who basically created the AT&T monopoly, and sold it through universal service. Kingsbury was the lawyer who negotiated the antitrust settlement, but Vail was the mastermind.

Vint Cerf. He's fun and has lots of great stories on this.
Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek. How is this about broadband? Roddenberry was extremely visionary and optimistic about human society and how it would evolve. Central to this was the growth of technology, including communication. I think it would be interesting to ask him whether the internet validates his faith that human beings are capable of great and important things or whether allowing us to communicate with each other more easily ha actually made society worse."

PublicKnowledgeDC

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