FCC Approves Rules to Prevent and Eliminate Digital Discrimination

At the FCC Open Meeting on November 15, 2023, the FCC approved rules to prevent and eliminate digital discrimination.

The Report and Order takes the next step in the Commission's efforts to promote equal access to broadband internet access service, a service that is critical to virtually every aspect of life in our country and to the U.S. economy. To implement section 60506 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, the Commission adopted rules to establish a framework to facilitate equal access to broadband internet access service by preventing digital discrimination of access to that service based on income level, race, ethnicity, color, religion and national origin. A Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposes and seeks comment on certain affirmative measures to facilitate our efforts to prevent digital discrimination of access.

At the FCC's March 16, 2022 Open Meeting, the Commission approved a Notice of Inquiry to start a proceeding (GN Docket No. 22-69) on these initiatives, which must be completed by November 2023 as directed by Congress in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. At the FCC's December 21, 2022 Open Meeting, the Commission Approved a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), and announced the dates for the NPRM's comment cycle on January 20, 2023. NPRM comments were due on or before February 21, 2023. The reply comment period was extended to April 20, 2023. (Search for GN Docket No. 22-69 in the FCC's Electronic Filing System.)

Source: https://www.fcc.gov/task-force-prevent-digital-discrimination