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Universal Service Fund: Background and Options for Reform

Description: This report discusses the idea that all Americans should be able to afford access to the telecommunications network; this is commonly called the “universal service concept” and can trace its origins back to the 1934 Communications Act. The current policy debate has focused on five concerns: the scope of the program; who should contribute and what methodology should be used to fund the program; eligibility criteria for benefits; concerns over possible program fraud, waste, and abuse; and the imp… more
Date: April 11, 2011
Creator: Gilroy, Angele A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Spectrum Management: Auctions

Description: This report discusses the radio frequency spectrum that is used for all forms of wireless communications, including cellular telephony, paging, personal communications service, radio and television broadcast, telephone radio relay, aeronautical and maritime radio navigation, and satellite command and control. The issues discussed here refer principally to spectrum management for terrestrial technologies.
Date: July 19, 2007
Creator: Moore, Linda K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Emergency Communications Legislation: Implications for the 110th Congress

Description: Since September 11, 2001, several bills introduced in the U.S. Congress have included provisions to assist emergency communications. Key provisions from a number of these bills have become law. This report summarizes progress in developing legislation, especially in the 109th Congress, in three areas of emergency communications: communications among first responders and other emergency personnel; emergency warnings and alerts; and 911 call centers and systems.
Date: April 24, 2007
Creator: Moore, Linda K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Spectrum Management: Auctions

Description: This report discusses the radio frequency spectrum that is used for all forms of wireless communications, including cellular telephony, paging, personal communications service, radio and television broadcast, telephone radio relay, aeronautical and maritime radio navigation, and satellite command and control.
Date: November 4, 2005
Creator: Moore, Linda K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Emergency Communications Legislation, 2002-2006: Implications for the 110th Congress

Description: Since September 11, 2001, several bills introduced in the U.S. Congress have included provisions to assist emergency communications. Key provisions from a number of these bills have become law. This report summarizes progress in developing legislation, especially in the 109th Congress, in three areas of emergency communications: communications among first responders and other emergency personnel; emergency warnings and alerts; and 911 call centers and systems. Each area could be the subject of … more
Date: December 14, 2006
Creator: Moore, Linda K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Spectrum Management: Auctions

Description: This report discusses the radio frequency spectrum that is used for all forms of wireless communications, including cellular telephony, paging, personal communications service, radio and television broadcast, telephone radio relay, aeronautical and maritime radio navigation, and satellite command and control. The issues discussed here refer principally to spectrum management for terrestrial technologies.
Date: May 22, 2008
Creator: Moore, Linda K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Defining Cable Broadband Internet Access Service: Background and Analysis of the Supreme Court’s Brand X Decision

Description: This report provides an overview of the regulatory actions leading up to and an analysis of the Supreme Court's decision in National Cable & Telecommunications Associations v. Brand X Internet Services. It also provides a discussion of the possible legal and economic implications of the Court's decision.
Date: December 22, 2005
Creator: Welborn, Angie A. & Goldfarb, Charles B.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

What's on Television? The Intersection of Communications and Copyright Policies

Description: This report discusses how the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Congress, and the courts have overseen the rise of the internet by applying a combination of communications and copyright laws to regulate the distribution of television programming.
Date: April 20, 2016
Creator: Scherer, Dana A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The First Responder Network (FirstNet) and Next-Generation Communications for Public Safety: Issues for Congress

Description: This report discusses the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), which is a federal agency that includes private sector and other non-federal representation on its board of directors. FirstNet was created by Congress with provisions in Title VI (Spectrum Act) of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (P.L. 112-96) to ensure the deployment and operation of a nationwide, broadband network for public safety communications.
Date: June 17, 2016
Creator: Moore, Linda K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The First Responder Network (FirstNet) and Next-Generation Communications for Public Safety: Issues for Congress

Description: This report discusses the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), which is a federal agency that includes private sector and other non-federal representation on its board of directors. It examines the challenges for public safety leaders and policymakers in establishing the framework for a nationwide network that meets state, local, tribal and territorial needs for robust, interoperable emergency communications.
Date: April 28, 2016
Creator: Moore, Linda K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The First Responder Network (FirstNet) and Next-Generation Communications for Public Safety: Issues for Congress

Description: This report discusses the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), which is a federal agency that includes private sector and other non-federal representation on its board of directors. FirstNet was created by Congress with provisions in Title VI (Spectrum Act) of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (P.L. 112-96) to ensure the deployment and operation of a nationwide, broadband network for public safety communications.
Date: June 28, 2016
Creator: Moore, Linda K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Emergency Communications: The Future of 911

Description: This report discusses possible paths toward the modernization of the 911 infrastructure. Efforts to splice newer, digital technologies onto the aging infrastructure have created points of failure where a call can be dropped or misdirected, sometimes with tragic consequences.
Date: January 26, 2010
Creator: Moore, Linda K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The First Responder Network (FirstNet) and Next-Generation Communications for Public Safety: Issues for Congress

Description: This report provides and introduction to key provisions in the Spectrum Act to improve public safety communications and discusses planning authority, state and local participation, federal governance and other issues regarding the evolving network technologies.
Date: February 27, 2015
Creator: Moore, Linda K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Emergency Communications: Broadband and the Future of 911

Description: This report discusses the current 911 infrastructure and possible options for modernizing the system to Next Generation 911 technology (NG9-1-1). It includes information about relevant legislation and policy, funding and grants, ways to create a base for change, the potential role of the Department of Homeland Security, and Congressional policy.
Date: April 27, 2010
Creator: Moore, Linda K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Access to Broadband Networks: The Net Neutrality Debate

Description: This report discusses the current debate over "net neutrality." While there is no single accepted definition of "net neutrality," most agree that any such definition should include the general principles that owners of the networks that compose and provide access to the Internet should not control how consumers lawfully use that network, and they should not be able to discriminate against content provider access to that network.
Date: February 5, 2015
Creator: Gilroy, Angele A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Emergency Communications: The Future of 911

Description: This report discusses possible paths toward the modernization of the 911 infrastructure. Efforts to splice newer, digital technologies onto the aging infrastructure have created points of failure where a call can be dropped or misdirected, sometimes with tragic consequences.
Date: March 16, 2010
Creator: Moore, Linda K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Social Networking and Constituent Communications: Member Use of Twitter During a Two-Month Period in the 111th Congress

Description: This report examines Twitter usage by Members of Congress during August and September 2009. It includes background about Twitter and data analysis of Member registration, usage, tweets, and followers.
Date: February 3, 2010
Creator: Glassman, Matthew E.; Straus, Jacob R. & Shogan, Colleen J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Access to Broadband Networks: The Net Neutrality Debate

Description: This report discusses the current debate over "net neutrality." While there is no single accepted definition of "net neutrality," most agree that any such definition should include the general principles that owners of the networks that compose and provide access to the Internet should not control how consumers lawfully use that network, and they should not be able to discriminate against content provider access to that network.
Date: April 16, 2015
Creator: Gilroy, Angele A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Reauthorization of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act (STELA)

Description: This report provides background information regarding satellite retransmission of broadcast signals. The report discusses the 1988 Satellite Home Viewer Act (SHVA) and most recently amended by the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act (STELA.,
Date: August 5, 2014
Creator: Kruger, Lennard G. & Gilroy, Angele A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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