House Seeks Update on Location Data-Sharing Probe 

Eleven Energy and Commerce Committee Democrats sent a letter to FCC Chairman expressing growing concern that the FCC is failing to protect consumers’ privacy by refusing to hold wireless carriers accountable for unauthorized disclosures of consumers’ real-time location data.  The members asked Chairman Pai to provide them with an update on the FCC’s investigation by November 29, 2019.

The members’ inquiry stems from reports over a year ago that major wireless carriers were selling consumers’ real-time location data to third-party data aggregators.  This location data was then easily purchased by other private companies, such as bounty hunters.  The selling of this data was done without the consent or knowledge of the affected customers. 

The letter was signed by Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle (D-PA), and  Subcommittee members Reps. Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Jerry McNerney (D-CA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), and Darren Soto (D-FL). 

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The Regulatory Mix Today: US House Seeks Update on Location Data-Sharing Probe, Missouri Governor Announces $5 Million Broadband Grants

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Missouri Governor Announces $5 million in Broadband Grants

The Governor of Missouri and the Departments of Economic Development and Agriculture announced the launch of the state’s broadband grant program, which will award $5 million to bring high speed internet to Missourians across the state. 

“It’s a huge problem that nearly 20% of Missourians lack access to high speed internet,” Governor Mike Parson said.  “That’s the kind of problem that if you work toward solving it, it’s going to help with other problems, like retaining good talent or offering better health care and education for our communities.  Broadband is exactly the kind of infrastructure that Missouri needs to grow and thrive in the future.” 

Created by the Missouri General Assembly in 2018 and funded during the 2019 legislative session, the grant program matches up to 50 percent of the construction costs to expand broadband to unserved and underserved areas of the state.  Guidelines and scoring criteria are now posted.  The grant application period will be open on December 4, 2019.  

Once the grant period begins on December 4, applications may be submitted through January 6, 2020.  Projects will be selected based on the need for servicing unserved areas of the state, meeting or exceeding the state’s minimum definition of high-speed internet, the applicant’s share of total project costs, economic and community benefit, and adoption strategies. 

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The Regulatory Mix, Inteserra’s blog of telecom related regulatory activities, is a snapshot of PUC, FCC, legislative, and occasionally court issues that our regulatory monitoring team uncovers each day. Depending on their significance, some items may be the subject of an Inteserra Briefing.

The broadband grant program guidelines, selection criteria, application, and frequently asked questions are available on DED's website.