by Dave Garb, Legislative Committee Chair

FCC Amends Closed Captioning Rules for Video Programmers – Docket No: 05-23125-133: Closed Captioning of Video Programming; Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. Petition for Rulemaking; Delete, Delete, Delete Proceedings & Calling on Advocates to Respond to FCC’s Proposed Throttling of E-Rate

by Dave Garb, Legislative Committee Chair

Reminder: ADA Title II Web and Mobility Access Compliance with the WCAG 2.1 Level AA Rules – Quickly Approaching & DANGER! Still Floating Around in the Halls of Congress: The American Broadband Deployment Act of 2025 (H.R. 2289)

by Dave Garb, Legislative Committee Chair

Update on the opposition to The American Broadband Deployment Act (H.R. 2289)

For many months, we have kept everyone informed about the American Broadband Deployment Act (H.R. 2289). If passed, this act would give telecommunication conglomerates de facto power over local zoning laws without providing public safety protections for construction of “deemed granted” facilities. Sites will be constructed without any further action by or notice to the local government.

The American Broadband Deployment Act (H.R. 2289) Saga Continues

Recap and update: Since last November, we have been telling everyone about the American Broadband Deployment Act of 2025 (H.R. 2289). If passed, H.R. 2289 would give conglomerate telecommunications companies de-facto power over local zoning laws and provide no public safety protections for construction of “deemed granted” facilities. Sites will be constructed without any action by the government and without any notice to the local government.

A Visit to Our Nation’s Capital to Bring Awareness of HR 2289

Last month we explored the threat of HR 2289 (the federal preemption of local franchising rights for state and local government) and the provisions included within it. If it were to pass, major funding and distribution mechanisms of community television in the US would effectively end.

The Reauthorizing of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) – H.R. 7386

by Dave Garb, Legislative Committee Chair

Dangers of the American Broadband Deployment Act of 2025 (H.R. 2289)

Last November, a dangerous bill passed out of the Congressional House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee, titled the American Broadband Deployment Act of 2025 (H.R. 2289). H.R. 2289 gives telecommunication companies de facto power over local zoning laws:

Dangers of the American Broadband Deployment Act of 2025 (H.R. 2289)

Last November, a dangerous bill passed from the Congressional House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee: The American Broadband Deployment Act of 2025 (H.R. 2289). H.R. 2289 gives telecommunication companies de-facto power over local zoning laws. It provides no public safety protections for construction of “deemed granted” facilities.

The Reauthorizing of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) – H.R. 7386

On February 10th, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology voted to reauthorize FirstNet.

Revisiting ADA Title II Web and Mobility Access Compliance to the WCAG 2.1 Level AA Rules

To prepare us for the important ADA Compliance Rules that are quickly approaching (by which many of us will have to abide), we want to once again review some information offered during JAG’s October General Meetings:

American Broadband Act of 2025

On December 3rd, the House of Representatives, Committee on Energy and Commerce, hastily voted on a group of bills known together as H.R. 2289, The American Broadband Act of 2025. Inside this potpourri of bills, was one that could affect just about all cable franchises in the United States. Basically, this is H.R. 3557 all over again.