FCC Rolls Back Net Neutrality Rules
BU IN DC
Kevin Gallagher of the Pardee School of Global Studies addressed a Center for Strategic and International Studies roundtable on Chinese development finance in Latin America on December 12.
FCC ROLLS BACK NET NEUTRALITY RULES
On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to repeal regulations that ensure Internet service providers give users equal access to all web content. Universities opposed the repeal of the “net neutrality” rules due to fears that access to research materials and educational content would be stifled, stating “that open and neutral access to the Internet is essential to our nation’s freedom of speech, educational achievement, and economic growth.” Legal challenges to the decision are expected imminently and Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) has announced he will introduce legislation to reverse the FCC’s vote.
BUZZ BITS…
- On Wednesday, the House Education and the Workforce Committee passed its bill to reauthorize the Higher Education Act, setting up a possible vote by the full House of Representatives in January. The higher education community continued to express concern with the bill’s proposed reduction in financial aid for students.
- The White House issued a space policy directive on Monday that instructs the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to work with private sector partners to return humans to the moon, followed by Mars exploration.
- The National Science Foundation (NSF) is seeking candidates to serve as Assistant Director of Education and Human Resources. Dr. James Lewis has been serving as acting director since Joan Ferrini-Mundy became NSF Chief Operating Officer in 2016.
GRANTS NEWS YOU CAN USE
The Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) released a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for the Defense Enterprise Science Initiative (DESI), which seeks to incentivize use-inspired basic research programs by partnering universities and industry to solve key defense challenges and address capability gaps. The BAA lists four topics: power beaming; highly-maneuverable autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles; soft active composites with intrinsic sensing, actuation, and control; and metamaterial-based antennas. Applicant teams are also encouraged to submit proposals for defense challenges not listed. AFOSR intends to issue four awards of $1.5 million each. Applications are due by February 28.