The Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act (PITFA) made permanent the moratorium on state and local internet access taxes and on multiple or discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce. The legislation, which was signed into law on February 24, 2016, continues to protect consumers from taxation on their internet services and taxes on internet advertising that could be […]
The proposed $34.5 billion merger between Cox Communications and Charter Communications made it through the last review needed to finalize the deal when it was approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Citizens Against Government Waste wrote to the CPUC on February 4, 2026, spotlighting the consumer benefits that would be derived from the […]
Funding is heading to the states from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. The expeditious and efficient use of these funds to connect unserved and underserved areas of the country depends on state and local governments ensuring that the permitting process does not impede or […]
World Wi-Fi Day has been celebrated every year since 2007 on June 20, and in 2026, it has turned into World Wi-Fi Week. It was established to commemorate Wi-Fi’s ability to connect people and help bridge the digital divide as well as reinforce how Wi-Fi is used in homes, businesses, and public areas. According to […]
The most noticeable results of stealing copper wire and other telecommunications equipment are the physical evidence of the theft and the loss of connections for businesses and consumers to telecommunications networks. But the impact is far more pervasive and often dire, as noted in two reports released during the June 4, 2026, Telecom Industry Summit: Protecting Critical Communications […]
American consumers are worried about affordability, but their list of serious concerns does not include broadband. According to US Telecom’s May 19, 2026, Broadband Pricing Index (BPI) report, for the 11th straight year broadband prices have decreased and speeds have increased. It was therefore not surprising that the nationwide poll included in the BPI report […]
Welcome to This Week in Waste, a series by Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) that highlights how taxpayer dollars are being wasted in the federal, state, and local levels of government and efforts to fight back against this spendthrift behavior. Celebrating Small Businesses During the National Small Business Week As the nation’s 250th birthday is being […]
The use of spectrum for businesses has expanded rapidly since the 6 GHz spectrum band was set aside for unlicensed use by the Federal Communications Commission. On April 23, 2020, the Federal Communications Commission voted to set aside 1,200 megahertz of spectrum in the 6 GHz band for unlicensed use. ABI Research’s May 2026 report, […]
The inadequacy of the first responders’ communications systems during the 9/11 terrorist attached was one of the reasons the 9/11 Commission suggested that improved coordination was essential during any future incident. The commission found that the failure to communicate among multiple agencies and jurisdictions “is strong evidence that compatible and adequate communications among public safety […]
Connecting unserved and underserved communities across the country to high-speed internet has long been a laudable goal. But after a May 10, 2023, Government Accountability Office (GAO) report exposed more than 133 broadband related programs across 15 federal agencies, now-Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr said that up to $800 billion was available for […]
