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Technology and Telecom

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ABOVE: Working on the Energy and Commerce Committee, Tammy is helping craft telecommunications policy for the 21st Century.

Topics:

Connectivity and the Digital Divide

Every American should have access to broadband service. However, many are finding themselves left on the wrong side of the “Digital Divide.” In Wisconsin, many still lack access to high speed internet. This is unacceptable. It limits economic development, disadvantages workers and students, and undermines citizen participation in our democracy. I support policies that create and enhance connectivity options for all Americans, including faster and more reliable Internet service to any home that wishes to receive it. I believe it is imperative that broadband networks be developed in a thoughtful and cost effective manner, with next-generation speeds.

Network Neutrality

Wisconsinites want telecommunication policies that protect consumers and ensure that the Internet remains open to all. The principle of network neutrality ensures that the Internet remains open to all and guarantees all Americans equal access. I support legislation that will guarantee – but also strike a balance between – consumers’ freedom of content, Internet companies and websites’ equal access to customers and service, and Internet providers’ ability to increase bandwidth and stabilize service. 

Media Consolidation 

I am very concerned about the consolidation of media ownership in our country, which limits diversity of voices and opinions. Americans must have access to unfiltered information about their government, as well as powerful nongovernmental entities, in order to properly exercise their responsibilities as citizens. We cannot have a government “of the people” if the people are kept in the dark. I believe that having a truly informed public requires media diversity. Simply put, the American public must be able to access news and entertainment from a variety of sources. It is absolutely critical that we have a broad, public debate about media ownership rules. To that end, I am a founding member and current co-chair of the Future of American Media (FAM) Caucus. 

Public, Educational, and Government (PEG) Channels

As traditional media outlets reduce or eliminate coverage of local government and public affairs, Public, Educational, and Government (PEG) channels play an increasingly important role in our democracy. These local networks also provide coverage of local events and alternative programming unavailable on commercial television stations. They are locally funded, produced, and viewed. However, access to these stations is threatened. Telecommunications companies frequently move PEG channels to digital-only tiers of service with minimal warning, degrade their transmission quality, or negotiate lower support fees based on “minimal viewership”—threatening the survival of PEG channels in Wisconsin and across the country. I am proud to champion the Community Access Preservation Act, legislation that will address the severe challenges faced by PEG access channels and local community media and save thousands of jobs across the country.


IN-DEPTH

Technology

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