The FCC has unanimously adopted final rules to implement the Emergency Connectivity Fund Programme. This $7.17 billion programme, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, will enable US schools and libraries to purchase laptop and tablet computers, Wi-Fi hotspots, and broadband connectivity for students, school staff, and library patrons in need during the […]
Swing state smartphone users in the US consistently spent more time on left-leaning news outlets than on right-leaning news outlets in the lead up to the 2020 election, according to data released by Global Wireless Solutions (GWS). In fact, nearly two thirds (63 per cent) of all mobile news consumed in swing states ahead of […]
Smartmatic has filed a $2.7 billion defamation suit against Fox News owner Fox Corp, alleging Fox conducted a disinformation campaign against the election technology company. Smartmatic cited Fox news reports it said had repeated false claims that Smartmatic had “fixed and rigged” the 2020 election. “The Earth is round. Two plus two equals four. Joe […]
Three major US government-funded overseas broadcasting operations have seen their bosses fired. The US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), an umbrella organisation which includes the long-established Voice of America as well as Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty plus Radio Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks have seen their directors let go. The […]
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai used his departing comments to issue a warning about China’s role in potential espionage and threats to networks. Pai stepped down from his role just hours before new US President Joe Biden was sworn in. In his final statement he told the Reuters press agency that there is a wide array […]
YouTube is the latest social network to suspend US President Donald Trump, joining the likes of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. The Google-owned video sharing service has prevented Trump’s account from uploading any new content or live-streaming for a minimum of seven days, and has said it could extend the period. “After review, and in light […]
Comcast has joined the growing number of US companies that have re-thought their political contributions to some Republican legislators. Comcast issued a statement saying: “The peaceful transition of power is a foundation of America’s democracy […] This year, that transition will take place among some of the most challenging conditions in modern history and against […]
Since losing the election, US President Donald Trump has persistently complained about unfair coverage from Fox News and urged his base to consider other conservative media outlets. But even as Trump has endorsed a challenger, Newsmax, Fox viewers in the US have stayed loyal to their network, and the mass exodus that Trump desires seems […]
TikTok, the video-sharing social media app, has again been given a last-minute extension to finalise a deal to sell off its US business in order to avoid a ban. Parent company ByteDance has been in talks for several weeks with Walmart and Oracle about shifting TikTok’s US assets under their umbrella. It follows an August […]
TikTok has filed a legal challenge to the Trump administration’s plan to shut its service down in the US this week. President Trump had ordered a ban on new downloads of the viral video service from November 12th, unless ByteDance was purchased by a US firm – and no deals have been concluded. TikTok said […]