Advanced search Help
Clear all search criteria
Only 2/3! You are seeing results from the Public Collection, not the complete Full Collection. Sign in to search everything (see eligibility).
-
TSA Has Not Implemented All Requirements of the 9/11 Act and the TSA Modernization Act
From the Highlights: "The objective of our audit was to determine the extent to which the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has implemented requirements of the 'Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007' and the 'TSA Modernization Act' to develop strategies, programs, regulations, reports, and other initiatives to strengthen transportation security."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2021-09-22
-
DHS Did Not Fully Comply with Requirements in the Transportation Security Card Program Assessment
From the Highlights: "The Transportation Security Card Program Assessment (P.L. 114-278) requires DHS to assess the effectiveness of its transportation security card program by reviewing 10 program areas and preparing a CAP [corrective action plan] to respond to any findings. Our objective was to determine DHS' compliance with this statutory requirement."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2021-09-22
-
Colombia: Challenges for U.S. Policymakers in 2021 [Updated September 22, 2021]
From the Document: "Colombia is a key U.S. ally in Latin America and a long-term security partner. For many years, Colombia's prominence in illegal drug production prompted the United States and Colombia to forge close counter-drug ties. Plan Colombia, a U.S.-Colombian program that began in 2000, focused initially on counternarcotics and later on counterterrorism, laying the foundation for an enduring, multifaceted partnership. Hard-hit by waves of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections in 2020-2021, Colombia has faced multiple challenges, all while attempting to recover from a pandemic-driven 6.8% economic contraction in 2020. These challenges include (1) spikes in coca cultivation and cocaine production [hyperlink]; (2) violence against human rights and other social activists; (3) mass anti-government protests in mid-2021 that lasted nearly three months; and (4) instability spilling over from Venezuela, including the migration of some 2 million Venezuelans fleeing their homeland's crises."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Beittel, June S.
2021-09-22
-
Key Issues in WTO Agriculture Negotiations [September 22, 2021]
From the Introduction: "On July 29, 2021, Ambassador Gloria Abraham Peralta of Costa Rica, the chair of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Committee on Agriculture, released a draft text on agriculture issues for consideration at the WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12). If the trade ministers convene as planned from November 30 to December 3, the draft text is likely to provide the basis for negotiations over reform of agricultural trade rules. Under the WTO Agreement on Agriculture (AoA), which took effect when the WTO was established on January 1, 1995, member countries agreed to reform their domestic agricultural support policies, increase access for imports, and reduce export subsidies in order to reduce barriers to trade. Many countries implemented such measures between 1995 and 2004, for example, by freezing subsidies, tariffs, and domestic farm support programs at agreed-upon levels and then instituting phased reductions from these levels. [...] Since 2004, further reforms in AoA rules governing agricultural trade have been limited due to disagreements among WTO members. The July 2021 negotiating text seeks to facilitate an agreement on 'principles' that the 164 WTO members could use as the basis for continuing negotiations after MC12 concludes."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Regmi, Anita
2021-09-22
-
S. Rept. 117-39: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, Report to Accompany S. 2792, September 22, 2021
From the Purpose of the Bill: "This bill would: (1) Authorize appropriations for (a) procurement, (b) research, development, test and evaluation, (c) operation and maintenance and the revolving and management funds of the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2022; (2) Authorize the personnel end strengths for each military active duty component of the Armed Forces for fiscal year 2022; (3) Authorize the personnel end strengths for the Selected Reserve of each of the reserve components of the Armed Forces for fiscal year 2022; (4) Impose certain reporting requirements; (5) Impose certain limitations with regard to specific procurement and research, development, test and evaluation actions and manpower strengths; provide certain additional legislative authority, and make certain changes to existing law; (6) Authorize appropriations for military construction programs of the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2022; and (7) Authorize appropriations for national security programs of the Department of Energy for fiscal year 2022."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021-09-22
-
Air Force B-21 Raider Long-Range Strike Bomber [Updated September 22, 2021]
From the Summary: "The Department of Defense is developing a new long-range bomber aircraft, the B-21 Raider (previously known as LRS-B), and proposes to acquire at least 100 of them. B-21s would initially replace the fleets of B-1 and B-2 bombers, and could possibly replace B-52s in the future. B-21 development was highly classified until the summer of 2015, when the Air Force revealed initial details of the aircraft and the program. Although technical specifications and other data remain out of public view, many details of the budget, acquisition strategy, procurement quantities, and other aspects of the B-21 program are now in the public arena. On September 20, 2021, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall announced that five B-21s were in production. The Administration's FY2022 budget request included $2.98 billion for further development and initial production of the B-21. As passed, the FY2021 defense appropriations bill funded the program at $2.84 billion. As a large defense program that involves issues of strategic and nuclear policy, as well as substantial expenditures, the B-21 is likely to be subject to significant congressional interest."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gertler, Jeremiah
2021-09-22
-
Buy American Act: Proposed Rules [September 22, 2021]
From the Document: "On July 30, 2021, the Department of Defense, General Services Administration, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration--which, along with the Administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, make up the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council (FAR Council)--published several proposed rules [hyperlink] regarding the Buy American Act (BAA) [hyperlink]. The proposed rules, which are contained within one rulemaking notice, address Section 8 of Executive Order 14005 [hyperlink], 'Ensuring the Future Is Made in All of America by All of America's Workers.' This Insight provides an overview of the four proposed rules, including one not mentioned specifically in the executive order, and briefly mentions the FAR Council's guidance regarding feedback on the proposed rules."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Halchin, L. Elaine
2021-09-22
-
U.S.-EU Privacy Shield and Transatlantic Data Flows [September 22, 2021]
From the Overview: "For decades, data privacy and protection issues have been sticking points in U.S. relations with the European Union (EU) because of differences in U.S. and EU data privacy approaches and legal regimes. The 27-member EU considers the privacy of communications and the protection of personal data to be fundamental rights, codified in EU law, and has established a comprehensive legal framework to protect citizens' personal data. In the United States, respect for privacy is broadly enshrined in the Constitution and data privacy and protection laws are a mix of federal and state statutes that protect certain data on a largely sectoral basis. To address EU concerns that the U.S. approach does not protect personal data to the same extent as EU law, the United States and the EU have concluded agreements to allow for commercial transatlantic data flows [...], as well as other accords for data transfers in the law enforcement sector. [...] Some Members of Congress urge the quick conclusion of an enhanced Privacy Shield in light of U.S. business and industry concerns and because they view U.S.-EU cooperation as crucial to setting international data privacy standards and countering China's potential influence on the issue globally. This report provides background on the differences in U.S. and EU data privacy regimes, the development of Privacy Shield and the prospects for an enhanced successor accord, implications for U.S. interests, and issues for Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Archick, Kristin; Fefer, Rachel F.
2021-09-22
-
Cameroon: Key Issues and U.S. Policy [September 22, 2021]
From the Overview: "Congressional interest in Cameroon has grown since 2017, when separatists claiming to represent the Anglophone minority in largely French-speaking Cameroon launched a rebellion against the government. Activism by Cameroonians living abroad has helped draw international attention to that conflict, including from some Members of Congress representing constituencies with Cameroonian diaspora communities. Human rights abuses by Cameroonian security forces in the course of the Anglophone conflict have raised challenges for U.S.-Cameroon security cooperation, which is primarily focused on efforts to combat the Nigerian-origin Boko Haram and an Islamic State-affiliated splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (IS-WA), which are active in northern Cameroon. The United States has restricted some security assistance for Cameroon due to human rights concerns, though some counterterrorism programs and other assistance continue."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Husted, Tomas F.
2021-09-22
-
Legal Framework of the National Environmental Policy Act [Updated September 22, 2021]
From the Document: "The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 4321 'et seq.', requires federal agencies to identify and evaluate impacts of 'major Federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.' Although an agency must consider these impacts, it need not elevate these environmental concerns above others. Instead, NEPA requires agencies to 'take a 'hard look' at environmental consequences' of their proposed actions, consider alternatives, and publicly disseminate such information before taking final action. 'Robertson v. Methow Valley Citizens Council', 490 U.S. 332, 350 (1989) (emphasis added). NEPA also established the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), which issues regulations and guidance detailing how federal agencies must implement NEPA. 40 C.F.R. pts. 1500-1518. Through these actions, CEQ has defined and interpreted some of NEPA's broad procedural mandate. In 2020, CEQ finalized revisions to its 1978 NEPA regulations, which apply to all proposals subject to NEPA reviews after September 14, 2020, although agencies may choose to apply them to ongoing reviews. 85 Fed. Reg. 43,304 (July 16, 2020) (2020 Rules). These regulations are being challenged by a number of states and other stakeholders, and are currently stayed by the courts pending CEQ's review and revision of them. This In Focus describes the legal obligations that NEPA and the 2020 Rules impose on federal agencies. It also highlights some changes that these rules made to the 1978 regulations and CEQ's plans for revising them."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hart, Nina M.; Tsang, Linda
2021-09-22
-
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 3372, One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act of 2021
This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the House Committee on the Judiciary on July 21, 2021. From the Document: "H.R. 3372 would authorize the appropriation of $10 million each year over the 2022-2026 period for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to provide grants to nonprofit organizations to fund community reentry centers. Those facilities would provide services and assistance to individuals returning to a community after conviction or incarceration. DOJ would report to the Congress annually on the effectiveness of the grant program. The bill also would authorize the appropriation of $1.5 million annually over the 2022-2026 period for DOJ to provide grants to state, tribal, and local governments to operate phone and text message hotlines which would direct individuals to community reentry services. Using information from DOJ and historical rates of spending for similar grant programs, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 3372 would cost $40 million over the 2021-2026 period, with the remaining amount spent after 2026. Such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2021-09-22
-
COVID-19: Defense-Wide Working Capital Fund Cash Management and Defense Logistics Agency Pandemic Response
From the Document: "This report responds to a request from the Readiness Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee that we review DOD's management of the Defense-Wide Working Capital Fund's (DWWCF) cash balance and DLA's [Defense Logistics Agency] response to the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic, and is also part of our body of work in response to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). We briefed congressional committees on our work in July, August, and September 2021."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-09-22
-
How Effective Are Social Distancing Policies? Evidence on the Fight Against COVID-19
From the Abstract: "To fight the spread of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019], many countries implemented social distancing policies. This is the first paper that examines the effects of the German social distancing policies on behavior and the epidemic's spread. Exploiting the staggered timing of COVID-19 outbreaks in extended event-study models, we find that the policies heavily reduced mobility and contagion. In comparison to a no-social-distancing benchmark, within three weeks, the policies avoided 84% of the potential COVID-19 cases (point estimate: 499.3K) and 66% of the potential fatalities (5.4K). The policies' relative effects were smaller for individuals above 60 and in rural areas."
Public Library of Science
Glogowsky, Ulrich; Hansen, Emanuel; Schächtele, Simeon
2021-09-22
-
Post-Fascists: Putting the So-Called 'Populist Right' into Historical Perspective
From the Abstract: "This article tries to capture conceptually the recent developments within the far right in two countries, France and Germany. In both cases, a diachronic comparison seems tempting. Are the '30s ahead of us? What is the extent and what is the impact of the fascist legacy today? The comparison in this article is based on Mann's book 'Fascists' (2004). The paper argues that while the current far-right cannot be considered fascist anymore and resembles interwar fascism only remotely, we have to consider it post-fascist. If interwar fascism is largely explicable out of a context of multilevel crises to which it provided answers that many found convincing, I conclude that the current strength of the German and French far-right does happen in a rather moderate crisis context to which it provides some answers."
Wiley Online Library (Online service)
Keim, Wiebke
2021-09-22
-
Pandemic Recovery: The American Rescue Plan's Impact on Alleviating Hardship and Supporting Economic Recovery
From the Document: "This memorandum describes the emerging evidence of the wide-ranging positive impacts of the American Rescue Plan's relief provisions on alleviating economic hardship, reducing poverty, and supporting economic recovery. [...] 'A new Select Subcommittee analysis shows that the American Rescue Plan's (ARP) Direct Relief Payments contributed to a 17% decline in food insufficiency and a 19% drop in housing instability in the weeks following the ARP's passage, and that these declines in hardship have been maintained many months after the relief payments were distributed as the recovery has progressed and other relief measures have been delivered.' This analysis of Census Bureau data comports with a growing body of research and emerging data showing that the ARP has had an unparalleled impact in cutting poverty, reducing childhood hunger, and aiding the American recovery."
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Oversight and Reform. Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis
2021-09-22
-
Executive Order 14047: Adding Measles to the List of Quarantinable Communicable
Diseases
From the Document: "Based upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Surgeon General, and for the purposes set forth in section 1 of Executive Order 13295 of April 4, 2003 (Revised List of Quarantinable Communicable Diseases), section 1 of Executive Order 13295, as amended by Executive Order 13375 of April 1, 2005 (Amendment to Executive Order 13295 Relating to Certain Influenza Viruses and Quarantinable Communicable Diseases), and Executive Order 13674 of July 31, 2014 (Revised List of Quarantinable Communicable Diseases), shall be further amended by adding 'Measles' to the existing list after 'infectious Tuberculosis.'"
United States. Office of the Federal Register
Biden, Joseph R., Jr.
2021-09-22
-
Coast Guard Should Prioritize Upgrades to Rescue 21 Alaska and Expand Its Public Notifications During Outages
From the Highlights: "Following reports of persistent distress signal communication outages in Alaska, we evaluated whether the Coast Guard is adequately addressing the outages and conducting appropriate notifications to the public when outages occur."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2021-09-21
-
Addressing Environmental Justice Through NEPA [Updated September 21, 2021]
From the Document: "Some Members of Congress and the Biden Administration are exploring how to use the environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to ensure that environmental laws and policies fairly treat and reflect input from all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income. This principle is commonly referred to as 'environmental justice.' Congress enacted NEPA in 1969 to require federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of proposed federal actions prior to making decisions. Currently, NEPA does not require agencies to consider environmental justice, but some agencies do consider it as part of their NEPA processes as a result of Executive Order 12898 [hyperlink], issued in 1994. In its review [hyperlink] of NEPA regulations, the Biden Administration plans to consider how to incorporate environmental justice analyses into the NEPA process. Some Members of Congress have also shown an interest in this topic by holding hearings [hyperlink] or proposing legislation requiring consideration [hyperlink] of environmental justice during agency NEPA process. This Sidebar describes (1) how environmental justice is considered during the NEPA process; (2) how the federal courts have reviewed agency evaluations of the environmental justice effects of proposed projects in their NEPA processes; and (3) considerations for Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hart, Nina M.; Tsang, Linda
2021-09-21
-
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 2355, Opioid Prescription Verification Act of 2021
This is the Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate as ordered by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on July 21, 2021. From the Document: "H.R. 2355 would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to update materials that provide guidance for pharmacists, health care providers, and patients about when a pharmacist may decline to fill a prescription for a controlled substance. The updated materials would include information for pharmacists on how to verify the identity of the patient. Based on historical spending patterns for similar activities, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that costs to the federal government of developing and distributing those materials would not be significant. The bill would also specify criteria the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may use when determining amounts for grants to state, local, and tribal governments to prevent overdoses of controlled substances. Those new criteria could affect the amounts awarded to a specific entity, but CBO estimates they would not affect the total amount of grants awarded; therefore, the provision would have no federal budgetary effect."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2021-09-21
-
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 550, Immunization Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2021
This is the Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on July 21, 2021. From the Document: "H.R. 550 would authorize $400 million for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to improve and expand immunization information systems (IIS). The bill instructs the Secretary to award grants to state, local, tribal, and territorial public health departments for IIS improvements, to designate data and technology standards for IIS, and to submit a Congressional report. For this estimate, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] assumes H.R. 550 will be enacted near the beginning of fiscal year 2022. Based on historical spending on similar activities, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 550 would increase federal spending by $396 million over the 2022-2026 period, subject to the availability of appropriated funds."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2021-09-21
-
Workforce Diversity: Analysis of Federal Data Shows Hispanics Are Underrepresented in the Media Industry
From the Document: "As the U.S. population has become more diverse, many media companies have come to recognize the importance of employing a diverse workforce and reflecting diverse perspectives on screen and in print. However, news reports, studies, and policymakers have raised ongoing questions about racial and ethnic diversity in the media industry, including for Hispanic workers. [...] To describe representation of Hispanics within the media industry, we analyzed workforce data from the annual American Community Survey (ACS) Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) from the Census Bureau and from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's (EEOC) annual Employer Information Reports (EEO-1)."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-09-21
-
Lessons Learned from FEMA's Initial Response to COVID-19
From the Document: "During the initial months of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] response, the Nation faced dramatic shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare personnel as hospitals experienced an unprecedented demand for ventilators to treat patients. The objective of this audit was to determine how effectively FEMA supported and coordinated Federal efforts to distribute PPE and ventilators in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. [...] We made three recommendations to improve FEMA's current and future pandemic response operations."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
Salmon, Thomas; Starinsky, Yesenia; Campbell, Douglas . . .
2021-09-21
-
CBP Targeted Americans Associated with the 2018-2019 Migrant Caravan
From the Highlights: "In early 2019, a number of journalists, attorneys, and migrant caravan supporters raised concerns in the media and in litigation that CBP [U.S. Customs and Border Protection] took improper actions against them as a form of harassment due to their work on the migrant caravan. We conducted this review to evaluate these allegations. [...] We made six recommendations to improve CBP's controls on placing and removing lookouts and sharing U.S. citizens' sensitive information with foreign countries."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2021-09-20
-
China's Recent Trade Measures and Countermeasures: Issues for Congress [September 20, 2021]
From the Introduction: "This report assesses a set of interrelated trade laws, regulations, and policies that the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC or China) has adopted since 2020 that are designed to enhance its control over a wide range of commercial activity, within and outside of China, and to counter the reach of certain economic and national security-related policies and authorities of the United States and other governments. China, for example, has adopted a new law on export controls and related technology catalogues, new measures on the security review of foreign investment, measures to create and operationalize a list of 'unreliable entities,' 'blocking measures,' and a related anti-sanctions law, all of which seek to broadly limit the extraterritorial applications of U.S. and other foreign laws and policies of concern to China. The Chinese government also has drafted regulations that seek to enhance its control over critical materials such as rare earth elements (REEs), as well as data and scientific research."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sutter, Karen M.
2021-09-20
-
COVID-19: Selected Financial and Social Service Resources for Older Americans [Updated September 20, 2021]
From the Document: "This Insight links to selected resources for older constituents who have been financially affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Breslauer, Tamar B.; Napili, Angela; Overbay, Abigail R.
2021-09-20
-
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) COVID-19 Policies and Protocols at the Southwest Border [Updated September 20, 2021]
From the Document: "In recent months, an increase in the number of apprehensions of unauthorized migrants at the Southwest border by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is causing concern in border states [hyperlink] and communities [hyperlink] about the presence of migrants [hyperlink] who are COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] positive. Pandemic-related public health and travel restrictions [hyperlink] were established on March 21, 2020, by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and CBP [hyperlink]. Limited capacity in CBP holding facilities presents logistical and health safety challenges for migrant processing as CBP implements protocols to reduce the spread of COVID-19."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Singer, Audrey
2021-09-20
-
Executive Privilege and the January 6 Investigations: The Presidential Records Act and Relevant Judicial Considerations [September 20, 2021]
From the Document: "As discussed in this companion Sidebar [hyperlink], a former President retains the right to invoke executive privilege to protect covered communications that were made while in office. The strength of those protections, however, erode [hyperlink] over time and weaken further when not supported by the incumbent President. This Sidebar first discusses how these basic principles are reflected in the Presidential Records Act [hyperlink] (PRA) and its implementing regulations, which set forth rules for the management and disclosure of a former President's records by the National Archives. The Sidebar then discusses how both the PRA and constitutional considerations could be relevant to a brewing legal dispute between former President Trump and the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol (Select Committee) over access to the former President's records."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Garvey, Todd
2021-09-20
-
National Infrastructure Bank: Proposals in the 117th Congress [Updated September 20, 2021]
From the Introduction: "The term 'infrastructure' generally refers to long-lived, capital-intensive systems and facilities in the areas of transportation, energy, water, and telecommunications. Some broader definitions also include facilities for education, recreation, and health. Although the condition and performance of these systems are generally thought to be important for the nation's well-being, there is less agreement on the optimal level of infrastructure investment, how to maximize the effectiveness of spending, and the appropriate role of the federal government. State and local governments and the private sector provide the bulk of infrastructure investment. The federal role in infrastructure investment is important but limited in size and scope. For example, the federal government was responsible for 25% of total government highway outlays in 2018. The federal government supports infrastructure investment in four ways: (1) direct investment in federally owned infrastructure; (2) grants to nonfederal entities, especially state and local governments; (3) tax preferences that forgo federal revenue to provide incentives for nonfederal investment in infrastructure; and (4) loans and other types of credit assistance to nonfederal entities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Mallett, William J.
2021-09-20
-
U.S. Intelligence Community (IC): Appointment Dates and Appointment Legal Provisions for Selected IC Leadership [Updated September 20, 2021]
From the Document: "This report provides the names and appointment provisions for selected Intelligence Community (IC) senior officials, as reflected in U.S. Code, public laws, executive orders, and custom. 'Table 1' also includes the committees involved when Senate confirmation is required."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
DeVine, Michael E.
2021-09-20
-
Stepping in: The FCC's Authority to Preempt State Laws Under the Communications Act [Updated September 20, 2021]
From the Summary: "The line between federal and state authority plays a central role in modern communications law. Rather than fully displacing state law, the Communications Act of 1934 (Communications Act or Act)sets up a dual system of federal and state regulation. At the federal level, the Communications Act gives the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) broad authority to regulate wired and wireless telephony, radio transmissions, cable services, and matters that are ancillary to these areas. At the same time, however, the Act expressly preserves some state regulatory authority over these technologies. Consequently, the boundary between the FCC's authority and the states' has been a source of dispute. [...] This Report discusses these issues in more detail. It begins with an overview of the legal framework governing the FCC's preemption actions, first discussing general federal preemption principles and then explaining the FCC's preemption authority under the Communications Act. The Report then reviews recent FCC initiatives in which FCC preemption plays a key role. Specifically, it explains how the FCC has exercised its preemption authority--and the extent to which such authority has been challenged or is uncertain--in the areas of net neutrality, VoIP, 5G infrastructure deployment, community broadband, and state and local regulation of cable operators."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Linebaugh, Chris D.; Holmes, Eric N.
2021-09-20
