December 1, 2016 (More Trump Appointments)
TV Legend, Former NBC CEO Grant Tinker
BENTON'S COMMUNICATIONS-RELATED HEADLINES for THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2016
Today's Events --
- Sustainability, smart cities, and the Internet of things, Brookings -- https://www.benton.org/node/250306
- 30th Annual Chairman’s Dinner, Federal Communications Bar Association -- https://www.benton.org/node/250932
- The Trump Victory and 2016 Election - What the Media Got Right & Wrong, National Press Club's Broadcast Committee -- https://www.benton.org/node/250941
TRUMP TRANSITION
President-elect Trump May Appoint Pence Ally And Telecom Deregulator To FCC
Tech, communications, and IP policy priorities in a Trump Administration - AEI op-ed
Let's build infrastructure for the future, not just today - The Hill op-ed [links to Benton summary]
Tech groups reach out to President-elect Trump for infrastructure boost
Will net neutrality survive Donald Trump? [links to Verge, The]
How should Donald Trump’s administration regulate the Internet? - WaPo op-ed [links to Benton summary]
President-elect Trump’s latest FCC advisor opposes Title II, supports data cap exemptions
FCC's Rosenworcel Could Still Get Confirmation Vote
President-elect Trump Appoints Legislative Cyber Leaders to Transition Team
President-elect Trump names billionaire investor Wilbur Ross as Commerce Secretary
President-elect Trump hires put premium on TV prowess
Rep Walden emerges as clear favorite in House Commerce Committee Chairman Race [links to Hill, The]
INTERNET/BROADBAND
Broadband Subsidies for Community Anchor Institutions
Transforming Communities: Broadband Goals for 2017 and Beyond
Remarks of NTIA's Strickling at Transforming Communities: Broadband Goals for 2017 and Beyond - speech
iPass and Telrite Corporation Partner to Bring Unlimited Wi-Fi Access to Lifeline Program Subscribers - press release [links to Benton summary]
Reimagining cities from the Internet up - Medium op-ed [links to Benton summary]
SECURITY/PRIVACY
FBI to gain expanded hacking powers as Senate effort to block fails
FBI and NSA Poised to Gain New Surveillance Powers Under Trump [links to Benton summary]
Congress has one more shot to delay government hacking expansion [links to Hill, The]
Public Knowledge Hosts Connected Car Security Flaws Briefing December 6 [links to Public Knowledge]
Google Agrees to Settle E-mail Privacy Battle [links to MediaPost]
GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS
If Trump Tweets It, Is It News? A Quandary for the News Media [links to New York Times]
Is a retweet an endorsement from President-elect Trump? [links to Washington Post]
Get ready for the cable-news presidency [links to Washington Post]
ELECTIONS & MEDIA
Sen Cruz calls for lifting campaign fundraising limits [links to Benton summary]
What Obama forgets in his critique of the media [links to Washington Post]
TV executives need to better answer tough questions, not duck the press [links to Benton summary]
JOURNALISM
Washington Post Editor Marty Baron Has a Message to Journalists in the Trump Era [links to Vanity Fair]
Trump’s 7 Techniques To Control The Media [links to Huffington Post]
Our Last, Best Chance to Reinvent Local News - Tim Karr op-ed [links to Benton summary]
Attention all journalists: US border patrol agents can search your phones [links to Columbia Journalism Review]
U.S. border agents stopped journalist from entry and took his phones [links to Washington Post]
The age of the cyborg in journalism - CJR op-ed [links to Benton summary]
Remember, America: Hating the press is not American - CJR op-ed [links to Benton summary]
WIRELESS/SPECTRUM
Achieving sustainability in a 5G world [links to Brookings]
American Cable Association to FCC: Deny Nexstar-Media General Waiver [links to Benton summary]
CONTENT
Mossberg: Facebook can — and should — wipe out fake news [links to Vox]
The Far Right Has a New Digital Safe Space [links to Benton summary]
Netflix is finally letting you download videos for offline viewing [links to Washington Post]
YouTube Adds 4K Live Streaming [links to Broadcasting&Cable]
Apple, Google, Amazon ask Trump for focus on financial tech [links to Benton summary]
Bitcoin service ordered to hand over two years of user records to IRS [links to Verge, The]
OWNERSHIP
Level 3 Acquisition Will Completely Transform CenturyLink, Enterprise Market [links to Benton summary]
Now only the Supreme Court can overturn Samsung’s $120 million Apple patent dispute [links to Verge, The]
HEALTH
FTC Staff Comment: Proposal to Expand Access to Telehealth Services Could Benefit Delaware Speech and Hearing Patients [links to Federal Trade Commission]
POLICYMAKERS
At last, a Presidential Medal of Freedom for communications - Brotman, Brookings [links to Benton summary]
COMPANY NEWS
Altice USA to Skip DOCSIS 3.1, Roll Out All-Fiber Network
STORIES FROM ABROAD
Uber, Seeking to Expand, Defends Itself at Europe’s Highest Court [links to Benton summary]
Can Privacy Policies Evolve with Smart City Tech? A Test Case in Kansas City [links to International Telecommunication Union]
TRUMP TRANSITION
TRUMP MAY APPOINT PENCE ALLY AND TELECOM DEREGULATOR TO FCC
[SOURCE: Fortune, AUTHOR: Aaron Pressman]
A former ally of Vice President-elect Mike Pence with a strong focus on deregulation could be in line for an appointment to the Federal Communications Commission, possibly as the next chairman. Brandt Hershman, a longtime Indiana state senator, is rumored to be the leading candidate for an opening on the agency, which oversees the telecommunications, broadcasting, and cable industries, apparently. Hershman worked closely with the vice president-elect after Pence was elected Indiana’s governor in 2012. Hershman, the senate majority floor leader, authored a massive law to deregulate telecommunications in Indiana a decade ago. The bill ended government regulation of phone rates, freed up cable companies from needing to get dozens of local licenses to offer service, and stopped cities and towns from setting up their own municipal broadband services.
benton.org/headlines/president-elect-trump-may-appoint-pence-ally-and-telecom-deregulator-fcc | Fortune
Share: Twitter | Facebook
back to top
TECH, COMMUNICATIONS, AND IP POLICY PRIORITIES IN A TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
[SOURCE: American Enterprise Institute, AUTHOR: Tom Sydnor]
[Commentary] Under President Donald Trump, technology, communications, and IP policy have an almost “blank slate” quality that I have never before seen. The President and his Administration will have a remarkable opportunity to re-think the policies of several prior Administrations and develop better ones. Here are a few thoughts about how that process could proceed.
Improved cybersecurity will be essential: For too long, on the Internet, basic American rights, including rights to property and privacy, have all but ceased to exist when private or proprietary data is digitized and stored on Internet-connected devices that can be accessed by thieves, “activists,” or foreign governments. That must end.
End “crony capitalism” throughout technology, communications, and IP law and policy: The new Administration wants to end “crony capitalism” — but that term may be too kind. There is no “capitalism” involved in securing a marketplace advantage by using your political influence to buy from the government some unfair advantage for yourself, or some crippling regulation of your direct competitors or producers of complementary goods.
In short, focus on ensuring that private property rights — including IP rights — remain enforceable and enforced, even on the Internet, and consider repealing laws or regulations that attempt to impose one-sided controls on two-sided relationships between businesses that should be expected to settle their differences in the marketplace. These two principles, consistently applied, would do much to improve technology law and policy and reduce regulatory arbitrage.
[Tom Sydnor is a Visiting Fellow with AEI. Previously, he served as Director of the Center for the Study of Digital Property at the Progress & Freedom Foundation.]
benton.org/headlines/tech-communications-and-ip-policy-priorities-trump-administration | American Enterprise Institute
Share: Twitter | Facebook
back to top
TECH GROUPS REACH OUT TO TRUMP
[SOURCE: The Hill, AUTHOR: Ali Breland]
More than a dozen tech groups extended an olive branch to President-elect Donald Trump, penning a joint letter to the President-elect congratulating him on his win and offering recommendations for working with the tech sector. “We stand ready to help your Administration tap into 21st century innovation to achieve prosperity for the nation,” read the letter from a coalition of 17 tech trade groups The letter was signed by leaders from trade associations including the Information Technology Industry Council and Internet Association, which represent companies such as Google, Facebook and Intel. “We recognize a critical early step in achieving your goals of moving the country forward in a productive way will be identifying the right people for critical positions,” the trade association leaders wrote. “We would welcome the opportunity to meet with your leadership team to discuss our policy and personnel ideas in greater depth.” Their recommendations included support for investing technology infrastructure and tax and regulatory reform to spur job growth.
benton.org/headlines/tech-groups-reach-out-president-elect-trump-infrastructure-boost | Hill, The | read the letter | B&C
Share: Twitter | Facebook
back to top
TRUMP'S LATEST FCC ADVISOR
[SOURCE: ars technica, AUTHOR: Jon Brodkin]
President-elect Donald Trump announced a third advisor to oversee the Federal Communications Commission's transition from Democratic to Republican control. Roslyn Layton, Trump's new addition, joins Jeffrey Eisenach and Mark Jamison on the FCC transition team. All three are outspoken opponents of the FCC's Title II network neutrality rules and are affiliated with the conservative American Enterprise Institute (AEI). Layton argued on the AEI blog that government regulations aren't necessary to protect net neutrality. "Regulation proponents argue that without such rules your Internet provider would speed up or slow down websites," she wrote. "There have never been rules against this, but Internet providers don’t do it anyway. Simply put, the business opportunity to deliver an open Internet is far greater. Failing that, antitrust laws deter discriminatory behavior, already ensuring net neutrality." Layton opposed proposed rules intended to provide alternatives to set-top boxes that must be rented from cable TV companies and customer privacy rules for Internet providers. She also supports ISPs' right to accept money in exchange for exempting some services from data caps.
benton.org/headlines/president-elect-trumps-latest-fcc-advisor-opposes-title-ii-supports-data-cap-exemptions | Ars Technica
Share: Twitter | Facebook
back to top
FCC'S ROSENWORCEL COULD STILL GET CONFIRMATION VOTE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
There was some buzz late on Nov 29 that Democratic Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel of the Federal Communications Commission could get an 11th hour confirmation vote after all. Without that Senate vote, she would have to leave the commission at the beginning of January. Retiring Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said they were close to a deal for Commissioner Rosenworcel's vote. Incoming Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) was also said to be interested in the outcome. Apparently, they had been told that if Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) could get some Democratic help with his pick for a seat on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which has also been held up, Commissioner Rosenworcel might be able to get a vote.
benton.org/headlines/fccs-rosenworcel-could-still-get-confirmation-vote | Broadcasting&Cable | B&C
Share: Twitter | Facebook
back to top
TRUMP APPOINTS LEGISLATIVE CYBER LEADERS TO TRANSITION TEAM
[SOURCE: nextgov, AUTHOR: Joseph Marks]
President-elect Donald Trump named a trio of congressional cyber leaders to his transition team, including House Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes (R-CA). The appointments could give some indication of a serious cyber focus for the incoming Trump Administration, whose cyber positions have been largely opaque. Rep Nunes, who co-sponsored the House version of cyber information sharing legislation that became law in 2016, has been floated as a possible successor to James Clapper as director of national intelligence. Rep Nunes has led the intelligence committee since the beginning of the current Congress. He will serve on the transition team’s executive committee. Rep Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) will serve as a vice chair of the transition team. Rep Blackburn is vice chairwoman of the House Commerce Committee and co-sponsor of a bill that would create a national standard securing customer data and a standard benchmark for when companies must notify customers about a breach. Also on the executive committee is Rep Tom Marino (R-PA) who serves on the House Homeland Security Committee panel with responsibility for cybersecurity.
benton.org/headlines/president-elect-trump-appoints-legislative-cyber-leaders-transition-team | nextgov
Share: Twitter | Facebook
back to top
TRUMP NAMES WILBUR ROSS AS COMMERCE SEC
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Jim Puzzanghera]
President-elect Donald Trump has chosen billionaire financier Wilbur Ross, known as the king of bankruptcy for his investments in distressed properties, to serve as Commerce Secretary. If confirmed, Ross would become the Trump Administration’s chief liaison with the business community and a leading advocate for US trade abroad. Ross said he wanted to fix “dumb trade” deals made by the US and would work to improve the quality of US jobs. Like President-elect Trump, Ross has been critical of US trade deals. He sharply criticized trade negotiators and called for the US to withdraw from the yet-to-be-ratified Trans-Pacific Partnership and to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement. Trump has pledged to do both upon taking office.
benton.org/headlines/president-elect-trump-names-billionaire-investor-wilbur-ross-commerce-secretary | Los Angeles Times
Share: Twitter | Facebook
back to top
TRUMP HIRES PUT PREMIUM ON TV PROWESS
[SOURCE: The Hill, AUTHOR: Niall Stanage]
For all Donald Trump's attacks on the media, a TV career seems to help the chances of anyone hoping to get a job in his Administration. In recent days, President-elect Trump has appointed KT McFarland, a Fox News contributor, as his deputy national security advisor, and met with Sheriff David Clarke, a more controversial figure who frequently appears on the same network. The TV prowess of Trump’s campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, has been widely reported to boost her standing with her boss. Meanwhile, President-elect Trump’s national security advisor, retired Gen Mike Flynn, is a frequent presence on Fox, as are several politicians apparently under consideration for positions, including former UN ambassador John Bolton and former Arkansas Gov and two-time presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. The focus on TV commentators is beginning to attract attention of its own. The Washington Post noted the trend and suggested that Trump was in the business of “stocking the federal government with … people that he’s seen on TV and likes.” It could be as simple as that. But it could also be that Trump — who has taken the use of social media to an art form, albeit a deeply controversial one — has a keener eye than most for the importance of effective TV communication.
benton.org/headlines/president-elect-trump-hires-put-premium-tv-prowess | Hill, The
Share: Twitter | Facebook
back to top
INTERNET/BROADBAND
BROADBAND SUBSIDIES FOR COMMUNITY ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS
[SOURCE: Benton Foundation, AUTHOR: Gina Spade]
[Commentary] Studies show community anchor institutions (CAIs) often cannot afford to purchase the broadband capacity they need to serve their communities. While the E-rate and Rural Healthcare programs have been enormously helpful, many schools, libraries, and healthcare providers still report they cannot purchase sufficient broadband because of the cost or because robust broadband networks are not available. Many other anchor institutions—such as public housing, community colleges, community centers, and other community-based organizations—do not receive federal subsidies for broadband connectivity and have even more trouble finding the resources to pay for reliable broadband. Federal, state, and local governments need to address the connectivity challenges of tomorrow by providing additional financial resources and incentives to CAIs so that they can afford to purchase broadband services that meet their needs.
[Gina Spade is the founder of Broadband Legal Strategies, a law firm specializing in universal service issues]
benton.org/headlines/broadband-subsidies-community-anchor-institutions | Benton Foundation
Share: Twitter | Facebook
back to top
TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Gary Arlen]
As if there were any doubt, Google and its policy allies will continue to push their vision for Smart Cities with a focus on education and health applications during the coming years. Rural plus small-town deployment will remain a centerpiece of their political efforts. At a Next Century Cities (NCC) program in Washington on Nov 30, bipartisan speakers extolled broadband's value and some, such as Sen Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), indicated plans to keep their agenda alive no matter what policy barriers lie ahead. "Transforming Communities: Broadband Goals for 2017 and Beyond," the title of the event, was sponsored by Google Fiber, the Ford Foundation, Internet2 and Harrison Edwards. The program was held at Google's Washington office. In prepared remarks, Sen Klobuchar said, “Everyone, from the farmers in rural Minnesota to those in our towns and cities, must be able to log on and participate in this new digital economy.” Sen Angus King (I-ME), described high-speed broadband's capability to enable people "whether they live in rural Maine or New York City, to realize unprecedented economic, educational and cultural opportunities." The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition and US Ignite, which supports next-generation Internet applications, co-hosted the event. Other speakers included several mayors, school and library administrators plus familiar broadband cheerleaders such as Harvard Law professor Susan Crawford, Gigi Sohn, the outgoing counselor to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, and Brookings Institute senior fellow Blair Levin.
benton.org/headlines/transforming-communities-broadband-goals-2017-and-beyond | Multichannel News | Next Century Cities
Share: Twitter | Facebook
back to top
REMARKS OF NTIA'S STRICKLING
[SOURCE: National Telecommunications and Information Administration, AUTHOR: Lawrence Strickling]
As this conference focuses on broadband goals for the future and setting priorities for the next Administration, particularly the possibility of a new infrastructure program, I would like to offer my evaluation of what worked well in the Obama Administration to expand broadband access and adoption. The broadband grant programs we developed and managed at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration provided an important opportunity to invest in the nation's future and spurred private investment and economic development. We learned a lot and we continue to share those lessons with communities around the nation through our BroadbandUSA program. I am very proud of the solid foundation NTIA and the Obama Administration laid over the last eight years to connect communities across America and to expand the adoption of broadband services by many Americans. But it is clear that there is more work to be done, and we need to continue to learn and build on our successes. Going forward, NTIA has an enthusiastic team of experts in place who stand ready to work with communities, policymakers and all of you in this room to continue building out the digital infrastructure needed to help compete in the global economy and narrow the digital divide. As I depart NTIA in a few weeks, my hope is that NTIA's strong record of accomplishment of the last eight years will continue.
First, we must focus on communities and the critical role they play in the success of any of these;
Second, to the extent the government considers new funding to build broadband infrastructure, sustainability must be a top priority;
Third, any new assistance program must ensure that dollars are provided to organizations that have a proven record of building and managing a broadband network. And they must be given the leeway to design their projects in a way to satisfy the requirement of sustainability; and
Fourth, to the extent any public money is allocated for middle-mile networks, we should continue to require open access so that last-mile providers can take advantage of that investment.
benton.org/headlines/remarks-ntias-strickling-transforming-communities-broadband-goals-2017-and-beyond | National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Share: Twitter | Facebook
back to top
SECURITY/PRIVACY
FBI TO GAIN EXPANDED HACKING POWERS AS SENATE EFFORT TO BLOCK FAILS
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Dustin Volz]
A last-ditch effort in the Senate to block or delay rule changes that would expand the US government's hacking powers failed Nov 30, despite concerns the changes would jeopardize the privacy rights of innocent Americans and risk possible abuse by the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump. Sen Ron Wyden (D-OR) attempted three times to delay the changes, which will take effect Dec 1 and allow US judges will be able to issue search warrants that give the FBI the authority to remotely access computers in any jurisdiction, potentially even overseas. His efforts were blocked by Sen John Cornyn (R-TX), the Senate's second-ranking Republican. The changes will allow judges to issue warrants in cases when a suspect uses anonymizing technology to conceal the location of his or her computer or for an investigation into a network of hacked or infected computers, such as a botnet. In a speech from the Senate floor, Sen Wyden said that the changes to Rule 41 of the federal rules of criminal procedure amounted to "one of the biggest mistakes in surveillance policy in years."
benton.org/headlines/fbi-gain-expanded-hacking-powers-senate-effort-block-fails | Reuters
Share: Twitter | Facebook
back to top
COMPANY NEWS
ALTICE USA TO SKIP DOCSIS 3.1, ROLL OUT ALL-FIBER NETWORK
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Jeff Baumgartner]
Altice USA is placing a bet on fiber that’s so large that it will become grossly inaccurate to refer to the company as a “cable” provider in the years to come. Altice USA, the service provider comprised of Altice NV’s acquisitions of Cablevision Systems and Suddenlink Communications, has embarked on an ambitious investment initiative that will skip DOCSIS 3.1 and instead focus on a fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) upgrade that will encompass the bulk of its footprint over the next five years. The five-year deployment schedule, referred to by Altice USA as “Generation Gigaspeed,” is slated to start in 2017 and bring FTTP to its entire Optimum (former Cablevision) footprint and to most of its Suddenlink footprint. The company plans to announce its initial rollout markets in the coming months. It’s a big and bold move, as the combined footprint of Optimum and Suddenlink pass about 8.3 million fiber/cable homes. Altice USA’s plan also bucks the industry trend.
benton.org/headlines/altice-usa-skip-docsis-31-roll-out-all-fiber-network | Multichannel News
Share: Twitter | Facebook
back to top