February 2017

BENTON'S COMMUNICATIONS-RELATED HEADLINES for THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2017

Today's Events

• Successful Models for State Broadband Subsidy Programs, SHLB Coalition -- https://www.benton.org/node/254820
• The Future of Digital Rights Is A Library Card, New America -- https://www.benton.org/node/254460

COMMUNICATIONS & DEMOCRACY
   Trump Accuses Media of 'Blind Hatred'
   President Trump: Flynn treated badly by 'fake media' [links to Benton summary]
   Trump presser takes questions exclusively from conservative media [links to Hill, The]
   President Obama lectured. President Trump declares. The big difference between a Trump and Obama news conference. - analysis [links to Benton summary]
   Journalists, Battered and Groggy, Find a Renewed Sense of Mission [links to Benton summary]
   Trump Voters Show President They Can Complain on Twitter, Too [links to New York Times]
   Bookstores Stoke Trump Resistance With Action, Not Just Words [links to New York Times]
   Conservative Talk Radio Stands by President Trump Despite Turmoil [links to New York Times]
   Stephen Colbert vs. Jimmy Fallon: What's the role of satire in the Trump era? [links to Christian Science Monitor]
   How Information Fuels the Power of our Democracy - Knight Foundation op-ed [links to Benton summary]
   House members: EPA officials may be using Signal to “spread their goals covertly” [links to Benton summary]
   Conservatives demanding details on federal workers' encryption use [links to Politico]
   Sean Spicer isn't finished [links to Benton summary]
   Our president is a TV addict. It’s going to get the best of him, but he’ll never get the best of it. [links to Washington Post]

INTERNET/BROADBAND
   Rural Broadband, Restoring FCC to 5 Members Top Walden's Agenda
   Concerns about FCC E-rate letter on fiber broadband deployment - ALA press release
   Google Fiber Sheds Workers As It Looks to a Wireless Future [links to Benton summary]
   Telco, cable-backed Missouri bill could limit municipal broadband growth, opposition group says [links to Benton summary]
   Podcast: Net neutrality, the FCC, and the digital divide [links to Brookings]

SECURITY/PRIVACY
   ISPs ask lawmakers to kill privacy rules, and they’re happily obliging
   Yahoo warns users of potential malicious activity on their accounts [links to Benton summary]
   Twitter to judge: Let us tell everyone exactly how many secret orders we get [links to Benton summary]
   Employers are creepily analyzing your emails and Slack chats to see if you’re happy [links to Quartz]
   What could happen if you refuse to unlock your phone at the US border? [links to Ars Technica]

WIRELESS/SPECTRUM
   Bipartisan House Commerce Committee Leaders Comment on Incentive Auction’s Conclusion - press release
   99.6 percent of new smartphones run Android or iOS [links to Verge, The]
   T-Mobile execs eye pay-TV industry [links to Fierce]
   CTIA pushes FCC to streamline small-cell deployment policies [links to Fierce]
   AT&T LTE-M Internet of Things Network to Be Nationwide by 2Q [links to telecompetitor]
   Amazon and Google Consider Turning Smart Speakers Into Home Phones [links to Benton summary]

ACCESSIBILITY
   FCC Settles Investigation Of Relay Service Providers - press release
   For the Blind, an Actual-Reality Headset [links to Benton summary]

TELEVISION
   Prosecutors may be probing Fox News over Ailes sexual harassment claims [links to Benton summary]
   The TV Is Hard to Hear—but You Can Fix That [links to Wall Street Journal]

CONTENT
   Deloitte: 2017 Tech Trends [links to Deloitte]
   Mass entertainment in the digital age is still about blockbusters, not endless choice [links to Economist, The]

OWNERSHIP
   Verizon Said to Near Yahoo Deal at Lower Price After Hacks [links to Benton summary]
   Time Warner Shareholders Approve AT&T Merger [links to Benton summary]
   Windstream, EarthLink secure regulatory approvals to complete merger [links to Benton summary]
   CBS’ Moonves Hopes FCC Raises Ownership cap [links to TVNewsCheck]

ADVERTISING
   20th Century Fox Used Fake News to Publicize ‘A Cure for Wellness’ Movie [links to Benton summary]

JOURNALISM
   Who Says Journalism Is A Dead-End Major? - TVNewsCheck op-ed [links to Benton summary]
   Family-owned Colorado paper threatens state legislator with lawsuit over 'Fake News' accusations [links to Columbia Journalism Review]

LABOR
   The Next Big Blue-Collar Job Is Coding [links to Wired]

PHILANTHROPY
   MacArthur Foundation Names 8 Semifinalists in 100&Change Grant Competition - press release [links to Benton summary]

POLICYMAKERS
   Senate Names Communications Subcommittee Members
   Andy Puzder withdraws as Labor secretary nominee amid Republican opposition [links to Los Angeles Times]
   There's only one choice for FTC chair, and she's already got the job - op-ed [links to Benton summary]
   Jeffrey Neumann named FCC Media Bureau Chief Engineer [links to Broadcasting&Cable]
   Interview with Microsoft founder Bill Gates [links to Politico]

COMPANY NEWS
   Alphabet is sending hundreds of staff from its internet access unit to Google [links to Benton summary]

STORIES FROM ABROAD
   Venezuela Blocks CNN en Español Over Report on Passport Fraud [links to New York Times]
   India Launches 104 Satellites From a Single Rocket, Ramping Up a Space Race [links to New York Times]

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COMMUNICATIONS & DEMOCRACY

TRUMP ACCUSES MEDIA OF 'BLIND HATRED'
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
President Donald Trump is doubling down on his attacks on the media (except for Fox News) and the intelligence community as the media report on the resignation/firing of Trump's National Security Advisor Michael Flynn over contacts with Russia before the election, with some help with leaks from the latter. It also comes amid some bipartisan support for a continuing Hill investigation into Russian influence on the election. The President fired off a series of tweets early Feb 15 beginning with: "The fake news media is going crazy with their conspiracy theories and blind hatred. @MSNBC & @CNN are unwatchable. @foxandfriends is great!" That was followed by "This Russian connection non-sense is merely an attempt to cover-up the many mistakes made in Hillary Clinton's losing campaign," and "Information is being illegally given to the failing @nytimes & @washingtonpost by the intelligence community (NSA and FBI?). Just like Russia." Trump then tweeted "The real scandal here is that classified information is illegally given out by 'intelligence' like candy. Very un-American!"
benton.org/headlines/trump-accuses-media-blind-hatred | Broadcasting&Cable | The Hill
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AGENDA

RURAL BROADBAND, RESTORING FULL FCC TOP WALDEN'S AGENDA
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Gary Arlen]
House Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) outlined a broad agenda for the committee and its Communications Subcommittee Feb 14, with items ranging from legislative action on Title II to a comprehensive examination of Federal Communications Commission and National Telecommunications and Information Administration "reauthorization" to accelerated rural broadband deployment to increased oversight of federal cybersecurity initiatives. At the monthly luncheon of the Media Institute, Chairman Walden endorsed the "process reforms" that FCC Chairman Ajit Pai (who was in the audience) has already introduced. Chairman Walden complimented Pai for successfully doing administratively "what Congress has been trying to do legislatively." As for the Open Internet rules, the Chairman Walden said, "Republicans are open to legislative solutions" and that net-neutrality decisions "should be done legislatively." But he acknowledged "it will take time" to develop new procedures, saying, "We have draft legislation" in the works. Chairman Walden called deployment of rural broadband a top priority on the Committee's communications agenda, pulling in examples of the need for wireless broadband. In particular, he emphasized the need to "lower the cost of broadband development."
benton.org/headlines/rural-broadband-restoring-fcc-5-members-top-waldens-agenda | Multichannel News | BNA
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INTERNET/BROADBAND

CONCERNS ABOUT FCC E-RATE LETTER ON FIBER BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT
[SOURCE: American Library Association, AUTHOR: Marijke Visser]
While we anticipated the Federal Communications Commission would take a look at its Universal Service Fund (USF) programs once Chairman Ajit Pai was in place, we did not anticipate the speed at which moves to review and evaluate previous actions would occur. After the Commission retracted the “E-rate Modernization Report,” our E-rate ears have been itching with concern that our bread and butter USF program would attract undue attention. We did not have long to wait. Last week, FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly sent a letter to the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) seeking detailed information on libraries and schools that applied in 2016 for E-rate funding for dark fiber and self-provisioned fiber. Our main concern is that the tenor of the Commissioner’s inquiries calls into question the need for these fiber applications. The Commission’s reforms to allow self-construction costs for dark fiber and applicant owned fiber were correct in 2014 and remain so. In addition, applicants will evaluate and select the best, most cost effective fiber option for their library or school. If the last few weeks are any indication of activity at the FCC, we’re in for a busy spring.
benton.org/headlines/concerns-about-fcc-e-rate-letter-fiber-broadband-deployment | American Library Association
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SECURITY/PRIVACY

ISPS ASK LAWMAKERS TO KILL PRIVACY RULES
[SOURCE: ars technica, AUTHOR: Jon Brodkin]
Republican Sens are reportedly preparing a legislative move to overturn privacy rules that require Internet service providers to protect their customers' online data. Sen Jeff Flake (R-AZ) confirmed that he plans to introduce a resolution that would roll back the Federal Communications Commission’s broadband privacy rules via the Congressional Review Act (CRA), which allows Congress to eliminate agency rules with a simple majority vote. Sen Flake had a dozen co-sponsors on board as of last week, but he hasn't said when exactly he'll submit the resolution. In the House, Communications Subcommittee Chairman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) said last week she was speaking with colleagues in the Senate "daily" about how to best utilize the CRA to undo broadband privacy. The flurry of action comes shortly after industry lobby groups asked Congress to use the CRA to undo the privacy rules. The rules passed in October require home and mobile ISPs to get opt-in consent from consumers before sharing Web browsing data and other private information with advertisers and other third parties.
benton.org/headlines/isps-ask-lawmakers-kill-privacy-rules-and-theyre-happily-obliging | Ars Technica
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WIRELESS/SPECTRUM

AUCTION STATEMENT
[SOURCE: House of Representatives Commerce Committee, AUTHOR: Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR), Chairman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Rep Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Rep Mike Doyle (D-PA)]
The incentive auction’s conclusion with more than $19 billion in bids marks the end of the second largest auction and years of successful work in bringing market forces to bear on spectrum use policy. The broadcast incentive auction revolutionized the way that our nation makes spectrum allocation decisions by empowering broadcasters, businesses, networks, and consumers alike. Not only did the auction successfully encourage investment and competition by bringing 70 MHz of licensed and 14 MHz of unlicensed spectrum to meet our nation’s wireless broadband needs, but also generated $7 billion for deficit reduction. We thank the broadcasters and wireless bidders that ensured the auction was a success and are looking forward to the FCC working expeditiously to repack the remaining broadcasters without disruption to consumers. We will continue to work together to free up our airwaves and usher in the future of wireless broadband.
benton.org/headlines/bipartisan-house-commerce-committee-leaders-comment-incentive-auctions-conclusion | House of Representatives Commerce Committee | B&C
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ACCESSIBILITY

FCC SETTLES INVESTIGATION OF RELAY SERVICE PROVIDERS
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission, AUTHOR: Press release]
The Federal Communications Commission announced a $9.1 million settlement with two companies which provide telecommunications services to consumers with hearing and speech disabilities. In addition to a monetary penalty for improper billing, the settlement with telecommunications relay service (TRS) providers Purple Communications and CSDVRS repays the TRS Fund and establishes a 5-year compliance plan to ensure that services going forward incorporate the required checks. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Mike O’Rielly unanimously approved the action.
benton.org/headlines/fcc-settles-investigation-relay-service-providers | Federal Communications Commission | The Hill
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POLICYMAKERS

SENATE NAMES COMMUNICATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
It took a while, but the Democratic senators have chosen the new subcommittee assignments for the Senate Commerce Committee, which oversees communications issues including the Federal Communications Commission. Returning as Ranking Member of the Senate Communications, Technology, Innovation and the Internet Subcommittee is Sen Brian Schatz (D-HI). Rounding out the committee are Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tom Udall (D-NM), Gary Peters (D-MI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV). The reason the process took as long as it did was the usual jockeying for position for assignments, plus added seats given Democrats' greater proportion of the Senate due to gains in the election. The communications subcommittee lost two members, Sens Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Joe Manchin (D-WV), but gained four--Sens Duckworth and Baldwin, Hassan, and Cortez Masto. Unlike the House, historically most of the communications issues are handled at the committee level.
benton.org/headlines/senate-names-communications-subcommittee-members | Broadcasting&Cable
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