John Eggerton
Commissioner Carr Praises Court Decision Not to Block 5G Order
Federal Communications Commissioner Brendan Carr praised a US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit decision not to stay the FCC's Sept 2018 5G order. That was the order, motormanned by Commissioner Carr, that took various steps to speed wireless infrastructure deployment. “Yesterday’s court decision is more good news for U.S. leadership on 5G," said Commissioner Carr, issuing his own press release since staffers have been furloughed during the shutdown.
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Attorney General Nominee William Barr Will Recuse Himself from AT&T-Time Warner Challenge
Attorney General nominee William Barr, a former board member of Time Warner, has agreed to recuse himself from the Justice Department's challenge to the AT&T-Time Warner merger. Currently, the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit is considering DOJ's appeal of a district court decision that the merger did not violate antitrust laws. Barr made the promise to Seante Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).
New Judge in Net Neutrality Oral Argument
There is a new judge hearing oral argument in the Feb 1 challenge by Mozilla et al. to the Federal Communications Commission's recent rollback of network neutrality rules. Judge Judith Rogers is out and Judge Robert Wilkins is in, according to the oral argument calendar on the court's site. There was no explanation for the switch. The original panel had been Judges Rogers, Patricia Millett and Stephen Williams, with Judge Rogers presiding. With Judge Rogers out, Judge Millett will be presiding.
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Senate Confirms New Director of the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy
Dr. Kelvin Droegemeier has been confirmed as the new director of the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). “The Senate has confirmed a highly respected scientist and academic to help further our nation’s economic competitiveness and national security,” said Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune (R-SD). “I’m looking forward to working with Dr. Droegemeier and expect his leadership will benefit the scientific community and our nation." The director acts as the President’s chief adviser on science.
Senate Confirms Geoffrey Starks and Brendan Carr to FCC
The Senate has confirmed Commissioner Brendan Carr to a full, five-year term and has confirmed Geoffrey Starks to the open seat on the Federal Communications Commission. Both had already been approved by the Senate Commerce Committee -- Starks in June and Carr in Jan 2017 for his current role filling out the unexpired term of former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler. The House does not have to follow suit, so once they are sworn in, which could happen soon, the FCC will be at full strength with three Republicans and two Democrats.
Judges Picked to Hear Net Neutrality Challenge
The three-judge panel has been picked to hear the appeal of Mozilla et al. to the Federal Communications Commission's network neutrality deregulation. According to the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, the Feb 1 oral argument in the Mozilla appeal will be heard by Judges Judith Rogers, Patricia Millett, and Stephen Williams.
NBC/Telemundo Pays $495,000 to Settle FCC Investigation Over Children's TV Programming Obligations
NBC/Telemundo has agreed to pay $495,000 to settle an Federal Communications Commission investigation into whether it fulfilled its children's TV programming obligation--in several instances, it didn't.
Huawei: FCC Can't Block USF Funding
Chinese telecom Huawei has again told the Federal Communications Commission that the commission's proposal to exclude some Chinese companies' technology--Huawei and ZTE-- from Universal Service Fund broadband subsidy support is both legally and factually deficient. Government contractors can't buy equipment from Chinese telecoms ZTE or Huawei as part of those contracts, and must submit a plan for phasing out the use of that equipment from its systems. That came with President Donald Trump's signing on Aug 13 of the John S.
Rhode Island Sues Google Over Google+ Breach
Rhode Island is suing Google over a data breach the state said compromised the information of 52.5 million users. That is according to the office of RI General Treasurer Seth Magaziner—the state's pension fund is invested in Google. The pension fund filed a motion with the court to head a class action shareholder suit after it was reported that Google execs had not disclosed the breach, which involved the Google+ attempt by the company to capture some of the social media market.
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Dispatch from the Chairman's Dinner (updated)
At the annual FCC Chairman's Dinner hosted by the Federal Communications Bar Association, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai took some obligatory shots at various industry players.