John Eggerton
Rep Doyle Vows to Continue Net Neutrality CRA Fight
House Communications Subcommittee Ranking Member Mike Doyle (D-PA) vowed to keep fighting to nullify the Federal Communications Commission's network neutrality rules rollback, but in outlining the road ahead, he also put a spotlight on the up-Hill battle. "Americans lost an important right today when the FCC’s order nullifying the federal Net Neutrality policy went into effect,” he said.
Net Neutrality Activists Get It in Gear
Network neutrality activist groups were lining up their protest efforts June 11 as the Federal Communications Commission's rules against online blocking, throttling and paid prioritization sunset in favor of a deregulatory regime centered on Federal Trade Commission oversight/enforcement.
Former FCC Chairman Wheeler Challenges Chairman Pai to Push for a House Net Neutrality Vote
Former Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler has challenged current Chairman Ajit Pai to push for a House vote on the Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to nullify Pai's Restoring Internet Freedom order rolling back network neutrality rules.
Senate Appropriations Committee Passes Ban on ZTE Tech Funding
Even as the Commerce Department was confirming a deal to remove an export ban affecting ZTE, Congress was moving to prevent government money to be used to buy ZTE equipment.
Appellate Court Decision Raises Issues With FTC Data Security Enforcement
A decision by the three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit could make it harder for the Federal Trade Commission to enforce online data security, or that is certainly the conclusion of Sen Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). Though, it is narrowly tailored to apply to a specific FTC enforcement tool.
SPECTRUM NOW bill introduced in both chambers
The Supplementing the Pipeline for Efficient Control of The Resources for Users Making New Opportunities for Wireless (SPECTRUM NOW) Act has been introduced to ensure there is enough money to fund efforts to get federal spectrum users to give up spectrum or share spectrum with commercial users. Sens Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) in the Senate, and Reps Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Rep Brett Guthrie (R-KY) in the House have introduced the bipartisan bill.
NPR: US Should Divide (C-Band) to Conquer 5G
National Public Radio is waving a caution flag as the Trump Administration pushes to open up the C-band (3.7-4.2 GHz.) for broadband, echoing comments by the National Association of Broadcasters. Its advice is to divide if it wants to conquer in the race to 5G. NPR has told the Federal Communications Comission it should reserve some C-band spectrum for wireless broadband, but should reserve the remainder for exclusive use by incumbents, like NPR's fixed satellite delivery of its programming.
NCTA, Google Team Up on 3.5 GHz Compromise
NCTA - The Internet & Television Association, Google, and a veritable host of others have gotten together on a compromise proposal for sharing the 3.5 GHz band, a proposal that includes a mix of large and small license areas.
Sinclair Responds to FCC Data Request
Sinclair provided the Federal Communications Commission with information in response to the commission's request for information following Sinclair's latest, and expected to be last, variation on its Tribune merger proposal. The FCC was apparently looking for historical data on retransmission consent and ad revenue.
NAB Says C-Band Sharing Isn't a Given
Broadcasters are warning the Federal Communications Commission not to weaken protections for current spectrum users, like broadcasters, in its race to free up more spectrum for wireless broadband. While that sounds like it could be a 2014 advisory on the potential impact of the broadcast incentive auction, it was actually the National Association of Broadcasters calling on the commission to require "detailed" technical proposals for sharing C-band spectrum rather than simply "assume that technical solutions will appear that will allow incompatible services to share spectrum."