BENTON'S COMMUNICATIONS-RELATED HEADLINES for FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017
Independence, Net Neutrality, and E-rate are Thorny Issues at FCC Confirmation Hearing
Next week’s events https://www.benton.org/calendar/2017-07-23--P1W
COMMUNICATIONS AND DEMOCRACY
President Trump sent over 1,000 tweets in first six months as president [links to Hill, The]
Twitter says President Trump has to play by the same abuse rules as everyone [links to Vox]
Sen Feinstein: Trump Jr. will be subpoenaed if he refuses to testify [links to Hill, The]
Since Trump’s Election, Increased Attention to Politics – Especially Among Women - Pew research [links to Benton summary]
CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT
FCC has no documentation of DDoS attack that hit net neutrality comments
NETWORK NEUTRALITY
Netflix speeds on Verizon Wireless appear to be capped for some customers
Supreme Court Extends Time for Title II Appeal
Record 9 million comments flood FCC on net neutrality [links to USAToday]
The rift between tech firms and activists
FTC Commissioner McSweeny to FCC: FTC's Consumer Protection Authority Insufficient to Discipline ISPs
People of Color Need the Open Internet: Racial Justice Coalition Urges the FCC to Preserve Net Neutrality Under Title II [links to Voices for Internet Freedom]
Spokane city resolution pushes for net neutrality [links to KREM]
Net Neutrality And You: What's At Stake With Internet Regulation? [links to Vermont Public Radio]
Sen Markey challenges Ajit Pai over evidence for net neutrality repeal [links to Ars Technica]
Editorial: Tech must go all out to retain net neutrality [links to San Jose Mercury News]
Ev Ehrlich: The internet giants driving net neutrality are happy to skew your web experience to goose their profits [links to Wall Street Journal]
MORE INTERNET/BROADBAND/TELECOMMUNICATIONS
President Trump Forms Infrastructure Advisory Council
Rural Broadband Access: Summit Seeks To Connect Leaders
Feds have taken down two major dark web marketplaces [links to Verge, The]
Seattle Wins National Awards for Digital Equity Efforts
WIRELESS/SPECTRUM
FCC Announces It Is Ready to Pay Reverse Auction Winning Bids - public notice [links to Benton summary]
A future for light-powered wireless connectivity, thanks to graphene [links to Ars Technica]
BROADCASTING
The Sinclair Revolution Will Be Televised. It’ll Just Have Low Production Values
Rep Pallone Proposes $1B Boost to Auction Repack Fund [links to Benton summary]
Nexstar, Sinclair Agree to Share Spectrum During ATSC 3.0 Transition [links to Broadcasting&Cable]
OWNERSHIP
Sen Booker thinks the U.S. government should keep an eye on the size of Amazon, Google and other tech giants [links to Vox]
Why do we want to heavily regulate or even break up Big Tech, exactly? [links to American Enterprise Institute]
How the Google-Facebook Ad Cartel Harms Advertisers, Publishers and Consumers [links to Scott Cleland]
SECURITY
At Our Own Peril: DoD Risk Assessment in a Post-Primacy World - research
U.S. ends airline laptop ban: New security measures make the electronics OK to carry on [links to Los Angeles Times]
Cyber-Heavy DHS Reauthorization Bill Passes House [links to Benton summary]
Will Congress Permanently OK Wireless Government Surveillance? [links to Bloomberg]
BlackBerry wins right to sell secure messaging tools to US government [links to Reuters]
Cyber Office or Not, State Department will Shape International Cyber Rules, White House Official Says [links to nextgov]
Op-Ed: If President Trump wants to work with Russia on cybersecurity, here’s what he should do [links to Washington Post]
FTC to Host Cybersecurity Roundtables with Small Businesses on July 25 [links to Federal Trade Commission]
JOURNALISM
Public editors disappear as media distrust grows [links to Columbia Journalism Review]
What Has the Facebook Journalism Project Accomplished in Its First Six Months? [links to AdWeek]
CONTENT
Music License Database Bill Introduced in House [links to Broadcasting&Cable]
Bipartisan Bill Seeks Royalties for Pre-1972 Musical Works [links to Benton summary]
YouTube now responds to searches for terrorist videos with playlists that debunk extremism [links to Verge, The]
ADVERTISING
Why the U.S. Ad Industry Will Never Regulate Gender Stereotypes [links to AdWeek]
HEALTH
GAO Report: Telehealth: Use in Medicare and Medicaid - research [links to Benton summary]
President Trump tests new healthcare tech in White House demonstration [links to Hill, The]
Op-Ed: Newsroom depression: One news director's story [links to Radio Television Digital News Association]
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
GAO Report: FirstNet Has Made Progress Establishing the Network, but Should Address Stakeholder Concerns and Workforce Planning - research [links to Benton summary]
GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS
Why Trump gave the Jeff Sessions scoop to the ‘failing’ New York Times [links to Washington Post]
GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE
US Digital Service Report to Congress [links to US Digital Service]
LOBBYING
Uber’s newest DC lobbyist: A top fundraiser for President Donald Trump [links to Vox]
COMPANY NEWS
Lessons Learned From Roger Ailes One Year After His Fox Firing [links to Benton summary]
POLICYMAKERS
President Trump nominates talk-show host who doubts climate science to USDA post [links to Ars Technica]
FTC Acting Chairman Ohlhausen Selects D. Bruce Hoffman as Acting Director of the Agency’s Bureau of Competition - press release [links to Benton summary]
STORIES FROM ABROAD
Op-Ed: I’m a Ukrainian journalist, and I’m tired of living in fear [links to Washington Post]
CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT
FCC HAS NO DOCUMENTATION OF DDOS NN COMMENTS
[SOURCE: ars technica, AUTHOR: Jon Brodkin]
The US Federal Communications Commission says it has no written analysis of DDoS attacks that hit the commission's net neutrality comment system in May. In its response to a Freedom of Information Act (FoIA) request filed by Gizmodo, the FCC said its analysis of DDoS attacks "stemmed from real time observation and feedback by Commission IT staff and did not result in written documentation." Gizmodo had asked for a copy of any records related to the FCC analysis that concluded DDoS attacks had taken place. Because there was no "written documentation," the FCC provided no documents in response to this portion of the Gizmodo FoIA request. The FCC also declined to release 209 pages of records, citing several exemptions to the FoIA law. For example, publication of documents related to "staffing decisions made by Commission supervisors, draft talking points, staff summaries of congressional letters, and policy suggestions from staff" could "harm the Commission’s deliberative processes," the FCC said. "Release of this information would chill deliberations within the Commission and impede the candid exchange of ideas."
benton.org/headlines/fcc-has-no-documentation-ddos-attack-hit-net-neutrality-comments | Ars Technica | The Hill
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NETWORK NEUTRALITY
NETFLIX THROTTLED?
[SOURCE: The Verge, AUTHOR: Chris Welch]
With net neutrality fresh on the minds of many in the United States, it seems that the data speeds at which Verizon Wireless customers can stream Netflix videos have quietly been capped in some instances. Until one or both companies provide clarification, it’s a bit early to point the finger at Verizon. Verizon rivals AT&T and T-Mobile include some level of video “optimization” (better described as throttling) as part of their base unlimited data plans. Sprint does not, and Verizon has never given any indication that it would put a limit on video streaming speeds for unlimited customers.
benton.org/headlines/netflix-speeds-verizon-wireless-appear-be-capped-some-customers | Verge, The
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SUPREME COURT EXTENDS TIME FOR TITLE II APPEAL
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The Supreme Court has agreed to give Internet service providers more time to decide whether to appeal a DC Court's ruling upholding the Federal Communications Commission's Title II Open Internet order. The court granted a petition by USTelecom and others to extend the deadline for appeal (filing a writ of certiorari) from July 30 to Sept. 28. ISPs pointed out that the new FCC might have mooted that appeal by September—if it has voted on a proposal from FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to reverse the Title II classification and review the rules. Seeking the extension in addition to USTelecom were NCTA–The Internet & Television Association, CTIA–The Wireless Association, the American Cable Association, AT&T, CenturyLink, Alamo Broadband, TechFreedom and various individuals including VoIP pioneer Daniel Berninger. The FCC has sought comment on the proposal by the Republican FCC majority under chairman Ajit Pai to reclassify internet access—wired and wireless, fixed and mobile, customer facing and interconnections—as an information service not subject to Title II and to review whether rules against blocking, throttling and paid prioritization are necessary.
benton.org/headlines/supreme-court-extends-time-title-ii-appeal | Broadcasting&Cable
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TECH FIRMS AND ACTIVISTS
[SOURCE: Axios, AUTHOR: David McCabe]
Big technology companies and their longtime allies on the grassroots left are at odds over how to deal with network neutrality — and the fight is getting nasty. The companies, especially large ones, while supportive of the net neutrality rules, have been far more open to a legislative compromise to finally end the net neutrality bickering. Many activists, though, are taking a harder line against any movement from the current regulations. That tension has been simmering for months and is boiling over at a crucial point in the lobbying battle. "The public interest community is more skeptical that you can preserve all the protections you want if you move away from the old legal framework," said Gene Kimmelman, who leads Public Knowledge, which doesn't oppose all legislation but doesn't like past proposals. "And then tech companies are probably looking for some version of net neutrality that preserves that principal regardless of whether it's called Title II or something else."
benton.org/headlines/rift-between-tech-firms-and-activists | Axios
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FTC AND NET NEUTRALITY
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Federal Trade Commission member Terrell McSweeny has doubts that the agency's consumer protection authority is sufficient to discipline the actions of broadband internet access service (BIAS) providers if Title II is rolled back and the FTC regains BIAS oversight. In comments to the Federal Communications Commission, she said reversing Title II would harm consumers, and that the push to have the FTC regulate both edge providers (as it does now) and ISPs (as it once did) "mistakenly establishes a false equivalence between the static [and largely noncompetitive, she argues] broadband service provider marketplace on the one hand and the dynamic competition offered on the 'edge.' "The FTC is a highly expert consumer protection and competition enforcement agency, but there are limits to the effectiveness of our tools in policing nondiscrimination on networks and protecting competition in markets that are already highly concentrated," Commissioner McSweeny added. She also said antitrust laws may not cover the public-interest issues associated with consumers' ability to access content or express themselves online.
benton.org/headlines/ftc-commissioner-mcsweeny-fcc-ftcs-consumer-protection-authority-insufficient-discipline | Multichannel News
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MORE INTERNET/BROADBAND/TELECOMMUNICATIONS
TRUMP FORMS INFRASTRUCTURE ADVISORY COUNCIL
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
President Donald Trump has signaled that broadband will definitely be part of his planned infrastructure investments. The president issued an executive order July 19 creating the Presidential Advisory Council on Infrastructure that will include a representative from the communications and technology sector. The council will report back to the president with its findings. The members will be appointed by the president and will represent the following sectors: real estate, finance, construction, communications and technology, transportation and logistics, labor, environmental policy, regional and local economic development, and "other sectors determined by the President to be of value to the Council." The mission of the council, whose membership will be capped at 15, is to "study the scope and effectiveness of, and make findings and recommendations to the President regarding, Federal Government funding, support, and delivery of infrastructure projects in several sectors, including surface transportation, aviation, ports and waterways, water resources, renewable energy generation, electricity transmission, broadband, pipelines, and other such sectors as determined by the Council." That will include prioritizing infrastructure buildouts, speeding approval processes, coming up with ongoing financing mechanisms, identifying public-private partnerships, coming up with best practices for procurement and delivery and promoting innovation. The Department of Commerce will provide the administrative staff, facilities and support services for the council. The council positions will be unpaid, though private citizens will get travel expenses.
benton.org/headlines/president-trump-forms-infrastructure-advisory-council | Broadcasting&Cable | Executive Order
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RURAL BROADBAND ACCESS SUMMIT
[SOURCE: WOUB, AUTHOR: Susan Tebben]
The Appalachian Ohio-West Virginia Connectivity Summit was created by community organizer and Meigs County resident Liz Shaw and the Citizens Connectivity Council. Her goal was not necessarily to see immediate action, but to show the strong desire for access and the currently sad state of broadband in Appalachia. “We’re not only not going forward, we are going backward in many cases,” Shaw said. “This is like being in a Conestoga wagon on the prairie and sending up smoke signals, in my opinion, when you hear from a county that has no 911 and no landlines and no cell phone and no internet working.” Kate Forscey, associate policy counsel at Public Knowledge, a Washington, D.C., digital rights advocacy group, said the summit was a good time for national groups to hear from the region. “This is an opportunity for localities to be empowered, to provide their own broadband, to talk about the challenges that they face that we don’t necessarily always hear about in Washington,” Forscey said.
benton.org/headlines/rural-broadband-access-summit-seeks-connect-leaders | WOUB
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SEATTLE DIGITAL EQUITY
[SOURCE: Government Technology, AUTHOR: Zach Quaintance]
Seattle’s Information Technology Department has won two awards from the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors for its efforts to foster digital inclusion within the city. The awards are:
2017 Community Broadband Strategic Plan of the Year, for Seattle’s Strategic Plan for Facilitating Equitable Access to Wireless Broadband
2017 Community Broadband Digital Equity Project of the Year, for Seattle’s Technology Matching Fund
benton.org/headlines/seattle-wins-national-awards-digital-equity-efforts | Government Technology
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BROADCASTING
SINCLAIR REVOLUTION WILL BE TELEVISED
[SOURCE: Bloomberg, AUTHOR: Felix Gillette]
In the menagerie of television talking heads who have come to prominence advocating for Donald Trump, Boris Epshteyn is hardly the most memorable. Yet he’s perhaps the best surrogate to study if you want to understand where the Trump/TV industrial complex goes next. Epshteyn briefly worked in the White House—the job ended not long after Politico reported that he’d gotten into a “yelling match” with a booker at Fox News—but since April he’s been employed as the chief political analyst for the Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair is likely to get larger yet. In May the company announced it was buying Tribune Media Co. for $3.9 billion. Among other assets, Sinclair would add 42 TV stations—including major ones in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago—if the deal is approved by regulators. The expansion wouldn’t have been possible if President Trump’s pick to lead the Federal Communications Commission, Ajit Pai, hadn’t voted a few weeks earlier to ease a major restriction on local media ownership...President Trump remains a protected figure on Sinclair airwaves. Even as the company has occasionally furnished its stations with ads made to look like journalism, it’s adopted President Trump’s tactic of hammering its competitors for producing “fake news.”
benton.org/headlines/sinclair-revolution-will-be-televised-itll-just-have-low-production-values | Bloomberg
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SECURITY
RISK ASSESSMENT IN A POST-PRIMACY WORLD
[SOURCE: United States Army War College, AUTHOR: Nathan Freier]
The US Department of Defense (DoD) faces persistent fundamental change in its strategic and operating environments. This report suggests this reality is the product of the United States entering or being in the midst of a new, more competitive, post-US primacy environment. Post-primacy conditions promise far-reaching impacts on US national security and defense strategy. Consequently, there is an urgent requirement for DoD to examine and adapt how it develops strategy and describes, identifies, assesses, and communicates corporate-level risk. From a defense strategy and planning perspective, post-primacy has five basic defining characteristics including: Hyperconnectivity and the weaponization of information, disinformation, and disaffection.
benton.org/headlines/our-own-peril-dod-risk-assessment-post-primacy-world | United States Army War College
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