Press Release

Federal Communications Commissioner Michael O’Rielly announced that he has hired Arielle Roth as wireline advisor in his office. Roth intends to begin work on Sept 4, 2018. Roth is currently employed as legal advisor in the Wireline Competition Bureau where she provides counsel on universal service and pricing matters. Prior to this position, she served as a legal fellow for the Hudson Institute’s Center for the Economics of the Internet. She will be replacing Amy Bender, who will depart the Commission on August 31, 2018.

Sen Ed Markey (D-MA), Rep Anna Eshoo (D-CA), 27 senators, and 76 representatives filed an Amicus Brief with the DC Circuit Court of Appeals challenging the Federal Communication Commission’s December 2017 decision to eliminate network neutrality rules. The FCC’s decision repealed the 2015 Open Internet rules, which categorized broadband internet access as a telecommunications service and prohibited Internet Service Providers (ISPs) from engaging in discriminatory practices, such as blocking or throttling online content and establishing internet fast and slow lanes.   

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai issued the following statement regarding Aug 28's ruling from the Eighth Circuit, which upheld the FCC’s decision to remove onerous regulations on certain business data services in competitive markets: "It’s a good day for forward-thinking regulation. Here’s why: Last year, based on a thorough analysis of a massive amount of data, the Commission adopted a ‘competitive market test’ to determine where regulation of business data services was still needed and where it would impede investment, innovation, and competition.

Chairman Pai’s relationship with Sinclair needed to be investigated in light of Sinclair’s ties to the President and the Chairman’s abysmal responses to Congressional Democrats’ numerous oversight letters.  It should not take an IG investigation to get answers to basic questions regarding independence and integrity. The IG report provides the first detailed responses to Congress’ questions.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai issued the following statement regarding the Office of Inspector General’s independent report, which found no evidence or suggestion of impropriety, unscrupulous behavior, or favoritism towards Sinclair. Moreover, the Office of the Inspector General found no lack of impartiality related to the proposed Sinclair-Tribune Merger:

House Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Communications Subcommittee Ranking Member Mike Doyle (D-PA) sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai urging the Commission to get to the bottom of allegations that Sinclair Broadcast Group lied to the FCC in the company’s failed attempt to acquire Tribune Media Company. In the letter, the lawmakers expressed their hope that the FCC’s Chief Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) would continue its ongoing review of the allegations against Sinclair.

Sen Maggie Hassan (D-NH) led a group of her colleagues from the Commerce Committee in urging Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai to maintain focus on maternal health as the Commission moves forward with its proposed Connected Care pilot program. This pilot would support access to care using telehealth. The letter comes after the FCC released a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) on supporting access to health care through telehealth in the Connected Care pilot program.

Secretary of Commerce Wilbur L. Ross, Jr. announced the selection of Roscoe Howard, Jr. to be the Special Compliance Coordinator (SCC) for Zhongxing Telecommunications Equipment Corporation, of Shenzhen, China and ZTE Kangxun Telecommunications Ltd. of Hi-New Shenzhen, China (collectively, ZTE). The Special Compliance Coordinator was selected after a rigorous search by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS).

The Federal Trade Commission will begin its Hearings Initiative with two full-day sessions, co-sponsored with and held at the Georgetown University Law Center, on Sept 13 and 14, 2018. The Georgetown event will be the first in a series of hearings that will examine whether broad-based changes in the economy, evolving business practices, new technologies, or international developments might require adjustments to competition and consumer protection enforcement priorities of the Commission.

The Multicultural Cultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council (MMTC)’s Board of Directors has named Maurita Coley Flippin President and CEO of the organization. Coley previously has served as Acting President and CEO of MMTC, as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, and as Member of the MMTC Board of Directors. A former network executive, law partner, and nonprofit executive, she brings over 30 years of experience in law, business, and nonprofit management to the organization.