What's on the agenda for policymakers.
Agenda
GDPR, a New Privacy Law, Makes Europe World’s Leading Tech Watchdog
The notices are flooding people’s inboxes en masse, from large technology companies, including Facebook and Uber, and even from parent teacher associations, children’s soccer clubs and yoga instructors. “Here is an update to our privacy policy,” they say. All are acting because the European Union enacts the world’s toughest rules to protect people’s online data. And with the internet’s borderless nature, the regulations are set to have an outsize impact far beyond Europe.
At this meeting, the CAC will receive briefings from Commission staff on issues of interest to the Committee and may discuss topics including, but not limited to, consumer protection and education, consumer participation in the FCC rulemaking process, and the impact of new and emerging communication technologies.
This agenda may be modified at the discretion of the CAC Chair and Designated Federal Officer (DFO).
Chairman Pai's Wireless Infrastructure Associtation Connectivity Expo Speech
[Speech] What is the Federal Communications Commission doing to help seize the opportunities of next-generation wireless networks? I strongly believe that the market, not government, should drive innovation and investment in the wireless sector. But the FCC has a role to play in promoting competition by maximizing carriers’ willingness and ability to invest in their networks, making it easier to deploy the physical infrastructure necessary for networks to function, and freeing up spectrum for wireless services.
This two-day event is free for municipalities and will bring together broadband champions, community leaders, and policy experts from federal, state, and local government to discuss today's most pressing issues in broadband deployment.
DC Appeals Court to Stream Oral Arguments
In a victory for court access advocates, the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit will start live -streaming oral arguments beginning with the 2018-2019 term. That is according to Chief Judge Merrick Garland, who said May 23 that the court had voted to live -stream all arguments, except those dealing with classified or sealed matters. The D.C. circuit has primary jurisdiction over government agency decision challenges, including the FCC's.
The event will focus on how organizations and the government better understand cyber risks and create an institutional culture focused on security.
The breakfast will feature a discussion, moderated by Aspen Cyber Chair John Carlin, featuring Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX), the chair of the House Subcommittee on Information Technology and co-chair of the Aspen Institute’s cyber strategy group, as well as FBI Associate Deputy Director Paul Abbate and McAfee Chief Technology Officer Steve Grobman.
Featuring
FCC will take public comments on Sinclair-Tribune merger until at least July 12
The Federal Communications Commission will be restarting the informal 180-day shot clock on its review of the proposed Sinclair-Tribune merger after it reviews the latest and information from the most recent filing. It signaled it had been waiting to consolidate Sinclair's various re-filings and tweaks to the deal, and is doing that, but is also going to seek even more info on top-four market station ownership requests. That public notice signals the commission has what is expected to be essentially the final version of the deal, though still with questions about this latest iteration.
The House Subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection will hold a hearing on Tuesday, May 22, 2018, at 10:15 a.m. in 2322 Rayburn House Office Building.
Witnesses will be announced and are by invitation only.
The hearing webcast will be available at http://energycommerce.house.gov/.
The legislative text may be found at the following link: https://docs.house.gov/Committee/Calendar/ByEvent.aspx?EventID=108341.
End of Repack? Would You Believe 2025?
The 957 stations moving to new channels in the Federal Communications Commission repack of the TV band might get up and running on those channels in two years as the agency has mandated, but many may have to settle for temporary side-mount antennas and loss of coverage for three to five years because there aren't enough tower rigging crews to go around. What can be done?