Some states are opting for general fund appropriations, not a dedicated fee, to support 988 suicide prevention hotline services. Mental health advocates say that states creating a funding stream is to be applauded, but 988 services need multiple funding sources that include such a fee. CTIA has repeatedly pushed that message at statehouses.
The Oregon Public Utility Commission faces “a really tight deadline” to update state USF rules, said the Nicola Peterson, PUC senior telecom analyst, at a virtual workshop Thursday. There and in written comments earlier this week, telecom industry groups gave mixed reviews of the PUC’s plan to adopt a CostQuest model to determine the size of the Oregon USF (OUSF) starting Jan. 1.
House Communications Subcommittee members largely but not completely avoided using a Thursday FCC oversight hearing to make partisan points, amid the commission’s focus on bipartisan issues during the ongoing 2-2 split, as expected (see 2203300001). Lawmakers instead focused on questions about the FCC’s work to produce improved broadband connectivity data maps, its handling of the affordable connectivity program and Emergency Connectivity Fund programs, and how commissioners believe Congress should structure a renewal of the commission’s spectrum auction authority.
California's privacy agency should try to counter inequity and manipulation, said academics at California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) informational sessions this week (see 2203290062). The CPPA board held the second day Wednesday of a virtual hearing to gather background information for an upcoming rulemaking to implement the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), which is the sequel to the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Across the country, the Maryland House Economic Affairs Committee weighed a bill Wednesday to set up a privacy study group to make recommendations for comprehensive legislation next year.
California's privacy agency should try to counter inequity and manipulation, said academics at California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) informational sessions this week (see 2203290062). The CPPA board held the second day Wednesday of a virtual hearing to gather background information for an upcoming rulemaking to implement the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), which is the sequel to the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Across the country, the Maryland House Economic Affairs Committee weighed a bill Wednesday to set up a privacy study group to make recommendations for comprehensive legislation next year.
The Senate voted 51-50 along party lines Wednesday to discharge Alvaro Bedoya’s nomination to the FTC. Vice President Kamala Harris cast the tie-breaking vote. Democrats are hopeful he can be confirmed to the commission before the Senate leaves for recess at the end of next week. The Senate appeared likely to delay a discharge vote on FCC nominee Gigi Sohn until at least next week, lawmakers and aides told us Wednesday.
A Nebraska Legislature panel supported revising the state broadband program established by the 2021 Broadband Bridge Act. The Transportation and Telecommunications Committee voted 37-0 Monday to advance LB-1144 to adjust grant matching and service abandonment requirements. The committee voted 34-0 for an amendment on grant conditions and the challenge process and 37-0 for an amendment on mapping and precision agriculture. The bill next goes to the floor. A Democratic commissioner raised concerns about the broadband grant program at a Nebraska Public Service Commission hearing last week (see 2203220078). Monday in Mississippi, Gov. Tate Reeves (R) tweeted praise for a legislative conference report on HB-1029 to establish an executive branch broadband office.
States waited too long to bring antitrust claims against Facebook’s already-approved acquisitions of WhatsApp and Instagram, which initially didn’t raise competitive issues, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce argued Monday with industry groups before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in docket 21-7078 (see 2203150046). The chamber signed its brief in support of Facebook with the Computer & Communications Industry Association and Business Roundtable. The states seek a “wholesale” exemption from Clayton Act applications “no matter how unreasonable the delay or how prejudicial its effect,” the groups wrote. Facebook made a similar argument in its last rebuttal against states seeking actions against the deals. “By expanding the enforcement field from a reasonable time to eternity, dispensing with laches guarantees more enforcement actions concerning old conduct,” the chamber wrote. They denied claims the platform’s refusal to deal with certain rivals constituted an antitrust violation, saying Facebook never terminated a prior profitable course of dealing with the rivals in question: “Absent termination of a prior profitable course of dealing, allegations based on a refusal to deal do not state a valid antitrust claim.”
States waited too long to bring antitrust claims against Facebook’s already-approved acquisitions of WhatsApp and Instagram, which initially didn’t raise competitive issues, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce argued Monday with industry groups before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in docket 21-7078 (see 2203150046). The chamber signed its brief in support of Facebook with the Computer & Communications Industry Association and Business Roundtable. The states seek a “wholesale” exemption from Clayton Act applications “no matter how unreasonable the delay or how prejudicial its effect,” the groups wrote. Facebook made a similar argument in its last rebuttal against states seeking actions against the deals. “By expanding the enforcement field from a reasonable time to eternity, dispensing with laches guarantees more enforcement actions concerning old conduct,” the chamber wrote. They denied claims the platform’s refusal to deal with certain rivals constituted an antitrust violation, saying Facebook never terminated a prior profitable course of dealing with the rivals in question: “Absent termination of a prior profitable course of dealing, allegations based on a refusal to deal do not state a valid antitrust claim.”
Russia didn’t offer any “swap” or “concession” in exchange for the U.S. release of Russian cyber hacker Aleksei Burkov in August, FBI Cyber Division Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran told the House Judiciary Committee at a hearing Tuesday. The division can’t comment on the wisdom of the release because it’s the Secret Service’s case, he said.