Judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit hammered the FCC Monday during oral argument on a case that RF safety advocates brought last summer (see 2007300056), seeking to force the agency to update 25-year-old exposure rules. In December 2019, commissioners approved 5-0 an order largely upholding the old rules, making few tweaks (see 1912040036). Judges questioned how the FCC could rely in large part on advice from the Food and Drug Administration.

CBP published notices in the Customs Bulletin revoking or modifying numerous rulings in 2020. These ruling revocations and modifications also apply to “any treatment previously accorded by CBP to substantially identical transactions.” When revoking or modifying a ruling, CBP is required by 19 USC 1625(c) to publish notice of the proposed action, and allow a period—generally one month—for comment before finalizing the action. An importer’s failure to advise CBP of “substantially identical transactions” or of a ruling not identified by CBP in these notices “may raise issues of reasonable care on the part of the importer or its agents for importations of merchandise subsequent to the effective date of this notice.” Rulings CBP revoked or modified in 2020 are as follows:

Judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit hammered the FCC Monday during oral argument on a case that RF safety advocates brought last summer (see 2007300056), seeking to force the agency to update 25-year-old exposure rules. In December 2019, commissioners approved 5-0 an order largely upholding the old rules, making few tweaks (see 1912040036). Judges questioned how the FCC could rely in large part on advice from the Food and Drug Administration.

Keep consumers "front of mind" as the FCC prepares to roll out its emergency broadband connectivity fund, Common Cause, the National Consumer Law Center, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and United Church of Christ told acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, per a filing posted Friday in docket 20-445. The groups raised the importance of outreach and education about the fund and what happens when the program ends (see 2101070052). They want "price transparency requirements" for providers that opt in so eligible households know the total cost if they enroll. And "ensuring portability of the benefit to allow consumers to shop with their feet is another important program design feature." Pay special attention to non-English-speaking consumers and individuals with disabilities, the groups said.

Keep consumers "front of mind" as the FCC prepares to roll out its emergency broadband connectivity fund, Common Cause, the National Consumer Law Center, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and United Church of Christ told acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, per a filing posted Friday in docket 20-445. The groups raised the importance of outreach and education about the fund and what happens when the program ends (see 2101070052). They want "price transparency requirements" for providers that opt in so eligible households know the total cost if they enroll. And "ensuring portability of the benefit to allow consumers to shop with their feet is another important program design feature." Pay special attention to non-English-speaking consumers and individuals with disabilities, the groups said.

A Washington state Senate panel cleared a privacy bill 12-1 at a virtual meeting Thursday. Environment, Energy and Technology Committee ranking member Doug Ericksen (R) voted no to Chairman Reuven Carlyle’s (D) SB-5062. Ericksen proposed and withdrew amendments to require opt-in consent for collecting data and to add a private right of action. The committee unanimously adopted a substitute amendment with changes including an exemption for air carriers and the state judicial branch. At a hearing last week, some raised concerns about the bill’s opt-out approach and lack of private right to sue (see 2101140047). Later in the meeting’s hearing phase, cities opposed -- and the wireless industry took no position on -- SB-5110, meant to increase internet access by modifying permitting and other local telecom requirements. CTIA would work with Ericksen to better align the bill with federal wireless infrastructure rules, said Assistant Vice President-State Legislative Affairs Beth Cooley. CTIA also opposes Ericksen’s SB-5112 to require that ISPs give customers free VPN service, because it’s preempted by the Communications Act and unnecessary in a competitive market, said Director-State Legislative Affairs Lisa McCabe.

The FCC decision not to stay its Ligado approval (see 2101200001) was "a disappointing, last-minute maneuver" by Chairman Ajit Pai's commission "that puts the FCC completely at odds with the" National Defense Authorization Act, the Satellite Safety Alliance said Wednesday. In its NDAA passage and veto override, Congress "told the FCC its April Ligado order creates harmful interference to satellite communications service providers and GPS and American taxpayers will not foot the bill," it said. "We're encouraged by the negative votes from Commissioners [Jessica] Rosenworcel and [Geoffrey] Starks and we hope for swift action to protect critical services. The members of the Satellite Safety Alliance have been raising the alarm for years and will continue to do so." Alliance members include Iridium, Aerospace Industries Association, National Air Transportation Association and National Emergency Number Association.

A Washington state Senate panel cleared a privacy bill 12-1 at a virtual meeting Thursday. Environment, Energy and Technology Committee ranking member Doug Ericksen (R) voted no to Chairman Reuven Carlyle’s (D) SB-5062. Ericksen proposed and withdrew amendments to require opt-in consent for collecting data and to add a private right of action. The committee unanimously adopted a substitute amendment with changes including an exemption for air carriers and the state judicial branch. At a hearing last week, some raised concerns about the bill’s opt-out approach and lack of private right to sue (see 2101140047). Later in the meeting’s hearing phase, cities opposed -- and the wireless industry took no position on -- SB-5110, meant to increase internet access by modifying permitting and other local telecom requirements. CTIA would work with Ericksen to better align the bill with federal wireless infrastructure rules, said Assistant Vice President-State Legislative Affairs Beth Cooley. CTIA also opposes Ericksen’s SB-5112 to require that ISPs give customers free VPN service, because it’s preempted by the Communications Act and unnecessary in a competitive market, said Director-State Legislative Affairs Lisa McCabe.

Problematic FCC maps and a rush to meet a federal deadline to use coronavirus relief money factor into a dispute over Wyoming broadband support, said the different sides in interviews. Tongue River Communications said it could go out of business due to Wyoming subsidizing overbuilding by Visionary Communications. The state said it relied on the commission’s Form 477 data to find the area unserved and lacked time for challenges, with the Dec. 30 deadline in March's Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (Cares) Act. “There’s blame all around, but it can be correctly done,” said former FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly.

The White House is freezing rules that have been published, but have not taken effect, as well as proposed rulemaking and interim final rules, for 60 days from Jan. 20, so that the new administration can review the policies. The Trump administration issued a similar order in 2017 (see 1701230031), as did previous administrations.