Capitol Hill leaders said a 24- to 48-hour continuing resolution to extend government funding will likely be needed as talks on an FY 2021 appropriations and COVID-19 aid package continue. The current CR is to expire Friday night. All sides appeared optimistic a deal is close (see 2012150069), with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., telling reporters that lawmakers were “putting the final touches” on the package. Fight for the Future raised concerns Wednesday about a bid by leaders of the House and Senate Judiciary committees to insert language from the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement (Case) Act into an omnibus measure. HR-2426/S-1273 would create a voluntary small claims board within the Copyright Office. One of its provisions “could slap ordinary Internet users with up to $30,000 in fines for engaging in everyday activities like sharing a meme or downloading a photo,” FFTF said. “Time and time again, rushed changes to copyright based on draconian enforcement methods have dangerous implications for online free expression.”
Capitol Hill leaders said a 24- to 48-hour continuing resolution to extend government funding will likely be needed as talks on an FY 2021 appropriations and COVID-19 aid package continue. The current CR is to expire Friday night. All sides appeared optimistic a deal is close (see 2012150069), with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., telling reporters that lawmakers were “putting the final touches” on the package. Fight for the Future raised concerns Wednesday about a bid by leaders of the House and Senate Judiciary committees to insert language from the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement (Case) Act into an omnibus measure. HR-2426/S-1273 would create a voluntary small claims board within the Copyright Office. One of its provisions “could slap ordinary Internet users with up to $30,000 in fines for engaging in everyday activities like sharing a meme or downloading a photo,” FFTF said. “Time and time again, rushed changes to copyright based on draconian enforcement methods have dangerous implications for online free expression.”
Three years after commissioners voted 3-2 to repeal net neutrality regulation from the Obama administration (see 1712140039), FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said the results show it was right to act. The FCC may take on a few other issues before he leaves Jan. 20, Pai said Wednesday during an Institute for Policy Innovation webcast.
The FCC has struggled for years to retain women, promote African Americans, hire Hispanics, and attract diverse engineers and economists, according to government data. Annual reports to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission show the communications regulator is below the average of the U.S. workforce by such measures. President-elect Joe Biden is expected to make diversity a focus and to name the first permanent female FCC chair. Only one woman, then-Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, has been acting chair.
The FCC has struggled for years to retain women, promote African Americans, hire Hispanics, and attract diverse engineers and economists, according to government data. Annual reports to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission show the communications regulator is below the average of the U.S. workforce by such measures. President-elect Joe Biden is expected to make diversity a focus and to name the first permanent female FCC chair. Only one woman, then-Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, has been acting chair.
The FCC voted 5-0 Thursday, as expected (see 2012080070), to put in place a system to replace insecure equipment from Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE in U.S. networks. Commissioners agreed the FCC still has work to do. Congress hasn't funded a program to pay for the equipment removed. The Rural Wireless Association noted that the order doesn’t require carriers to replace equipment until replacement is funded.
The upcoming shift to a 2-2 split FCC at the start of President-elect Joe Biden’s administration doesn’t necessarily have to mean total gridlock, as those opposed to Senate confirmation of Nathan Simington as commissioner are forecasting, officials and FCC observers told us. They do believe FCC Democrats’ ability to move on big-ticket policy priorities, like bringing back the rescinded 2015 net neutrality rules, will be hindered until the Senate confirms Biden’s to-be-named nominee for the seat held by Chairman Ajit Pai. The Senate confirmed Simington Tuesday with unanimous Republican support and similarly uniform Democratic opposition (see 2012080067).
The Supreme Court heard Facebook v. Duguid Tuesday (19-511), a case expected to provide long-awaited clarity on the definition of what's an automatic telephone dialing system under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (see 2011100052). Consumer groups hope the court will do nothing to narrow the ATDS definition. In September, the administration supported Facebook. Lawyers for companies facing TCPA lawsuits hope the court will resolve a split in the federal circuits.
The Supreme Court heard Facebook v. Duguid Tuesday (19-511), a case expected to provide long-awaited clarity on the definition of what's an automatic telephone dialing system under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (see 2011100052). Consumer groups hope the court will do nothing to narrow the ATDS definition. In September, the administration supported Facebook. Lawyers for companies facing TCPA lawsuits hope the court will resolve a split in the federal circuits.
Nathan Simington was confirmed to the FCC Tuesday after a largely muted Senate floor debate. Senate Democrats and groups opposed to Simington in the lead-up to the vote continued to raise concerns about the 2-2 commission deadlock that will result from his confirmation, once Chairman Ajit Pai leaves Jan. 20 (see 2011300032). Many also cited the FCC’s proposed proceeding on its Communications Decency Act Section 230 interpretation, a matter critics believe Simington should recuse himself from because he worked on NTIA’s petition for the rulemaking (see 2011100070).