Warning letters are the “most rapid and efficient means” for addressing bogus online claims about COVID-19-related products, FTC Chairman Joe Simons wrote, in documents we obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. Several members of Congress wrote in March asking how the agency is addressing the flood of deceptive and fraudulent activity related to the pandemic. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., asked about warning letters from the FTC and Food and Drug Administration.
Warning letters are the “most rapid and efficient means” for addressing bogus online claims about COVID-19-related products, FTC Chairman Joe Simons wrote, in documents we obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. Several members of Congress wrote in March asking how the agency is addressing the flood of deceptive and fraudulent activity related to the pandemic. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., asked about warning letters from the FTC and Food and Drug Administration.
House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, N.J., is circulating discussion language to provide $2 billion in “emergency broadband benefit” funding in the next COVID-19 stimulus bill. Some lobbyists we spoke with this week saw the draft as Democrats’ bid to resurrect plans for emergency broadband funding without providing new ammunition to Lifeline critics. Pallone’s draft somewhat mirrors House Democrats’ proposal for emergency Lifeline funding included in their Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act (HR-6379), which they floated during talks on the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, the most recent aid law. HR-6379 proposed $1 billion for Lifeline, in contrast to the Pallone draft’s $2 billion. Pallone's proposal, like HR-6379, would allocate money to a proposed U.S. Treasury-administered Emergency Broadband Connectivity Fund. The FCC would reimburse ISPs for service provided to qualifying households. The funding would be used to support service only during pandemic-related emergency periods. ISPs could seek up to $100 for supplying a computer to a qualifying household if the charge to the residence is $10-$50 monthly. Providers could seek more if they demonstrate the service cost “exceeds the rate of reimbursement.” The proposal would raise minimum service standards for Lifeline mobile voice service during the emergency period to 4,000 minutes monthly from the current 1,000. It’s believed Pallone is circulating the draft with the backing of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and other Democratic leaders. House Commerce didn’t comment Wednesday.
State regulators will scrutinize Frontier Communications as the midsize carrier goes through bankruptcy, commissioners told us Wednesday. Some felt reassured by the company pledging uninterrupted service and no change to selling some systems in the U.S. Northwest and West.
House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, N.J., is circulating discussion language to provide $2 billion in “emergency broadband benefit” funding in the next COVID-19 stimulus bill. Some lobbyists we spoke with see the draft as Democrats’ bid to resurrect plans for emergency broadband funding without providing new ammunition to Lifeline critics. Several Democratic lawmakers want future COVID-19 legislation to fund broadband and other infrastructure (see 2003260063). Some groups are urging Congress to use the coming measure to address other communications policy priorities, including media funding (see 2004090066).
The Trump administration’s reported plan to create a COVID-19 data surveillance program with healthcare and tech companies lacks transparency, Democratic lawmakers wrote the White House Friday. They noted the industry's “checkered history” protecting patient and user privacy. Some stakeholders also raised concerns.
The Trump administration’s reported plan to create a COVID-19 data surveillance program with healthcare and tech companies lacks transparency, Democratic lawmakers wrote the White House Friday. They noted the industry's “checkered history” protecting patient and user privacy. Some stakeholders also raised concerns.
The Trump administration’s reported plan to create a COVID-19 data surveillance program with healthcare and tech companies lacks transparency, Democratic lawmakers wrote the White House Friday. They noted the industry's “checkered history” protecting patient and user privacy. Some stakeholders also raised concerns.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said he will introduce a bill when the Senate returns to Washington that would raise tariffs on Saudi Arabian oil and oil byproducts. “Our nation’s economy, national security and the economic welfare of families across Louisiana is threatened by oil being dumped on the world market at below-production costs,” Cassidy said in an April 9 press release. “Tariffs will restore fair pricing.” The tariffs would vary by the current market price of oil, and would make Saudi imports cost at least $40 a barrel. The law orders the president to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act within 10 days of passage. The bill was described as actions “in response to Saudi Arabia’s aggression towards the United States petroleum industry.” It also instructs the administration to withdraw all military personnel from Saudi Arabia.
The scope of the digital divide exposed during COVID-19 is "an inflection point for action, and we need to seize it," FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said during a Brookings Institution webinar Wednesday. She applauded the ISPs that have taken the Keep Americans Connected pledge but said Americans shouldn't have to rely on industry generosity for internet access: "Having digital justice means getting everyone connected."