Microsoft asked the FCC Friday to launch a Further NPRM on TV white spaces. NAB, which has raised concerns about Wi-Fi in the TV bands, is on board with at least asking many of the questions proposed, the company said. The software maker proposes modifying rules to allow higher power levels in some areas, higher antennas, and geofenced operation of white spaces devices (WSDs) on mobile platforms. The FCC in March tweaked the white spaces rules and said it will consider an FNPRM on changes previously sought by Microsoft (see 1903200059).

Microsoft asked the FCC Friday to launch a Further NPRM on TV white spaces. NAB, which has raised concerns about Wi-Fi in the TV bands, is on board with at least asking many of the questions proposed, the company said. The software maker proposes modifying rules to allow higher power levels in some areas, higher antennas, and geofenced operation of white spaces devices (WSDs) on mobile platforms. The FCC in March tweaked the white spaces rules and said it will consider an FNPRM on changes previously sought by Microsoft (see 1903200059).

Microsoft asked the FCC Friday to launch a Further NPRM on TV white spaces. NAB, which has raised concerns about Wi-Fi in the TV bands, is on board with at least asking many of the questions proposed, the company said. The software maker proposes modifying rules to allow higher power levels in some areas, higher antennas, and geofenced operation of white spaces devices (WSDs) on mobile platforms. The FCC in March tweaked the white spaces rules and said it will consider an FNPRM on changes previously sought by Microsoft (see 1903200059).

Panelists from Facebook, Comcast, the NAB and Tegna repeatedly agreed at a DOJ workshop on advertising competition that broadcast commercials and digital ads are substitutes for each other and therefore in competition. “We are a likely substitute or swap for your attention,” said Facebook Vice President-Business Product Marketing Ty Ahmad-Taylor. “We are trying to compete to get those dollars as well.”

Panelists from Facebook, Comcast, the NAB and Tegna repeatedly agreed at a DOJ workshop on advertising competition that broadcast commercials and digital ads are substitutes for each other and therefore in competition. “We are a likely substitute or swap for your attention,” said Facebook Vice President-Business Product Marketing Ty Ahmad-Taylor. “We are trying to compete to get those dollars as well.”

A bill was reintroduced that would require Congressional approval for any White-House initiated tariff change -- effectively curtailing future Section 201, 301 and Section 232 tariffs, as well as a not-yet-used authority to raise tariffs on all goods from a country where we run a trade deficit.

Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Senate Majority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., will be “very helpful” for striking consensus (see 1904300195) on a privacy bill that can gain the support of a “huge,” bicameral majority, Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., told us. His comment came after a committee hearing with consumer advocates and a top EU data privacy enforcer, who offered legislators advice on legislative specifics.

Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Senate Majority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., will be “very helpful” for striking consensus (see 1904300195) on a privacy bill that can gain the support of a “huge,” bicameral majority, Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., told us. His comment came after a committee hearing with consumer advocates and a top EU data privacy enforcer, who offered legislators advice on legislative specifics.

President Donald Trump agreed at Tuesday's meeting with top Democrats to pursue $2 trillion in spending on broadband and other infrastructure projects. Democratic leaders later cautioned that any forward momentum will depend on further talks with the administration and congressional Republicans. Democratic leaders first announced plans to meet with Trump earlier this month in a bid to revive interest in enacting a comprehensive bill (see 1904110068). Trump sought in his February State of the Union for Congress to “unite for a great rebuilding of America's crumbling infrastructure” (see 1902060002). In 2018, he called for a bill “that generates at least $1.5 trillion for the new infrastructure investment” that relied heavily on public-private partnerships (see 1803290046).

President Donald Trump agreed at Tuesday's meeting with top Democrats to pursue $2 trillion in spending on broadband and other infrastructure projects. Democratic leaders later cautioned that any forward momentum will depend on further talks with the administration and congressional Republicans. Democratic leaders first announced plans to meet with Trump earlier this month in a bid to revive interest in enacting a comprehensive bill (see 1904110068). Trump sought in his February State of the Union for Congress to “unite for a great rebuilding of America's crumbling infrastructure” (see 1902060002). In 2018, he called for a bill “that generates at least $1.5 trillion for the new infrastructure investment” that relied heavily on public-private partnerships (see 1803290046).