Commissioners voted 5-0 Thursday to launch a rulemaking on curbing spoofed robocalls, implementing as expected (see 1902120050) part of Ray Baum's Act. Chairman Ajit Pai led with the item during a news conference. Commissioner Mike O’Rielly raised concerns the U.S. can’t take action against some international spoofers. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel questioned whether the FCC is doing enough to take enforcement actions against robocallers.
Commissioners voted 5-0 Thursday to launch a rulemaking on curbing spoofed robocalls, implementing as expected (see 1902120050) part of Ray Baum's Act. Chairman Ajit Pai led with the item during a news conference. Commissioner Mike O’Rielly raised concerns the U.S. can’t take action against some international spoofers. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel questioned whether the FCC is doing enough to take enforcement actions against robocallers.
The FCC’s media modernization effort should be scrutinized for ignoring “foundational statutory obligations” and bypassing policies “truly in need of modernization,” said new Commissioner Geoffrey Starks in an extended statement at Thursday’s commissioners’ meeting. Starks and Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel voted “concur” on a unanimously approved order eliminating redundant midterm equal employment opportunity reports (see 1901180043). They urged the FCC to restore long-stalled collection of employment data on diversity. The agency will issue an Further NPRM on broad EEO enforcement within 90 days, Chairman Ajit Pai said.
Amazon scuttled plans to establish a second headquarters in Long Island City, Queens, Thursday after saying last week (see 1902080046) it was focused on “engaging with our new neighbors.” The company doesn’t plan to reopen its HQ2 search “at this time,” it said. It will proceed as planned in Northern Virginia and Nashville and “continue to hire and grow across our 17 corporate offices and tech hubs in the U.S. and Canada." Amazon has more than 5,000 employees in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Staten Island and plans to continue expanding those teams, it said.
Amazon scuttled plans to establish a second headquarters in Long Island City, Queens, Thursday after saying last week (see 1902080046) it was focused on “engaging with our new neighbors.” The company doesn’t plan to reopen its HQ2 search “at this time,” it said. It will proceed as planned in Northern Virginia and Nashville and “continue to hire and grow across our 17 corporate offices and tech hubs in the U.S. and Canada." Amazon has more than 5,000 employees in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Staten Island and plans to continue expanding those teams, it said.
Donald Trump's administration released its American Broadband Initiative milestones report Wednesday, outlining a strategy for spurring wireless and wireline broadband using federal lands. It includes opening Department of Interior (DOI) towers for communications use and streamlining other buildout. The Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing on ways to ensure U.S. infrastructure keeps up with economic growth.
Donald Trump's administration released its American Broadband Initiative milestones report Wednesday, outlining a strategy for spurring wireless and wireline broadband using federal lands. It includes opening Department of Interior (DOI) towers for communications use and streamlining other buildout. The Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing on ways to ensure U.S. infrastructure keeps up with economic growth.
Both upcoming House hearings on T-Mobile's proposed buy of Sprint are likely to tackle antitrust-related issues even though the Communications and Judiciary Antitrust subcommittees will convene separate panels (see 1902060062), lawmakers and communications sector officials said in interviews. Communications' hearing is 10 a.m. Wednesday in 2123 Rayburn. The Judiciary Committee confirmed it's postponing Antitrust's planned Thursday hearing, as expected (see 1902110046). The committee is said to be eyeing a March makeup date.
Both upcoming House hearings on T-Mobile's proposed buy of Sprint are likely to tackle antitrust-related issues even though the Communications and Judiciary Antitrust subcommittees will convene separate panels (see 1902060062), lawmakers and communications sector officials said in interviews. Communications' hearing is 10 a.m. Wednesday in 2123 Rayburn. The Judiciary Committee confirmed it's postponing Antitrust's planned Thursday hearing, as expected (see 1902110046). The committee is said to be eyeing a March makeup date.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative should defend U.S. interests against intellectual property threats in the EU, China and various countries, tech groups commented through Thursday night. USTR collected comments for its Special 301 report on international IP practices. Copyright safe harbors included in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and exceptions like fair use are critical, the Internet Association said, citing IP threats from the EU, China and others. Efforts to chip away at the safe harbor framework “threaten the ability of internet companies to expand globally by eliminating” copyright certainty, IA said. BSA|The Software Alliance cited “digital protectionism and isolationism.” Restrictions on “cross-border data transfers; coercive technology transfer; and discrimination against foreign companies, products, and technologies” are counter to U.S. interests, BSA said. The Computer & Communications Industry Association asked USTR to recognize that Europe is attempting to weaken liability protections and enact “copyright policies that will likely have significant negative consequences for the digital economy” like “snippet taxes.” Counterfeiting and piracy in China “remain at epidemic levels,” the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said. Ongoing trade negotiations offer opportunity for the U.S. and China to address IP protection and technology transfer issues, the chamber said. Theft and infringement in China continue to put the software industry at risk, ACT|The App Association said, recommending China remain on the priority watch list. Algeria, Argentina, India, Indonesia, Kuwait, Russia and Ukraine also should remain on the list, ACT said. Public Citizen raised concerns about Malaysia, which hasn't been on the watch list since 2012.