Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh likely will participate if the Supreme Court is asked to review the FCC net neutrality rollback, said court watchers, noting justices have wide leeway on recusals. They recused themselves without explanation from a November decision not to consider the prior commission's 2015 Communications Act Title II net neutrality order (see 1811050008). Their apparent reasons -- possible conflicts over Roberts' shares and Kavanaugh's lower court participation -- aren't expected to be repeated if the current Republican-run FCC's Title I order comes before them.

Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh likely will participate if the Supreme Court is asked to review the FCC net neutrality rollback, said court watchers, noting justices have wide leeway on recusals. They recused themselves without explanation from a November decision not to consider the prior commission's 2015 Communications Act Title II net neutrality order (see 1811050008). Their apparent reasons -- possible conflicts over Roberts' shares and Kavanaugh's lower court participation -- aren't expected to be repeated if the current Republican-run FCC's Title I order comes before them.

The three rounds of Trade Act Section 301 tariffs imposed since July on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods are costing the tech industry more than $1 billion a month in added fees, reported CTA Friday. CTA released its estimates as the Trump administration officially delayed to March 2 its plan to raise the third tranche of 10 percent tariffs to 25 percent.

The three rounds of Trade Act Section 301 tariffs imposed since July on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods are costing the tech industry more than $1 billion a month in added fees, reported CTA Friday. CTA released its estimates as the Trump administration officially delayed to March 2 its plan to raise the third tranche of 10 percent tariffs to 25 percent.

The three rounds of Trade Act Section 301 tariffs imposed since July on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods are costing the tech industry more than $1 billion a month in added fees, reported CTA Friday. CTA released its estimates as the Trump administration officially delayed to March 2 its plan to raise the third tranche of 10 percent tariffs to 25 percent.

Much attention during Tuesday's House Communications Subcommittee hearing on implementation of the Repack Airwaves Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Services (Ray Baum's) Act FCC reauthorization and spectrum statute focused on language to aid the broadcast incentive auction repacking process, as expected (see 1812070040). Industry witnesses praised the act and highlighted areas where additional Capitol Hill action may be needed to improve implementation, also as expected (see 1812100049). The FCC also got implementation comments (see 1812110025).

Industry witnesses at a Tuesday House Communications Subcommittee hearing will laud the passage and ongoing implementation of the Repack Airwaves Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Services (Ray Baum's) Act FCC reauthorization and spectrum statute, in written testimony. They will outline additional legislative measures for consideration in the 116th Congress. The House Communications hearing is expected to emphasize the statute's language to aid the broadcast incentive auction repacking process. Lawmakers are likely to again raise concerns about the FCC's broadband coverage data mapping practices (see 1812070040). The hearing begins at 2 p.m. in Rayburn 2322.

T-Mobile supported the FCC’s draft ruling clarifying wireless messaging as a Communications Act Title I information service, set for a commissioner vote Wednesday (see 1812050019). Other carriers also supported the ruling, while Free Press raised concerns. T-Mobile reported on a call with an aide to Chairman Ajit Pai in docket 08-7. The ruling “will remove regulatory uncertainty and allow T-Mobile and other wireless messaging providers to continue to incorporate robotext-blocking, anti-spoofing measures, and other anti-spam features into their service,” T-Mobile said. “It will allow industry to continue to protect the messaging ecosystem and spare [consumers] from receiving unlawful and unwanted spam.” “This classification ensures greater consistency in the regulatory treatment of these services across the messaging ecosystem,” AT&T said in meetings with aides to Commissioners Mike O’Rielly, Brendan Carr and Jessica Rosenworcel. “The Draft Declaratory Ruling empowers wireless providers to continue protecting consumers from unwanted text messages thereby keeping messaging services relatively spam-free.” Verizon also endorsed the ruling in meetings with commissioner aides. The action would "stand firm with millions of wireless consumers in the battle to safeguard messaging from unscrupulous robotexters,” said CTIA President Meredith Baker in a letter. Free Press slammed the ruling, saying it's “full of the same kinds of mistakes, errors, and lies that Pai and his team have made their specialty, all delivered with the knowing smirk and feigned concern that serves as the facade for their every utterance.” Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and eight other senators opposed the declaratory ruling, writing Pai to “classify text messaging as a telecommunications service” to provide such communications “protections that promote innovation and support freedom of speech.”

T-Mobile supported the FCC’s draft ruling clarifying wireless messaging as a Communications Act Title I information service, set for a commissioner vote Wednesday (see 1812050019). Other carriers also supported the ruling, while Free Press raised concerns. T-Mobile reported on a call with an aide to Chairman Ajit Pai in docket 08-7. The ruling “will remove regulatory uncertainty and allow T-Mobile and other wireless messaging providers to continue to incorporate robotext-blocking, anti-spoofing measures, and other anti-spam features into their service,” T-Mobile said. “It will allow industry to continue to protect the messaging ecosystem and spare [consumers] from receiving unlawful and unwanted spam.” “This classification ensures greater consistency in the regulatory treatment of these services across the messaging ecosystem,” AT&T said in meetings with aides to Commissioners Mike O’Rielly, Brendan Carr and Jessica Rosenworcel. “The Draft Declaratory Ruling empowers wireless providers to continue protecting consumers from unwanted text messages thereby keeping messaging services relatively spam-free.” Verizon also endorsed the ruling in meetings with commissioner aides. The action would "stand firm with millions of wireless consumers in the battle to safeguard messaging from unscrupulous robotexters,” said CTIA President Meredith Baker in a letter. Free Press slammed the ruling, saying it's “full of the same kinds of mistakes, errors, and lies that Pai and his team have made their specialty, all delivered with the knowing smirk and feigned concern that serves as the facade for their every utterance.” Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and eight other senators opposed the declaratory ruling, writing Pai to “classify text messaging as a telecommunications service” to provide such communications “protections that promote innovation and support freedom of speech.”

T-Mobile supported the FCC’s draft ruling clarifying wireless messaging as a Communications Act Title I information service, set for a commissioner vote Wednesday (see 1812050019). Other carriers also supported the ruling, while Free Press raised concerns. T-Mobile reported on a call with an aide to Chairman Ajit Pai in docket 08-7. The ruling “will remove regulatory uncertainty and allow T-Mobile and other wireless messaging providers to continue to incorporate robotext-blocking, anti-spoofing measures, and other anti-spam features into their service,” T-Mobile said. “It will allow industry to continue to protect the messaging ecosystem and spare [consumers] from receiving unlawful and unwanted spam.” “This classification ensures greater consistency in the regulatory treatment of these services across the messaging ecosystem,” AT&T said in meetings with aides to Commissioners Mike O’Rielly, Brendan Carr and Jessica Rosenworcel. “The Draft Declaratory Ruling empowers wireless providers to continue protecting consumers from unwanted text messages thereby keeping messaging services relatively spam-free.” Verizon also endorsed the ruling in meetings with commissioner aides. The action would "stand firm with millions of wireless consumers in the battle to safeguard messaging from unscrupulous robotexters,” said CTIA President Meredith Baker in a letter. Free Press slammed the ruling, saying it's “full of the same kinds of mistakes, errors, and lies that Pai and his team have made their specialty, all delivered with the knowing smirk and feigned concern that serves as the facade for their every utterance.” Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and eight other senators opposed the declaratory ruling, writing Pai to “classify text messaging as a telecommunications service” to provide such communications “protections that promote innovation and support freedom of speech.”