Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., wants more answers from the FBI in a debate about the agency allegedly misleading Congress on encryption back doors (see 1805230027). Though the bureau repeatedly claimed in 2017 it couldn't unlock 7,775 devices, officials recently acknowledged the number is closer to 1,200.

The FCC fielded multiple requests for tweaking the requirements for registering C-band receive-only earth stations to help grease the path to registration, but it's not clear whether the agency will go that route, experts told us. With only a fraction of earth stations registered now, whether a significant percentage will end up registered similarly isn't clear. If the FCC can't get even a majority registered, it will be making rulings “on an invalid database," said Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE) President Jim Leifer. "That’s my biggest concern.” The FCC didn't comment.

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., wants more answers from the FBI in a debate about the agency allegedly misleading Congress on encryption back doors (see 1805230027). Though the bureau repeatedly claimed in 2017 it couldn't unlock 7,775 devices, officials recently acknowledged the number is closer to 1,200.

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., wants more answers from the FBI in a debate about the agency allegedly misleading Congress on encryption back doors (see 1805230027). Though the bureau repeatedly claimed in 2017 it couldn't unlock 7,775 devices, officials recently acknowledged the number is closer to 1,200.

Comcast/Fox likely has an easier route to antitrust approval than Disney/Fox, New Street Research said in a note to investors Tuesday. The analysts said both potential deals raise horizontal issues because Comcast and Disney have programming assets, but the Disney deal is potentially riskier due to the theatrical release market. They said there could be a Clayton Act problem with the Murdoch family having control of Fox's broadcast assets while also significant interest in or even a board seat on an entity that controls ABC. That Disney isn't an ISP or MVPD makes Disney/Fox less a vertical issue, but DOJ generally doesn't challenge vertical deals anyway, and Comcast/Fox likely doesn't raise big vertical red flags since Comcast doesn't have a national footprint, wrote the analysts. Neither deal seemingly will require FCC approval, they said, noting Disney/Fox could face smoother sailing politically due to Trump administration antipathy to Comcast/NBCUniversal. New Street said a DOJ loss in its bid to block AT&T's buy of Time Warner helps both Disney and Comcast, but Comcast especially since DOJ will be particularly timid about opposing similar vertical deals, while a Justice win would hurt Comcast more because the agency might see it as a judicial mandate to bring more such suits. Others see Comcast/Fox having a likely easier time getting government approval (see 1805240034).

Comcast/Fox likely has an easier route to antitrust approval than Disney/Fox, New Street Research said in a note to investors Tuesday. The analysts said both potential deals raise horizontal issues because Comcast and Disney have programming assets, but the Disney deal is potentially riskier due to the theatrical release market. They said there could be a Clayton Act problem with the Murdoch family having control of Fox's broadcast assets while also significant interest in or even a board seat on an entity that controls ABC. That Disney isn't an ISP or MVPD makes Disney/Fox less a vertical issue, but DOJ generally doesn't challenge vertical deals anyway, and Comcast/Fox likely doesn't raise big vertical red flags since Comcast doesn't have a national footprint, wrote the analysts. Neither deal seemingly will require FCC approval, they said, noting Disney/Fox could face smoother sailing politically due to Trump administration antipathy to Comcast/NBCUniversal. New Street said a DOJ loss in its bid to block AT&T's buy of Time Warner helps both Disney and Comcast, but Comcast especially since DOJ will be particularly timid about opposing similar vertical deals, while a Justice win would hurt Comcast more because the agency might see it as a judicial mandate to bring more such suits. Others see Comcast/Fox having a likely easier time getting government approval (see 1805240034).

Much of the tech industry -- though CTA was silent -- blasted the Trump administration Tuesday for announcing it plans to go ahead with 25 percent Trade Act Section 301 tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese imports. The products affected won’t be known until the U.S. Trade Representative's office releases its final tariffs list by June 15. Tariffs will be imposed “shortly thereafter,” said the White House.

Much of the tech industry -- though CTA was silent -- blasted the Trump administration Tuesday for announcing it plans to go ahead with 25 percent Trade Act Section 301 tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese imports. The products affected won’t be known until the U.S. Trade Representative's office releases its final tariffs list by June 15. Tariffs will be imposed “shortly thereafter,” said the White House.

Much of the tech industry -- though CTA was silent -- blasted the Trump administration Tuesday for announcing it plans to go ahead with 25 percent Trade Act Section 301 tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese imports. The products affected won’t be known until the U.S. Trade Representative's office releases its final tariffs list by June 15. Tariffs will be imposed “shortly thereafter,” said the White House.

Senate Communications Subcommittee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Sens. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., and Jerry Moran, R-Kan., led the filing of the Mobile Accuracy and Precision (Map) Broadband Act (S-2955) in response to concerns about the accuracy of the data the FCC has been collecting for its broadband coverage maps. All three senators raised concerns about mapping accuracy during a March Senate Communications Subcommittee on broadband provisions in President Donald Trump's infrastructure legislative proposal (see 1803130056). S-2955 would revamp the Mobility Fund Phase II (MF II) challenge process, including via provisions that would extend the deadline for carriers and state and local governments to file challenges until Nov. 27. The bill would also require the FCC to publish monthly updates on the challenge process. “Many competitive carriers serve rural or hard-to-reach areas of the country and rely on critical MF II support to serve their customers and expand their networks,” said Competitive Carriers Association President Steve Berry. “The challenge process is a key part of the MF II program and the MAP Broadband Act will help ensure unserved and underserved areas, especially those in rural America, are not left behind in the digital world.” The FCC updated its MF II map last week but said the updates “do not alter the eligibility status of 99.87 percent of the total area” on the first map.