Answering congressional critics, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai defended Title II net neutrality repeal under the Communications Act. He denied the "internet freedom" order will destroy the internet or harm the free exchange of ideas, and said Americans will still be able to access their preferred websites and services, with regulators protecting a "free and open" internet. "By returning to the light-touch Title I framework, we are helping consumers and promoting competition," Pai wrote in letters posted Friday in docket 18-5 dated April 19 and 20 that responded to 38 lawmakers who raised objections before a Dec. 14 vote. "Broadband providers will have stronger incentives to build networks, especially in unserved areas, and to upgrade networks to gigabit speeds and 5G." The order "also promotes more robust transparency among ISPs than existed three years ago" and re-establishes FTC "authority to ensure consumers and competition are protected," he wrote. Pai's exchanges were with Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., and 32 House colleagues (here), Sens. Angus King, I-Maine and Susan Collins, R-Maine (here), Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo. (here), Rep. Adam Smith, D-Washington (here), and Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass. (here).

Answering congressional critics, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai defended Title II net neutrality repeal under the Communications Act. He denied the "internet freedom" order will destroy the internet or harm the free exchange of ideas, and said Americans will still be able to access their preferred websites and services, with regulators protecting a "free and open" internet. "By returning to the light-touch Title I framework, we are helping consumers and promoting competition," Pai wrote in letters posted Friday in docket 18-5 dated April 19 and 20 that responded to 38 lawmakers who raised objections before a Dec. 14 vote. "Broadband providers will have stronger incentives to build networks, especially in unserved areas, and to upgrade networks to gigabit speeds and 5G." The order "also promotes more robust transparency among ISPs than existed three years ago" and re-establishes FTC "authority to ensure consumers and competition are protected," he wrote. Pai's exchanges were with Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., and 32 House colleagues (here), Sens. Angus King, I-Maine and Susan Collins, R-Maine (here), Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo. (here), Rep. Adam Smith, D-Washington (here), and Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass. (here).

T-Mobile's proposed merger with Sprint is likely to face additional Capitol Hill scrutiny in the months ahead, but don’t expect a hearing soon, lobbyists and experts told us. Industry officials give roughly even odds of government approval of the deal, which T-Mobile and Sprint announced Sunday (see 1804290001 and 1804300055). House Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and House Communications Subcommittee ranking member Mike Doyle, D-Pa., formally called on committee leaders Monday to convene a hearing.

As the FCC Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee prepares to harmonize its working group reports, some members said the final act isn’t fully worked out. Local and utility members raised concerns about the state model code approved at Wednesday’s meeting with seven nays (see 1804250064). Some members in interviews cited collegiality and genuine efforts for consensus.

T-Mobile's proposed merger with Sprint is likely to face additional Capitol Hill scrutiny in the months ahead, but don’t expect a hearing soon, lobbyists and experts told us. Industry officials give roughly even odds of government approval of the deal, which T-Mobile and Sprint announced Sunday (see 1804290001 and 1804300055). House Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and House Communications Subcommittee ranking member Mike Doyle, D-Pa., formally called on committee leaders Monday to convene a hearing.

As the FCC Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee prepares to harmonize its working group reports, some members said the final act isn’t fully worked out. Local and utility members raised concerns about the state model code approved at Wednesday’s meeting with seven nays (see 1804250064). Some members in interviews cited collegiality and genuine efforts for consensus.

RANCHO MIRAGE, California -- Much of the $34 million in "additional money earmarked for ACE" within the recent omnibus government funding bill is already "planned out," said Jim Swanson, CBP director-cargo and conveyance security and controls, while speaking at the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America's annual conference on May 1. "That money was to be allocated for new development or enhancements in the ACE process," he said. CBP has a priority list, he said. Among the factors for the priority list was a list of requests provided to CBP from the NCBFAA.

Extended exemptions from Section 232 tariffs on aluminum and steel left some countries and importers relieved, but others uncertain as to what is around the corner on June 1. Announced the evening of April 30 just hours before the deadline, the proclamations on steel and aluminum announce full, if undefined, exemptions for Argentina, Brazil and Australia, the final details of a steel exemption for South Korea, and a delay until the beginning of June 1 for Canada, Mexico and the European Union.

RANCHO MIRAGE, California -- Much of the $34 million in "additional money earmarked for ACE" within the recent omnibus government funding bill is already "planned out," said Jim Swanson, CBP director-cargo and conveyance security and controls, while speaking at the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America's annual conference on May 1. "That money was to be allocated for new development or enhancements in the ACE process," he said. CBP has a priority list, he said. Among the factors for the priority list was a list of requests provided to CBP from the NCBFAA (see 1802200043).

The House Commerce Committee should “take prompt action” to advance the Don’t Break Up the T-Band Act “to provide the nation’s first responders with the assurance that their communications systems will not be adversely affected,” said Verizon Senior Vice President-Federal Government Affairs Robert Fisher in a Friday statement. HR-5085, which a trio of New York-based congressmen filed in February, would repeal a provision of the 2012 spectrum law that mandates public safety agencies move off the 470-512 MHz T-band by 2021 (see 1802260015). House Homeland Security Communications Subcommittee Chairman Dan Donovan, R-N.Y., and other members raised concerns about the effects of public safety agencies’ mandated migration off the T-band during an October hearing (see 1710120053).