President Donald Trump’s signing of a memorandum Thursday proposing tariffs on about $60 billion worth of Chinese goods imported to the U.S. didn’t detail for now which specific products would be targeted. But CTA President Gary Shapiro wasted little time in warning the tariffs would threaten to put “a new tax on U.S. businesses” and force consumers “to pay dramatically more to access the technology products they need.”

Section 7 of the Clayton Act says a deal shouldn't go through if there's reasonable probability it harms consumers, and New AT&T's ability to do that via Time Warner content and its incentive to do so due to its "massive investment" in the traditional MVPD space shows that probability, said DOJ antitrust trial attorney Craig Conrath during opening argument Thursday in DOJ v. AT&T and Time Warner in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. By ignoring over-the-top competitors and digital advertising, DOJ is "fundamentally stuck in the past," companies' outside counsel Dan Petrocelli of O'Melveny replied. A Washington executive says similar.

Section 7 of the Clayton Act says a deal shouldn't go through if there's reasonable probability it harms consumers, and New AT&T's ability to do that via Time Warner content and its incentive to do so due to its "massive investment" in the traditional MVPD space shows that probability, said DOJ antitrust trial attorney Craig Conrath during opening argument Thursday in DOJ v. AT&T and Time Warner in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. By ignoring over-the-top competitors and digital advertising, DOJ is "fundamentally stuck in the past," companies' outside counsel Dan Petrocelli of O'Melveny replied. A Washington executive says similar.

Section 7 of the Clayton Act says a deal shouldn't go through if there's reasonable probability it harms consumers, and New AT&T's ability to do that via Time Warner content and its incentive to do so due to its "massive investment" in the traditional MVPD space shows that probability, said DOJ antitrust trial attorney Craig Conrath during opening argument Thursday in DOJ v. AT&T and Time Warner in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. By ignoring over-the-top competitors and digital advertising, DOJ is "fundamentally stuck in the past," companies' outside counsel Dan Petrocelli of O'Melveny replied. A Washington executive says similar.

Privacy groups warned against a surge in human rights abuses after inclusion of the Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data Act (Cloud) (S-2383/HR-4943) in the omnibus spending bill (see 1803210068 and 1803220048). Some within industry praised it as a vital step in freeing tech companies stuck between conflicting, outdated international laws. A congressional opponent told us he won't back down, while a supporter said it would have been better to have regular debate on the bill.

President Donald Trump’s signing of a memorandum Thursday proposing tariffs on about $60 billion worth of Chinese goods imported to the U.S. didn’t detail for now which specific products would be targeted. But CTA President Gary Shapiro wasted little time in warning the tariffs would threaten to put “a new tax on U.S. businesses” and force consumers “to pay dramatically more to access the technology products they need.”

The FCC approved changes to wireless infrastructure rules, aimed at speeding deployment of small cells to pave the way for 5G, 3-2 Thursday over dissents by Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel, as expected (see 1803070044). Both said the order had problems that need to be fixed and a vote should have been postponed. Tribes and groups representing local and state governments raised repeated objections. Security removed a protester complaining about RF issues after the vote at what was a lightly attended meeting. A robocalling FNPRM also drew some concerns (see 1803220028), while some other items were less controversial (see 1803220037).

President Donald Trump backs a deal Hill leaders reached Wednesday on the provisions in the $1.3 trillion FY 2018 omnibus spending bill, the White House said. Trump endorsed the measure after meeting with Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. They “discussed their support for the bill, which includes more funds to rebuild the military, such as the largest pay raise for our troops in a decade, more than 100 miles of new construction for the border wall and other key domestic priorities, like combatting the opioid crisis and rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure,” said White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders in a statement. The omnibus' final text was expected to be released late Wednesday. The omnibus appears likely to include substantial funding for rural broadband projects via additional funding directed to the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service, Senate Appropriations Financial Services Subcommittee Chairman Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., told reporters Wednesday. House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., meanwhile, echoed other telecom-focused lawmakers' assessments that language from the House-passed Repack Airwaves Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Services (Ray Baum's) Act FCC reauthorization and spectrum legislative package (HR-4986) would likely be included in the omnibus (see 1803130059 and 1803150043). “We anticipate that it will make it” to Trump, likely via the omnibus, Blackburn said during an American Cable Association event (see Notebook at the end of 1803210053). The additional RUS-directed funding likely to be in the final omnibus will be in the form of a pilot program that will be “hopefully pinpointed to the areas” that are “underserved and unserved” and “have the greatest need, which is what I've been pushing for,” Capito told reporters. She wasn't sure what the exact funding amount would be, but a lobbyist said industry was expecting around $600 million. Capito said there may also be additional funding to improve broadband coverage mapping efforts. “Time after time we've heard how faulty the mapping is,” she said. Senate Commerce Committee members raised concerns about the FCC's broadband maps during two hearings last week on Trump's infrastructure legislative proposal (see 1802270043, 1803130056 and 1803140058).

The Senate passed anti-sex trafficking legislation in a 97-2 vote Wednesday, paving the way for the signature of President Donald Trump, who signaled support for the measure (see 1803150039 and 1803080039). The House passed its version of the SESTA-FOSTA (the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers-Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking) package in February on a 388-25 vote.

President Donald Trump backs a deal Hill leaders reached Wednesday on the provisions in the $1.3 trillion FY 2018 omnibus spending bill, the White House said. Trump endorsed the measure after meeting with Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. They “discussed their support for the bill, which includes more funds to rebuild the military, such as the largest pay raise for our troops in a decade, more than 100 miles of new construction for the border wall and other key domestic priorities, like combatting the opioid crisis and rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure,” said White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders in a statement. The omnibus' final text was expected to be released late Wednesday. The omnibus appears likely to include substantial funding for rural broadband projects via additional funding directed to the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service, Senate Appropriations Financial Services Subcommittee Chairman Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., told reporters Wednesday. House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., meanwhile, echoed other telecom-focused lawmakers' assessments that language from the House-passed Repack Airwaves Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Services (Ray Baum's) Act FCC reauthorization and spectrum legislative package (HR-4986) would likely be included in the omnibus (see 1803130059 and 1803150043). “We anticipate that it will make it” to Trump, likely via the omnibus, Blackburn said during an American Cable Association event (see Notebook at the end of 1803210053). The additional RUS-directed funding likely to be in the final omnibus will be in the form of a pilot program that will be “hopefully pinpointed to the areas” that are “underserved and unserved” and “have the greatest need, which is what I've been pushing for,” Capito told reporters. She wasn't sure what the exact funding amount would be, but a lobbyist said industry was expecting around $600 million. Capito said there may also be additional funding to improve broadband coverage mapping efforts. “Time after time we've heard how faulty the mapping is,” she said. Senate Commerce Committee members raised concerns about the FCC's broadband maps during two hearings last week on Trump's infrastructure legislative proposal (see 1802270043, 1803130056 and 1803140058).