The digital divide is the FCC's “top policy priority” and the Connect America Fund reverse auction is “a milestone” in modernizing a key USF program, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai told an American Cable Association conference Wednesday. Pai slammed Title II Communications Act regulation of broadband service, which he said was the result of “Silicon Valley giants” claiming small ISPs such as ACA's members “posed a greater threat to a free and open internet” than Google, Facebook and Twitter.
Trump administration officials' repeated citations of the national security implications of maintaining U.S. leadership in 5G innovation are a sign Congress needs to act on broader telecom policy issues that would help sustain that dominance, lawmakers and industry officials told us. The administration mentioned 5G deployment in its December national security strategy (see 1712180071 and 1712270032).
FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn Wednesday urged the FCC to postpone a vote on wireless infrastructure rules, slated for Thursday. The draft order, developed by Commissioner Brendan Carr, faced criticism from tribal groups concerned about the consultation process and groups representing local governments. With snow still falling in Washington on Wednesday, the FCC said the meeting is to start at 9:30 a.m., unless the Office of Personnel Management delays the opening of the federal government, in which case it will start at 11:30 a.m.
Trump administration officials' repeated citations of the national security implications of maintaining U.S. leadership in 5G innovation are a sign Congress needs to act on broader telecom policy issues that would help sustain that dominance, lawmakers and industry officials told us. The administration mentioned 5G deployment in its December national security strategy (see 1712180071 and 1712270032).
Trump administration officials' repeated citations of the national security implications of maintaining U.S. leadership in 5G innovation are a sign Congress needs to act on broader telecom policy issues that would help sustain that dominance, lawmakers and industry officials told us. The administration mentioned 5G deployment in its December national security strategy (see 1712180071 and 1712270032).
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.
With Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., opposed, anti-sex trafficking legislation (see 1803150039 and 1803080039) is slated for debate and a vote on the Senate floor Wednesday. The Senate 94-2 Monday approved a motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to SESTA-FOSTA (the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers-Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking package). The House version of the bill, which includes Senate bill language and two amendments introduced by Wyden, will be up for Senate debate.
With Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., opposed, anti-sex trafficking legislation (see 1803150039 and 1803080039) is slated for debate and a vote on the Senate floor Wednesday. The Senate 94-2 Monday approved a motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to SESTA-FOSTA (the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers-Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking package). The House version of the bill, which includes Senate bill language and two amendments introduced by Wyden, will be up for Senate debate.
CTIA denied allegations by some tribes that the FCC didn’t do the required consultations before acting on revised wireless infrastructure rules. Tribal interests made the claim in several recent filings before a vote set for Thursday’s commissioners’ meeting (see 1803150058). CTIA filed in docket 17-79 on a call last week with Will Adams, aide to Commissioner Brendan Carr. “Contrary to recent filings asserting that the Draft Second Order does not properly reflect the Commission’s trust responsibility to Tribal Nations, the Commission’s proposals reflect years of discussions between industry, Tribes, and the Commission and will advance the goal of facilitating broadband deployment without diminishing Tribes’ ability to protect historic sites of cultural or religious significance,” CTIA said. Major tribal groups didn't comment. While not directly addressing Thursday’s draft order, Brenda Bethune, mayor of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, said she spoke by phone with Commissioner Mignon Clyburn on infrastructure more generally. Clyburn is from the state. “The Mayor opened the meeting by sharing Myrtle Beach’s desire to be a smart city, with the latest and best wireline and wireless connections for its residents and visitors alike,” said a filing. “But in meeting residential and visitor communications needs, the city also sought to preserve the integrity of the community’s look, which the City has invested over $110 million to achieve.” TechFreedom reported on questions the group raised in a call with Carr about the order. The group “discussed whether the Commission’s analysis contained in the proposed Order is adequate to justify excluding new structures -- or at least new structures on previously undisturbed ground -- from [National Historic Preservation Act] review,” TechFreedom said. “We discussed whether the process by which the Commission developed that part of the proposed amendment is adequate to fulfill the FCC’s special trust relationship with America’s tribes.” The Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council Monday said the FCC should balance interests on the order. The order promises to speed deployment of small cells and be good for the economy, MMTC said. “Noting the objections of several Native American tribes and organizations to certain elements of the process, MMTC strongly encourages the Commission to work closely with the tribal and environmental associations and stakeholders to resolve their concerns expeditiously and fairly.”
Lawmakers are seeking hearings, potentially with executives from Facebook, Google and Twitter, after reports a political data analytics firm connected to the 2016 Trump campaign allegedly misused private information of more than 50 million Americans. Facebook suspended the accounts of Strategic Communication Laboratories and its data firm Cambridge Analytica Friday, citing violations of guidelines for user data collection. The announcement followed reports from The New York Times and The Guardian about the organization’s alleged misrepresentation and harvesting of user data.