Whether DOJ would approve a Disney buy of nonbroadcast Fox assets is unsettled among mergers and acquisitions and other experts we talked to. A key question before regulators will be how to define what New Disney is -- a major player in sports content and movie production, or a much smaller content producer in the growing streaming landscape, they said. Disney and Fox reportedly plan to announce a deal as soon as this week. They didn't comment.
CBP should remove from its regulations a limit of "one shipment per day" for imports under $800, the National Association of Manufacturers said in comments to the agency about rules considered onerous (see 1712120024). That shipment limit goes against "modern business practices where manufacturers may need to import commodities, component[s] or other goods on a 'just in time' basis," NAM said. "Manufacturers recommend that CBP eliminate the one shipment per day provision to be consistent with the" Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act, which raised the dollar value of the de minimis threshold.
The FCC draft "restoring internet freedom" order cites studies to show the 2015 net neutrality order hurt the economy. Such arguments have been disputed, but court watchers agree for the most part that when legal challenges are filed, judges are likely to give the analysis little scrutiny. NCTA CEO Michael Powell told reporters Wednesday consumers will see no change due to the order. The National Hispanic Media Coalition said it expects to take the regulator to court, and states may as well.
The FCC draft "restoring internet freedom" order cites studies to show the 2015 net neutrality order hurt the economy. Such arguments have been disputed, but court watchers agree for the most part that when legal challenges are filed, judges are likely to give the analysis little scrutiny. NCTA CEO Michael Powell told reporters Wednesday consumers will see no change due to the order. The National Hispanic Media Coalition said it expects to take the regulator to court, and states may as well.
House Judiciary Committee approval Tuesday of HR-1865 as expected (see 1712110052) to punish online sex traffickers sets up a clash with a similar S-1693 that victims’ rights groups said is better. The committee approved the bill on voice vote with little debate, although ranking member Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., said he would oppose the amended measure if it moves to the floor as is. The Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA), sponsored by Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Mo., was amended without being “fully vetted,” Nadler said. The bill has 172 co-sponsors.
FCC-proposed deregulation of internet interconnection is drawing pushback from parties that believe it could invite renewed problems in a key market. Incompas and others voiced concerns about the "internet freedom" plan in recent filings urging the commission to retain interconnection authority, and in comments to us. The Republican majority isn't expected to change course before Thursday's vote. Chairman Ajit Pai's draft order would stop treating "Internet traffic exchange" (interconnection) as a Communications Act Title II telecom service, restoring "the longstanding free market framework" under which the internet "flourished for decades."
FCC-proposed deregulation of internet interconnection is drawing pushback from parties that believe it could invite renewed problems in a key market. Incompas and others voiced concerns about the "internet freedom" plan in recent filings urging the commission to retain interconnection authority, and in comments to us. The Republican majority isn't expected to change course before Thursday's vote. Chairman Ajit Pai's draft order would stop treating "Internet traffic exchange" (interconnection) as a Communications Act Title II telecom service, restoring "the longstanding free market framework" under which the internet "flourished for decades."
House Judiciary Committee approval Tuesday of HR-1865 as expected (see 1712110052) to punish online sex traffickers sets up a clash with a similar S-1693 that victims’ rights groups said is better. The committee approved the bill on voice vote with little debate, although ranking member Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., said he would oppose the amended measure if it moves to the floor as is. The Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA), sponsored by Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Mo., was amended without being “fully vetted,” Nadler said. The bill has 172 co-sponsors.
The FCC is right to attempt to bring twilight towers into compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act “so that they can be used in the future for collocation, and thus reduce the need to build new towers” but still should require reviews, the National Trust for Historic Preservation said in docket 17-79. A draft order is set for a vote at commissioners' Thursday meeting (see 1711220026). “The preferred approach would be a special, streamlined Section 106 review for the Twilight Towers themselves, with an emphasis on minimizing and mitigating any adverse effects, which would then leave the towers certified for eligibility,” the trust said. "There is nothing that currently prevents tower owners from seeking retroactive Section 106 review, and indeed, many towers have gone through such a process.” The National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers also raised questions. Tribes often don’t know where the twilight towers are, said a filing. “Industry and the FCC continue to be unwilling to share the locations of the Twilight Towers with the preservation community and Tribal Nations cannot make informed decisions without that.”
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai took jabs at objections to the pending net neutrality order in his delivery of the traditionally whimsical keynote at the FCBA Chairman’s Dinner Thursday. He spoke as net neutrality protesters waved signs outside the Washington Hilton where the event took place (see 1712080016). A few protested Sinclair's buying Tribune. Most of his jokes got big laughs from the crowded ballroom.