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.
Protests highlight growing resistance to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's plan to undo net neutrality regulation and Communications Act Title II broadband classification, said organizers of 700 demonstrations they say were held across the country Thursday. Attendees said much the same thing. But the protests won't change any votes at the FCC's decisive Thursday meeting, it's widely believed. Self-identified Republicans, independents and Democrats were among protesters, they said on the sidelines.
Protests highlight growing resistance to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's plan to undo net neutrality regulation and Communications Act Title II broadband classification, said organizers of 700 demonstrations they say were held across the country Thursday. Attendees said much the same thing. But the protests won't change any votes at the FCC's decisive Thursday meeting, it's widely believed. Self-identified Republicans, independents and Democrats were among protesters, they said on the sidelines.
A congressional infrastructure package isn't expected to contain broadband funding, said Grace Koh, National Economic Council technology, telecom and cybersecurity assistant to President Donald Trump. "I don't think broadband is going to be a set-aside" in legislation, though high-speed deployment could be encouraged in other ways, she said at a Practicing Law Institute conference Thursday morning. Other PLI news: 1712070063 and 1712070047.
A congressional infrastructure package isn't expected to contain broadband funding, said Grace Koh, National Economic Council technology, telecom and cybersecurity assistant to President Donald Trump. "I don't think broadband is going to be a set-aside" in legislation, though high-speed deployment could be encouraged in other ways, she said at a Practicing Law Institute conference Thursday morning. Other PLI news: 1712070063 and 1712070047.
The House Science Committee seeks evidence federal agencies are removing Kaspersky Lab software from federal IT systems, said Chairman Lamar Smith, R-Texas, in a Wednesday letter to Department of Homeland Security acting Secretary Elaine Duke. Smith raised the issue in an October hearing (see 1710250031) when he noted the General Services Administration banned Kaspersky Lab software after vulnerabilities allowed hackers, including the Russian government, to breach federal systems. Government needs to "leverage all resources to ensure that Kaspersky products on federal systems have been completely removed," Smith's letter said. He wants DHS to identify by Dec. 19 what's needed to eliminate the risk from Kaspersky's products. The company didn't comment.
The House Science Committee seeks evidence federal agencies are removing Kaspersky Lab software from federal IT systems, said Chairman Lamar Smith, R-Texas, in a Wednesday letter to Department of Homeland Security acting Secretary Elaine Duke. Smith raised the issue in an October hearing (see 1710250031) when he noted the General Services Administration banned Kaspersky Lab software after vulnerabilities allowed hackers, including the Russian government, to breach federal systems. Government needs to "leverage all resources to ensure that Kaspersky products on federal systems have been completely removed," Smith's letter said. He wants DHS to identify by Dec. 19 what's needed to eliminate the risk from Kaspersky's products. The company didn't comment.
The House Science Committee seeks evidence federal agencies are removing Kaspersky Lab software from federal IT systems, said Chairman Lamar Smith, R-Texas, in a Wednesday letter to Department of Homeland Security acting Secretary Elaine Duke. Smith raised the issue in an October hearing (see 1710250031) when he noted the General Services Administration banned Kaspersky Lab software after vulnerabilities allowed hackers, including the Russian government, to breach federal systems. Government needs to "leverage all resources to ensure that Kaspersky products on federal systems have been completely removed," Smith's letter said. He wants DHS to identify by Dec. 19 what's needed to eliminate the risk from Kaspersky's products. The company didn't comment.
The FCC is starting to see pushback on a draft proposal by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to change rules for twilight towers. The Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Office raised questions about the proposal, in a letter saying the towers should remain subject to review under the National Historic Preservation Act. The item is set for a vote at commissioners' Dec. 14 meeting (see 1711220026), though major pushback wasn't seen (see 1712010021). If the purpose is to collocate on the towers, the FCC should instead amend rules to allow the towers to be used, but after historic review, the office said in docket 17-79. The Georgia State Historic Preservation Office also raised questions. The agency is on the right track in its draft public notice and draft program comment on twilight towers, T-Mobile wrote commissioners. The draft is “an excellent step towards finally resolving an issue that has been stifling deployment for far too long,” the carrier said. “Thousands of towers have been stuck in regulatory limbo for more than a decade, but thankfully the FCC’s proposed action here would create a path to opening these towers for additional wireless deployments.” T-Mobile described twilight towers as "towers built between March 16, 2001 and March 7, 2005 that may have been constructed without completing the Section 106 review process."
An FCC draft order to undo Title II net neutrality appears legally strong, said some attorneys on a Phoenix Center panel, but another questioned aspects. Chairman Ajit Pai's draft to restore a less-regulatory Communications Act Title I broadband framework has precedent, deference and investment arguments in its favor, said Tom Navin, a Wiley Rein attorney and ex-Wireline Bureau chief. At around the same time Tuesday, a pro-Title II panel was held (see 1712050057).