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).
The Tuesday resignation of Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., opens what was a largely behind-the-scenes contest to permanently replace him as House Judiciary Committee ranking member. Tech policy officials we spoke with before and after the resignation are sizing up the two top contenders: acting House Judiciary ranking member and House IP Subcommittee ranking member Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., and Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif. The House Democratic Caucus installed Nadler as acting ranking member last month after Conyers said he would temporarily give up the leadership role while the House Ethics Committee investigated claims he engaged in sexual misconduct with former aides. Lofgren last week said she would be a candidate for committee ranking member if Conyers vacated his seat (see 1711270020 and 1711290055).
ATLANTA -- On her last day working as acting Homeland Security secretary, Elaine Duke on Dec. 5 said her department is still looking for additional ACE funds, even as ACE modernization “is in the budget,” and emphasized the importance of advance data and closer monitoring of postal supply chains as opioid shipments to the U.S. have increased in recent years. During a keynote speech at the CBP East Coast Trade Symposium, Duke acknowledged that ACE needs upgrading, adding that the Department of Homeland Security’s Joint Requirements Council is looking for ways to free up more money for ACE. That council is a “component-led body” designed to “identify, prioritize and recommend investments to address cross-department capability,” according to DHS.gov. The Senate Appropriations Committee’s fiscal year 2018 Homeland Security spending bill directs $38 million to support ACE core functionality and $5 million for ACE enhancements (see 1711240027).
The Tuesday resignation of Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., opens what was a largely behind-the-scenes contest to permanently replace him as House Judiciary Committee ranking member. Tech policy officials we spoke with before and after the resignation are sizing up the two top contenders: acting House Judiciary ranking member and House IP Subcommittee ranking member Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., and Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif. The House Democratic Caucus installed Nadler as acting ranking member last month after Conyers said he would temporarily give up the leadership role while the House Ethics Committee investigated claims he engaged in sexual misconduct with former aides. Lofgren last week said she would be a candidate for committee ranking member if Conyers vacated his seat (see 1711270020 and 1711290055).
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai won't postpone a Dec. 14 vote on rolling back Title II net neutrality regulation under the Communications Act, spokespersons said Monday after calls for delay. In a news conference Monday, Democrats New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel urged Pai to wait until questions, including questions about millions of allegedly fake comments, are fully investigated. Rosenworcel said the process lacks integrity. Some senators sought delay, which USTelecom opposed (see 1711290032).
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai won't postpone a Dec. 14 vote on rolling back Title II net neutrality regulation under the Communications Act, spokespersons said Monday after calls for delay. In a news conference Monday, Democrats New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel urged Pai to wait until questions, including questions about millions of allegedly fake comments, are fully investigated. Rosenworcel said the process lacks integrity. Some senators sought delay, which USTelecom opposed (see 1711290032).
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation doesn't see huge red flags raised by the FCC's proposed ACHP program comment about antenna collocation not needing National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 review, which could bring long-discussed collocation on twilight towers closer to reality. The agency's draft public notice (PN), on this month's meeting agenda (see 1711220026), "seems to be a reasonable first start," ACHP Office of Federal Agency Programs Director Reid Nelson told us. The FCC has a wide array of other broadband infrastructure deployment issues it could tee up next, experts said.
The state commissioner spearheading an ethics code for Arizona Corporation Commission members said he’s looking at a wide spectrum of issues and plans to seek extensive public feedback on a soon-to-be released draft. While the code is still a work in progress, another ACC commissioner and two government watchdogs voiced skepticism that the code will strongly enough address alleged problems including influence of campaign contributions from regulated utilities. The ACC is weighing ethics as a court hears a case about alleged “dark money” contributions to some Arizona commissioners and after two recent ACC chairs were investigated for misbehavior.
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation doesn't see huge red flags raised by the FCC's proposed ACHP program comment about antenna collocation not needing National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 review, which could bring long-discussed collocation on twilight towers closer to reality. The agency's draft public notice (PN), on this month's meeting agenda (see 1711220026), "seems to be a reasonable first start," ACHP Office of Federal Agency Programs Director Reid Nelson told us. The FCC has a wide array of other broadband infrastructure deployment issues it could tee up next, experts said.
Several Supreme Court justices voiced concern Wednesday during oral argument in Carpenter v. U.S. (see 1711280046) about how to ensure privacy protections in an era of advanced surveillance technologies. Justices seemed divided on what boundaries to set for government searches of cellphone location information. The case challenges the legality of the government’s search of convicted criminal Timothy Carpenter’s cellphone location information in several robberies. Representing Carpenter, American Civil Liberties Union attorney Nathan Freed Wessler said “warrantless collection” of 127 days of Carpenter’s information was illegal. Deputy Solicitor General Michael Dreeben said court precedent supports the government.