The FCC is expected to move very quickly on a final order on net neutrality after voting to launch a rulemaking Thursday (see 1705180029). Chairman Ajit Pai said he hoped to move as early as October, industry lawyers said. Former officials said that’s a tough timetable, especially if new commissioners join by then, including possibly a new commissioner to replace Democrat Mignon Clyburn, whose term expires in June.
The FCC is expected to move very quickly on a final order on net neutrality after voting to launch a rulemaking Thursday (see 1705180029). Chairman Ajit Pai said he hoped to move as early as October, industry lawyers said. Former officials said that’s a tough timetable, especially if new commissioners join by then, including possibly a new commissioner to replace Democrat Mignon Clyburn, whose term expires in June.
Government watchdogs decried alleged conflicts of interest at state telecom regulatory agencies after Nebraska’s attorney general found no violations by a top Public Service Commission official that consults on the side for telecom companies. Monday, the Nebraska attorney general said PSC Executive Director Jeff Pursley didn’t violate his oath by continuing to consult part time for telecom companies (see 1705160041). The appearance of conflict of interest is concerning even if legally sound, and it may speak to a wider problem at state utility regulators, said Sunlight Foundation and Common Cause officials. It’s not the first time ethics questions have been raised at the Nebraska PSC, and there have been similar allegations in Iowa and Arizona.
The Internet Association said broadband investment isn't down due to net neutrality regulation under Title II of the Communications Act. "ISP investment is up over time, and shows no decline as a result of Title II reclassification in 2015," said an IA summary. Claims of broadband providers and allies that investment dropped "don't mesh with reality," Chief Economist Chris Hooton told reporters Wednesday. The FCC is scheduled to vote Thursday on an NPRM proposing to reverse Title II reclassification and revisit net neutrality rules.
The Internet Association said broadband investment isn't down due to net neutrality regulation under Title II of the Communications Act. "ISP investment is up over time, and shows no decline as a result of Title II reclassification in 2015," said an IA summary. Claims of broadband providers and allies that investment dropped "don't mesh with reality," Chief Economist Chris Hooton told reporters Wednesday. The FCC is scheduled to vote Thursday on an NPRM proposing to reverse Title II reclassification and revisit net neutrality rules.
The WannaCry ransomware attack hit European businesses hard, but new regulations aren't needed, experts told us. The cyberattack, which affected about 200,000 computers in some 150 countries (see 1705150008), prompted the "first ever case of cyber cooperation at EU level" between the European Network and Information Security Agency and some national governments, ENISA said. Security experts faulted failures to keep computer systems updated, and NSA and U.K. Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) for keeping the vulnerability that enabled WannaCry secret and not fixing it. The European Commission said it's reviewing its cybersecurity strategy.
An NAB official will peg approval of ATSC 3.0 to emergency alerts during a Wednesday hearing on the topic and warn that a botched repacking after the broadcast TV incentive auction could interfere. “If the FCC approves Next Gen TV, a television broadcaster will be able to simultaneously deliver geo-targeted, rich media alerts to an unlimited number of enabled fixed, mobile and handheld devices across their entire coverage area,” NAB Chief Technology Officer Sam Matheny will testify. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has said he hopes for commission approval of ATSC 3.0 by year’s end.
The WannaCry ransomware attack hit European businesses hard, but new regulations aren't needed, experts told us. The cyberattack, which affected about 200,000 computers in some 150 countries (see 1705150008), prompted the "first ever case of cyber cooperation at EU level" between the European Network and Information Security Agency and some national governments, ENISA said. Security experts faulted failures to keep computer systems updated, and NSA and U.K. Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) for keeping the vulnerability that enabled WannaCry secret and not fixing it. The European Commission said it's reviewing its cybersecurity strategy.
An NAB official will peg approval of ATSC 3.0 to emergency alerts during a Wednesday hearing on the topic and warn that a botched repacking after the broadcast TV incentive auction could interfere. “If the FCC approves Next Gen TV, a television broadcaster will be able to simultaneously deliver geo-targeted, rich media alerts to an unlimited number of enabled fixed, mobile and handheld devices across their entire coverage area,” NAB Chief Technology Officer Sam Matheny will testify. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has said he hopes for commission approval of ATSC 3.0 by year’s end.
Differences between Free Access & Broadcast Telemedia’s current challenge of the incentive auction rules and a prior one from low-power TV broadcaster Mako Communications (see 1608300056) were a focus Tuesday of a three-judge panel at oral argument at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The panel included judges who previously sided with the FCC on the incentive auction in multiple cases. Broadcast attorneys didn’t expect FAB to be succeed.