ACT|The App Association emphasized the importance of spectrum to 5G and to its members, in a meeting with FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly. “The App Association expressed its strong desire that the Commission reduce barriers for deploying new infrastructure as well as supporting innovative and more efficient ways to use wireless spectrum,” said a filing in various dockets including 16-106. “As high speed wireless broadband availability is essential for the app economy to continue growing, failure by the Commission to meet these infrastructure and spectrum needs will harm the economy and consumers.” The group said the FCC is the wrong agency to address questions raised by the National Association of State 911 Administrators (NASNA), which last year asked the agency to initiate a proceeding on how smartphone 911 apps potentially interface with 911 systems. The FCC sought comment (see 1612190055). “We emphasized that the FTC is the appropriate authority to address the concerns raised by NASNA,” the App Association said. “Although we are sensitive to the concerns NASNA expresses in its letter, the Commission is not the appropriate venue to handle such concerns.” ACT members representing Southern DNA, TM Technologies, Alchemy Security, FMS, Cosmic Innovations, Dogtown Media, 1564B, Remine, NeuEon and Colorado Technology Consultants were at the meeting, the filing said.

ACT|The App Association emphasized the importance of spectrum to 5G and to its members, in a meeting with FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly. “The App Association expressed its strong desire that the Commission reduce barriers for deploying new infrastructure as well as supporting innovative and more efficient ways to use wireless spectrum,” said a filing in various dockets including 16-106. “As high speed wireless broadband availability is essential for the app economy to continue growing, failure by the Commission to meet these infrastructure and spectrum needs will harm the economy and consumers.” The group said the FCC is the wrong agency to address questions raised by the National Association of State 911 Administrators (NASNA), which last year asked the agency to initiate a proceeding on how smartphone 911 apps potentially interface with 911 systems. The FCC sought comment (see 1612190055). “We emphasized that the FTC is the appropriate authority to address the concerns raised by NASNA,” the App Association said. “Although we are sensitive to the concerns NASNA expresses in its letter, the Commission is not the appropriate venue to handle such concerns.” ACT members representing Southern DNA, TM Technologies, Alchemy Security, FMS, Cosmic Innovations, Dogtown Media, 1564B, Remine, NeuEon and Colorado Technology Consultants were at the meeting, the filing said.

MPAA CEO Chris Dodd’s planned departure later this year is unlikely to shift the association’s role in copyright policy lobbying, but may lead to changes in tactics, executives and lobbyists told us. MPAA said Friday evening that Dodd, who has led the industry group since 2011, will depart as CEO Sept. 4 and as chairman at the end of the year (see 1704280066). MPAA’s board met Saturday to officially choose former Obama administration Assistant Secretary of State-Economic and Business Affairs Charles Rivkin as Dodd’s successor, a spokesman said. Dodd is a former Democratic senator from Connecticut.

MPAA CEO Chris Dodd’s planned departure later this year is unlikely to shift the association’s role in copyright policy lobbying, but may lead to changes in tactics, executives and lobbyists told us. MPAA said Friday evening that Dodd, who has led the industry group since 2011, will depart as CEO Sept. 4 and as chairman at the end of the year (see 1704280066). MPAA’s board met Saturday to officially choose former Obama administration Assistant Secretary of State-Economic and Business Affairs Charles Rivkin as Dodd’s successor, a spokesman said. Dodd is a former Democratic senator from Connecticut.

MPAA CEO Chris Dodd’s planned departure later this year is unlikely to shift the association’s role in copyright policy lobbying, but may lead to changes in tactics, executives and lobbyists told us. MPAA said Friday evening that Dodd, who has led the industry group since 2011, will depart as CEO Sept. 4 and as chairman at the end of the year (see 1704280066). MPAA’s board met Saturday to officially choose former Obama administration Assistant Secretary of State-Economic and Business Affairs Charles Rivkin as Dodd’s successor, a spokesman said. Dodd is a former Democratic senator from Connecticut.

The idea of dividing 47 GHz and 50 GHz bands into four sub-bands, championed by an array of satellite operators, will face wireless industry opposition, wireless officials told us. The sub-band proposal raises wireless red flags because such band segmentation would make it harder for the FCC to establish the contiguous blocks that would allow terrestrial 5G operations, they said.

Arizona enacted small-cells wireless siting legislation as states continued to push forward small-cells wireless bills this week. Industry and localities continue to negotiate different terms in different states, while the FCC looks at ways to speed wireless infrastructure deployment at the federal level (see 1704260058). California senators promised more revisions to their bill after listening to many public comments -- for and against -- at a committee hearing Wednesday.

Arizona enacted small-cells wireless siting legislation as states continued to push forward small-cells wireless bills this week. Industry and localities continue to negotiate different terms in different states, while the FCC looks at ways to speed wireless infrastructure deployment at the federal level (see 1704260058). California senators promised more revisions to their bill after listening to many public comments -- for and against -- at a committee hearing Wednesday.

Backers of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's plan to reverse broadband's Title II classification under the Communications Act said the power to enforce consumer privacy protections over ISPs and other entities would shift back to the FTC (see 1704260054 and 1704260052). But those opposed to the recently unveiled draft NPRM that would return broadband to a Title I information service classification said that move would weaken internet privacy and favor having two cops on the beat. Experts told us Thursday that Pai's proposal will be challenged in court regardless, but ultimately Congress will have to decide how much authority it wants to give the FTC in regulating broadband privacy.

Backers of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's plan to reverse broadband's Title II classification under the Communications Act said the power to enforce consumer privacy protections over ISPs and other entities would shift back to the FTC (see 1704260054 and 1704260052). But those opposed to the recently unveiled draft NPRM that would return broadband to a Title I information service classification said that move would weaken internet privacy and favor having two cops on the beat. Experts told us Thursday that Pai's proposal will be challenged in court regardless, but ultimately Congress will have to decide how much authority it wants to give the FTC in regulating broadband privacy.