Congressional Democrats see no reason to back off in trying to get a more specific answer from FCC Chairman Ajit Pai about President Donald Trump's slamming certain outlets as “the enemy of the people” and a top administration adviser's saying media should "keep its mouth shut," lawmakers told us. Senate Commerce Committee Democrats raised the question during last week’s oversight hearing (see 1703080070), sent a letter to Pai demanding answers by Friday, and want a reconfirmation hearing to quiz Pai further. Observers laud Pai's record on free press, although public interest officials said he needs to speak definitively.

Congressional Democrats see no reason to back off in trying to get a more specific answer from FCC Chairman Ajit Pai about President Donald Trump's slamming certain outlets as “the enemy of the people” and a top administration adviser's saying media should "keep its mouth shut," lawmakers told us. Senate Commerce Committee Democrats raised the question during last week’s oversight hearing (see 1703080070), sent a letter to Pai demanding answers by Friday, and want a reconfirmation hearing to quiz Pai further. Observers laud Pai's record on free press, although public interest officials said he needs to speak definitively.

AT&T said business data services are very competitive and need minimal regulation, as it proposed the FCC adopt a new BDS framework that "would be supported by the record." The proposal, detailed in two filings Tuesday, would add no regulation to Ethernet services, free legacy "transport" services from pricing regulation, and establish a competitive market test in metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) for legacy "channel terminations" (circuits to business customers akin to loops). The FCC didn't comment.

California and New York City lawmakers are eyeing measures to increase transparency of surveillance technology used by law enforcement. Police balked at the proposals -- which look like an ordinance passed last year in Santa Clara County, California (see 1609090061). A privacy advocate supported the increased transparency sought by the bills but wants to ensure they have teeth. “Every community concerned about its rights has a stake in these kinds of reforms because they benefit every community that has been targeted by surveillance as well as our society broadly,” said Electronic Frontier Foundation Director-Grassroots Advocacy Shahid Buttar.

AT&T said business data services are very competitive and need minimal regulation, as it proposed the FCC adopt a new BDS framework that "would be supported by the record." The proposal, detailed in two filings Tuesday, would add no regulation to Ethernet services, free legacy "transport" services from pricing regulation, and establish a competitive market test in metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) for legacy "channel terminations" (circuits to business customers akin to loops). The FCC didn't comment.

California and New York City lawmakers are eyeing measures to increase transparency of surveillance technology used by law enforcement. Police balked at the proposals -- which look like an ordinance passed last year in Santa Clara County, California (see 1609090061). A privacy advocate supported the increased transparency sought by the bills but wants to ensure they have teeth. “Every community concerned about its rights has a stake in these kinds of reforms because they benefit every community that has been targeted by surveillance as well as our society broadly,” said Electronic Frontier Foundation Director-Grassroots Advocacy Shahid Buttar.

Groups representing numerous industries said the FCC should ignore a petition for rulemaking and declaratory ruling filed by Craig Moskowitz and Craig Cunningham, who want tougher rules for the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. The two urged the FCC to change its longstanding TCPA interpretation that “prior express consent” includes implied consent resulting from a party’s providing a phone number to the caller (see 1702170041).

Groups representing numerous industries said the FCC should ignore a petition for rulemaking and declaratory ruling filed by Craig Moskowitz and Craig Cunningham, who want tougher rules for the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. The two urged the FCC to change its longstanding TCPA interpretation that “prior express consent” includes implied consent resulting from a party’s providing a phone number to the caller (see 1702170041).

Groups representing numerous industries said the FCC should ignore a petition for rulemaking and declaratory ruling filed by Craig Moskowitz and Craig Cunningham, who want tougher rules for the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. The two urged the FCC to change its longstanding TCPA interpretation that “prior express consent” includes implied consent resulting from a party’s providing a phone number to the caller (see 1702170041).

The Wright Petitioners, who pressed the FCC to start the inquiry leading to rules on the costs of calls from inside correctional facilities, said the cost of combating contraband cellphones mustn't be passed on to prisoners and their families. An order and Further NPRM on contraband cellphones is to get a vote at the FCC’s March 23 commissioners' meeting (see 1703020063). Lawyers for the petitioners reported on a meeting with Rachael Bender, wireless aide to Chairman Ajit Pai. “Counsel expressed that the Wright Petitioners do not have an opinion on the content of the technical rules as set forth in the draft Report and Order, but it is clear that the proposed rules do not include adequate protections to ensure that the cost of contraband cellphone detection systems will not be passed onto inmates and their families,” said a filing in docket 13-111. The Wright Petitioners also questioned whether the FCC has any reliable cost estimates for the order itself. The filing hadn't been posted. Technology company Try Safety First reported on a meeting between its lawyer, Jamie Barnett, ex-chief of the Public Safety Bureau, and bureau officials including acting Chief Lisa Fowlkes. The FCC should keep in mind “the need for a complete solution to the serious problem of contraband cell phones,” said Barnett, now at Venable. “The technology must render the cell phone useless and incapable of even recording photos or text; otherwise unconnected cell phones can still be passed and used for illicit and unauthorized communication. Cell Command's beacon technology, Cell Warden, renders the device incapable of any use.”