The Texas Public Utility Commission may soon decide a right-of-way fee dispute between Houston and ExteNet that has rallied cities and the wireless infrastructure industry. Localities and industry say the PUC’s ruling could have broader implications for cities and backhaul providers across the state, and the tension between the groups could spill over into a federal fight if the FCC takes up a Mobilitie petition filed last month. In closing briefs in the Texas case Monday, cities alleged ExteNet and other backhaul providers avoid city right-of-way fees by claiming protection under a local code for telecom franchise fees.

The Copyright Office concluded its yearlong study of the role of copyright law in the use of software-embedded products, saying Thursday it decided against making any legislative recommendations related to the study. The CO aimed to examine how provisions​ in existing U.S. copyright law affect and are affected by software-embedded products, and how potential legislative changes could affect the innovation of such products (see 1512150050). Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and ranking member Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., sought the report last year (see 1510230036).

Commissioner Ajit Pai, the presumptive interim FCC chairman, remains a strong candidate to be named permanent chairman in the Republican administration, industry officials told us Thursday and Friday (see 1611140066). Pai is highly respected and well connected, including to Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Trump's attorney general choice, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., some said. Tapping Pai -- who's experienced and doesn't need Senate confirmation near term -- as permanent chairman could also accelerate GOP efforts to roll back regulation, including of the net neutrality and broadband reclassification order, some said. "They're trying to hit the ground running," said Scott Cleland, a Republican and chairman of NetCompetition, whose group receives broadband industry funding.

The Library of Congress moved forward Friday with the process of selecting a new register of copyrights to replace Maria Pallante, launching an online survey via SurveyMonkey aimed at giving the public input on the needed qualifications for the next register. The move got a mixed response from the copyright community. Content-side stakeholders told us they believe the LOC’s decision may lead to a bigger conflict with the House and Senate Judiciary committees in the next Congress. Tech sector stakeholders viewed the decision to proceed more positively, telling us it shows Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden is trying to increase transparency at the LOC.

Spectrum overhaul was a dominant effort this Congress for Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., and he pledges to continue fighting for spectrum legislation in 2017 under the administration of President-elect Donald Trump. Emails acquired by Communications Daily through an open records request show a complicated back and forth as Thune tussled with the Obama administration throughout 2015 and 2016 over initial drafts of his Mobile Now bill (S-2555), revealing in detail for the first time publicly specific administration objections that he and other lawmakers referred to in negotiating over the measure. Those debates may pick up next year.

The Copyright Office concluded its yearlong study of the role of copyright law in the use of software-embedded products, saying Thursday it decided against making any legislative recommendations related to the study. The CO aimed to examine how provisions​ in existing U.S. copyright law affect and are affected by software-embedded products, and how potential legislative changes could affect the innovation of such products (see 1512150050). Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and ranking member Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., sought the report last year (see 1510230036).

Commissioner Ajit Pai, the presumptive interim FCC chairman, remains a strong candidate to be named permanent chairman in the Republican administration, industry officials told us Thursday and Friday (see 1611140066). Pai is highly respected and well connected, including to Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Trump's attorney general choice, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., some said. Tapping Pai -- who's experienced and doesn't need Senate confirmation near term -- as permanent chairman could also accelerate GOP efforts to roll back regulation, including of the net neutrality and broadband reclassification order, some said. "They're trying to hit the ground running," said Scott Cleland, a Republican and chairman of NetCompetition, whose group receives broadband industry funding.

Spectrum overhaul was a dominant effort this Congress for Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., and he pledges to continue fighting for spectrum legislation in 2017 under the administration of President-elect Donald Trump. Emails acquired by Communications Daily through an open records request show a complicated back and forth as Thune tussled with the Obama administration throughout 2015 and 2016 over initial drafts of his Mobile Now bill (S-2555), revealing in detail for the first time publicly specific administration objections that he and other lawmakers referred to in negotiating over the measure. Those debates may pick up next year.

The Library of Congress moved forward Friday with the process of selecting a new register of copyrights to replace Maria Pallante, launching an online survey via SurveyMonkey aimed at giving the public input on the needed qualifications for the next register. The move got a mixed response from the copyright community. Content-side stakeholders told us they believe the LOC’s decision may lead to a bigger conflict with the House and Senate Judiciary committees in the next Congress. Tech sector stakeholders viewed the decision to proceed more positively, telling us it shows Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden is trying to increase transparency at the LOC.

CBP is formally investigating Eastern Trading NY over allegations of antidumping duty evasions filed under CBP's new evasion enforcement processes (see 1608190014), the agency said in a "public version" of its notice to the company (here). The company is alleged to have evaded "the antidumping duty order on steel wire garment hangers from the People’s Republic of China," the agency said. "Interim measures apply because CBP determined that there is a reasonable suspicion that the importer entered covered merchandise into the customs territory of the United States through evasion," the agency said.