Some opposition to Globalstar broadband terrestrial low-power service (TLPS) plans is falling by the wayside, but at least one critic still has major issues with the company's spectrum plans. And, given the forthcoming change in White House administration, the likelihood the FCC moves on Globalstar's proposal between now and the Trump administration's start could be slim, lawyers representing interested parties and satellite industry sources us.
More than two dozen civil society groups, trade associations and companies are supporting legislation introduced last week (see 1611170031) that would delay implementation of an administrative rule change that critics say would widen government hacking powers. It's "far too complex and raises too many privacy and cybersecurity concerns for Congress to let the rule go into effect without conducting any oversight whatsoever," said Robyn Greene, policy counsel for New America's Open Technology Institute, in a Monday news release. She said Congress needs to hold hearings on the change by DOJ (see 1605120016) and debate the issue of government hacking. New America, Access Now, the American Civil Liberties Union, Computer & Communications Industry Association, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Google, the Internet Association and others signed a letter to House and Senate leaders to bring up the Review the Rule Act for a vote and pass it.
More than two dozen civil society groups, trade associations and companies are supporting legislation introduced last week (see 1611170031) that would delay implementation of an administrative rule change that critics say would widen government hacking powers. It's "far too complex and raises too many privacy and cybersecurity concerns for Congress to let the rule go into effect without conducting any oversight whatsoever," said Robyn Greene, policy counsel for New America's Open Technology Institute, in a Monday news release. She said Congress needs to hold hearings on the change by DOJ (see 1605120016) and debate the issue of government hacking. New America, Access Now, the American Civil Liberties Union, Computer & Communications Industry Association, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Google, the Internet Association and others signed a letter to House and Senate leaders to bring up the Review the Rule Act for a vote and pass it.
Antitrust experts are in the dark about how a Trump administration might look at antitrust issues before the DOJ, or how substantially the change from a Democratic White House to a Republican one will influence the Antitrust Division's take on issues like takeovers. Both Democratic and Republican White Houses have been equally vigorous about going after price-fixing cartels or antitrust criminal violations, but it's not clear what a Trump administration might do about antitrust questions beyond that low-hanging fruit, former Senate Antitrust Subcommittee general counsel Seth Bloom told us.
The FCC is taking up only items on which no commissioner has raised an objection, Chairman Tom Wheeler said Thursday after the monthly commissioners' meeting. The meeting was over in about 10 minutes. On Wednesday, Wheeler pulled an order and Further NPRM on business data services, an order on a new phase of the mobility fund, a roaming NPRM and a video description order in response to letters from Capitol Hill (see 1611160048). All technically remain on circulation.
A debate over whether antitrust enforcement hasn't gone far enough or gone too far is a "healthy" one, FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez told attendees Thursday at an American Bar Association antitrust forum that also featured prominent DOJ officials. While antitrust is important in promoting competition and advancing consumer interests, its application also "ought to be limited," she added. After her talk, Ramirez declined to answer a reporter's question about her future with the agency with the incoming Trump administration. Her term expires in April.
The FCC is taking up only items on which no commissioner has raised an objection, Chairman Tom Wheeler said Thursday after the monthly commissioners' meeting. The meeting was over in about 10 minutes. On Wednesday, Wheeler pulled an order and Further NPRM on business data services, an order on a new phase of the mobility fund, a roaming NPRM and a video description order in response to letters from Capitol Hill (see 1611160048). All technically remain on circulation.
A debate over whether antitrust enforcement hasn't gone far enough or gone too far is a "healthy" one, FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez told attendees Thursday at an American Bar Association antitrust forum that also featured prominent DOJ officials. While antitrust is important in promoting competition and advancing consumer interests, its application also "ought to be limited," she added. After her talk, Ramirez declined to answer a reporter's question about her future with the agency with the incoming Trump administration. Her term expires in April.
Niantic CEO John Hanke, who developed the popular smartphone game Pokemon Go, and other witnesses at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on augmented reality said Wednesday that cybersecurity must be addressed for the technology to flourish.
LA QUINTA, California -- NARUC attendees this week buzzed about the surprising election of Donald Trump. While speakers at the state commissioner association’s annual meeting stressed the uncertainty about what a President Trump means for telecom policy, some predicted an increased role for state utility regulators under a GOP-controlled presidency and Congress. Meanwhile, the National Governors Association (NGA) predicts little impact to the deployment timeline for the FirstNet public safety network even with a new administration and more than 10 new governors to educate, NGA Center for Best Practice's Homeland Security and Public Safety Division Director Jeffrey McLeod said in a phone interview Wednesday. “Timelines are in place and things will continue to move.”