ICANN CEO Fadi Chehadé “should recuse himself from all ICANN decisions that could impact the Chinese government,” including all activity related to the planned Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) transition, GOP presidential hopeful Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said in a statement Tuesday. Chehadé responded Friday to questions raised by Cruz and other senators about his decision to become co-chairman of a high-level advisory committee to the Chinese government-led World Internet Conference (WIC) following his mid-March retirement from ICANN, saying his future WIC role didn't violate ICANN's conflict of interest policy. ICANN stakeholders said they believed Cruz was unlikely to be satisfied with Chehadé's answers (see 1602220066). Cruz disputed Chehadé's response, noting a Dec. 17 report by the Chinese government's Xinhua News Agency that the WIC advisory committee held its first meeting “on the sidelines” of the 2015 WIC summit in Wuzhen, China. Either WIC and the Chinese government “have misreported the events that took place during their own conference or Fadi Chehade isn’t being completely honest” with the Senate, Cruz said in a statement. Chehadé had said the only compensation for his WIC role would be for any travel expenses he incurs related to WIC activities, which Cruz said “can be a form of personal conflict of interest.” That compensation “could impair Chehade’s ability to act impartially and in the best interest of the [U.S.] government when performing under” NTIA's current contract with ICANN to administer the IANA functions, Cruz said. Chehadé's involvement with WIC “is not helpful, obviously,” Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters off the Senate floor Wednesday. He said that Senate Commerce is “following that issue very carefully and we're waiting for [ICANN's IANA transition] proposal to come forward. We've been in touch with NTIA about it.” ICANN and NTIA didn't immediately comment.

ICANN CEO Fadi Chehadé “should recuse himself from all ICANN decisions that could impact the Chinese government,” including all activity related to the planned Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) transition, GOP presidential hopeful Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said in a statement Tuesday. Chehadé responded Friday to questions raised by Cruz and other senators about his decision to become co-chairman of a high-level advisory committee to the Chinese government-led World Internet Conference (WIC) following his mid-March retirement from ICANN, saying his future WIC role didn't violate ICANN's conflict of interest policy. ICANN stakeholders said they believed Cruz was unlikely to be satisfied with Chehadé's answers (see 1602220066). Cruz disputed Chehadé's response, noting a Dec. 17 report by the Chinese government's Xinhua News Agency that the WIC advisory committee held its first meeting “on the sidelines” of the 2015 WIC summit in Wuzhen, China. Either WIC and the Chinese government “have misreported the events that took place during their own conference or Fadi Chehade isn’t being completely honest” with the Senate, Cruz said in a statement. Chehadé had said the only compensation for his WIC role would be for any travel expenses he incurs related to WIC activities, which Cruz said “can be a form of personal conflict of interest.” That compensation “could impair Chehade’s ability to act impartially and in the best interest of the [U.S.] government when performing under” NTIA's current contract with ICANN to administer the IANA functions, Cruz said. Chehadé's involvement with WIC “is not helpful, obviously,” Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters off the Senate floor Wednesday. He said that Senate Commerce is “following that issue very carefully and we're waiting for [ICANN's IANA transition] proposal to come forward. We've been in touch with NTIA about it.” ICANN and NTIA didn't immediately comment.

President Barack Obama Wednesday nominated Carla Hayden, CEO of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, to be Librarian of Congress. Hayden previously was president of the American Library Association and has been a member of the federal National Museum and Library Services Board since 2010. If the Senate confirms Hayden, she would be the first woman and the first African-American to lead the Library of Congress. The White House had been searching for a permanent LOC head since Librarian of Congress James Billington announced in June that he would retire (see 1506180057). Billington ultimately left the LOC in late September. Deputy Librarian of Congress David Mao has been acting head (see 1509250052).

President Barack Obama Wednesday nominated Carla Hayden, CEO of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, to be Librarian of Congress. Hayden previously was president of the American Library Association and has been a member of the federal National Museum and Library Services Board since 2010. If the Senate confirms Hayden, she would be the first woman and the first African-American to lead the Library of Congress. The White House had been searching for a permanent LOC head since Librarian of Congress James Billington announced in June that he would retire (see 1506180057). Billington ultimately left the LOC in late September. Deputy Librarian of Congress David Mao has been acting head (see 1509250052).

The FCC should issue a rulemaking on phasing out text technology (TTY) in favor of real-time text (RTT), the FCC’s Disability Advisory Committee agreed Tuesday. The DAC, meeting at FCC headquarters, approved a report on the move away from TTY.

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson “largely agrees” with Chrysler, Ford, General Motors and their suppliers that the CD-copying hard drives shipped in their vehicle infotainment systems fall outside the scope of the Audio Home Recording Act (AHRA) (see 1408010063), she said in a memorandum opinion and order released Friday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. However, Jackson denied the automakers’ Rule 12 motions under federal court procedures to dismiss the case or render a judgment on the pleadings because the allegations in the complaints by the Alliance of Artists and Recording Companies (AARC) were “sufficient to survive” those Rule 12 motions, her opinion said.

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson “largely agrees” with Chrysler, Ford, General Motors and their suppliers that the CD-copying hard drives shipped in their vehicle infotainment systems fall outside the scope of the Audio Home Recording Act (AHRA) (see 1408010063), she said in a memorandum opinion and order released Friday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. However, Jackson denied the automakers’ Rule 12 motions under federal court procedures to dismiss the case or render a judgment on the pleadings because the allegations in the complaints by the Alliance of Artists and Recording Companies (AARC) were “sufficient to survive” those Rule 12 motions, her opinion said.

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson “largely agrees” with Chrysler, Ford, General Motors and their suppliers that the CD-copying hard drives shipped in their vehicle infotainment systems fall outside the scope of the Audio Home Recording Act (AHRA) (see 1408010063), she said in a memorandum opinion and order released Friday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. However, Jackson denied the automakers’ Rule 12 motions under federal court procedures to dismiss the case or render a judgment on the pleadings because the allegations in the complaints by the Alliance of Artists and Recording Companies (AARC) were “sufficient to survive” those Rule 12 motions, her opinion said.

Along with documenting carriage hurdles facing independent and diverse programmers, the FCC in a notice of inquiry approved Thursday is looking for input on possible actions it might take to boost independent programming sources, Media Bureau Chief Bill Lake said. The commissioners approved the NOI, which was mostly as expected (see 1601290047) and seeks comments in docket 16-41 after it's published in the Federal Register. Chairman Tom Wheeler didn't comment about actions the FCC could consider after the NOI, which Commissioner Mignon Clyburn sought as part of last year's OK of AT&T buying DirecTV.

The FCC voted 3-2 Thursday to launch a rulemaking (see 1602160072) seeking comment on numerous changes to set-top box rules intended to make it easier for third parties to build and sell retail set tops that can access pay-TV content. Commissioners Ajit Pai and Mike O’Rielly as expected (see 1601280066) opposed the proposal, which they said was “slanted” and an unnecessary regulatory intrusion. “I’m confident that most consumers would rather eliminate the set-top box altogether,” Pai said.