Pay-TV companies and groups still disagree with TiVo and the Consumer Video Choice Coalition over whether the FCC should take action based on the Downloadable Security Technology Advisory Committee report and whether such an action would be legal, said replies in docket 15-64. AT&T, the American Cable Association, MPAA and NCTA believe the FCC would be overstepping congressional intent and its own authority if it tried to implement the downloadable security solution backed by the CVCC.

Despite reassurance from Chairman Tom Wheeler and others at the FCC (see 1510220039), industry continues to have deep concerns that the FCC’s proposed new device certification rules would prohibit third-party firmware installation on devices, including Wi-Fi routers, CTA and others said in replies in docket 15-170.

Pay-TV companies and groups still disagree with TiVo and the Consumer Video Choice Coalition over whether the FCC should take action based on the Downloadable Security Technology Advisory Committee report and whether such an action would be legal, said replies in docket 15-64. AT&T, the American Cable Association, MPAA and NCTA believe the FCC would be overstepping congressional intent and its own authority if it tried to implement the downloadable security solution backed by the CVCC.

The House Judiciary Committee’s copyright roundtable Monday at Santa Clara University generated significant discussion about the need for fixes to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, stakeholders who participated in and attended the meeting told us. The Santa Clara roundtable, the first of two such sessions that House Judiciary plans this week in California, drew prominent interest from Silicon Valley’s tech sector, as expected (see 1511060052). Although content creators and other copyright stakeholders also made a significant impact during the Santa Clara roundtable, a Tuesday roundtable at the University of California, Los Angeles was expected to feature a bigger presence from those stakeholders.

Despite reassurance from Chairman Tom Wheeler and others at the FCC (see 1510220039), industry continues to have deep concerns that the FCC’s proposed new device certification rules would prohibit third-party firmware installation on devices, including Wi-Fi routers, CTA and others said in replies in docket 15-170.

An administrative law judge proposed the California Public Utilities Commission approve Frontier Communications' buy of Verizon's wireline system in the state subject to conditions and related settlements with various groups. Among the conditions in the ALJ's 82-page proposed decision (PD): Frontier "shall offer broadband connectivity to all Lifeline-eligible Verizon California, Inc., customers at the rate and on the terms contained in its Memorandum of Understanding with the California Emerging Technologies Fund," and "Prior to the closing date of the Transaction, Verizon California, Inc., shall repair all known General Order (GO) 95 non-conformances within its California service territory or, to the extent completion of all repairs within that time period is impossible, shall at the closing date escrow with the Commission in accordance with the terms of this decision the balance of funds necessary to complete the repairs." The PD will appear on the CPUC's Dec. 3 agenda, said an attachment, which noted the commission could act then or postpone a vote. A Frontier statement called the proposal "favorable," and noted the company had already received Department of Justice antitrust clearance and FCC approval of its planned purchase of wireline systems in California, Florida and Texas (see 1509030063). It said it expected to close the transaction by the end of Q1. In a Friday statement, Kathleen Abernathy, executive vice president-external affairs, said Frontier was pleased the proposed decision says its proposed settlements with the Office of Ratepayer Advocates, The Utility Rate Network, Center for Accessible Technology, California Emerging Technology Fund, Greenlining and others "address the public interest requirements to be considered by the Commission. ... We will continue to work through any remaining issues raised in the PD and address them in our comments, which are due in a few weeks."

An administrative law judge proposed the California Public Utilities Commission approve Frontier Communications' buy of Verizon's wireline system in the state subject to conditions and related settlements with various groups. Among the conditions in the ALJ's 82-page proposed decision (PD): Frontier "shall offer broadband connectivity to all Lifeline-eligible Verizon California, Inc., customers at the rate and on the terms contained in its Memorandum of Understanding with the California Emerging Technologies Fund," and "Prior to the closing date of the Transaction, Verizon California, Inc., shall repair all known General Order (GO) 95 non-conformances within its California service territory or, to the extent completion of all repairs within that time period is impossible, shall at the closing date escrow with the Commission in accordance with the terms of this decision the balance of funds necessary to complete the repairs." The PD will appear on the CPUC's Dec. 3 agenda, said an attachment, which noted the commission could act then or postpone a vote. A Frontier statement called the proposal "favorable," and noted the company had already received Department of Justice antitrust clearance and FCC approval of its planned purchase of wireline systems in California, Florida and Texas (see 1509030063). It said it expected to close the transaction by the end of Q1. In a Friday statement, Kathleen Abernathy, executive vice president-external affairs, said Frontier was pleased the proposed decision says its proposed settlements with the Office of Ratepayer Advocates, The Utility Rate Network, Center for Accessible Technology, California Emerging Technology Fund, Greenlining and others "address the public interest requirements to be considered by the Commission. ... We will continue to work through any remaining issues raised in the PD and address them in our comments, which are due in a few weeks."

Two planned House Judiciary Committee roundtables in California this week on copyright issues are likely to tackle a far wider range of issues, with several stakeholders set to speak at the roundtables telling us Friday they had received limited instructions ahead of the sessions on possible topics that could come up. House Judiciary plans a session Monday at Santa Clara University and a Tuesday session at the University of California-Los Angeles. Neither is targeted at specific copyright stakeholders (see 1511030061 and 1510130058). A previous House Judiciary roundtable in Nashville focused on music licensing (see 1509220055).

BALTIMORE -- Funding is limited for modernization of aging CBP facilities at land ports of entry that are having trouble keeping up with today’s increased trade volumes and security requirements, said CBP officials at the East Coast Trade Symposium on Nov. 4. With congressional appropriations in short supply, CBP’s reimbursement and donation pilots won’t be enough to raise the $5 billion necessary to bring CBP’s land ports up to standard.

Two planned House Judiciary Committee roundtables in California this week on copyright issues are likely to tackle a far wider range of issues, with several stakeholders set to speak at the roundtables telling us Friday they had received limited instructions ahead of the sessions on possible topics that could come up. House Judiciary plans a session Monday at Santa Clara University and a Tuesday session at the University of California-Los Angeles. Neither is targeted at specific copyright stakeholders (see 1511030061 and 1510130058). A previous House Judiciary roundtable in Nashville focused on music licensing (see 1509220055).