Judicial review of the net neutrality litigation is coming into clearer focus as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit recently set a briefing schedule, and telco and cable petitioners outlined their many lines of attack on the FCC's order. The court essentially accepted the parties’ proposed expedited briefing timetable running through mid-October, but it shortened and consolidated the briefs proposed by the main telco and cable broadband groups challenging the order while raising the word limit for intervenors defending the commission's net neutrality rules and broadband reclassification. One key aspect of the court's review still isn't known: the identity of the three judges who will review the merits of the industry challenges, which argue the FCC order violated the Communications Act, administrative procedures and even the First Amendment.

Senior FCC officials sprang into action to prepare Chairman Tom Wheeler for the bevy of Capitol Hill net neutrality hearings earlier this year, according to internal agency emails supplied in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request that Communications Daily filed. Congressional scrutiny of the FCC spiked after the February approval of the agency’s open Internet order, prompting five hearings in March and two more since. The Wheeler aides embraced an all-hands-on-deck strategy to brief Wheeler on key topics and stay ready to respond in real time when Wheeler was in the hearing room.

Senior FCC officials sprang into action to prepare Chairman Tom Wheeler for the bevy of Capitol Hill net neutrality hearings earlier this year, according to internal agency emails supplied in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request that Communications Daily filed. Congressional scrutiny of the FCC spiked after the February approval of the agency’s open Internet order, prompting five hearings in March and two more since. The Wheeler aides embraced an all-hands-on-deck strategy to brief Wheeler on key topics and stay ready to respond in real time when Wheeler was in the hearing room.

Parallel campaigns from two coalitions of privacy advocates are dominating the debate over an initial report from an ICANN working group studying whether to recommend that ICANN modify rules for its WHOIS registration database to require the owners of commercial websites supply their contact information rather than information for privacy and proxy services. The initial report, from the Generic Names Supporting Organization’s Policy Development Process Working Group on Privacy & Proxy Services Accreditation Issues (PPSAI), generally addresses issues on accrediting privacy and proxy services. The Electronic Frontier Foundation and other privacy advocates raised concerns about the section of the PPSAI report that explores whether to prohibit commercial website owners from using proxy services.

Parallel campaigns from two coalitions of privacy advocates are dominating the debate over an initial report from an ICANN working group studying whether to recommend that ICANN modify rules for its WHOIS registration database to require the owners of commercial websites supply their contact information rather than information for privacy and proxy services. The initial report, from the Generic Names Supporting Organization’s Policy Development Process Working Group on Privacy & Proxy Services Accreditation Issues (PPSAI), generally addresses issues on accrediting privacy and proxy services. The Electronic Frontier Foundation and other privacy advocates raised concerns about the section of the PPSAI report that explores whether to prohibit commercial website owners from using proxy services.

The U.S. wireless industry is “more vibrant and vigorously competitive than ever before” and the FCC should recognize that in its next wireless competition report, CTIA said in comments. Other industry commenters offered the same take in docket 15-125. But industry observers told us they see little chance the FCC will change course and agree with them. The first seven wireless competition reports didn't include any conclusions on whether the industry was effectively competitive, though the next six reports concluded it was. All reports since 2010 have not drawn a conclusion.

The U.S. wireless industry is “more vibrant and vigorously competitive than ever before” and the FCC should recognize that in its next wireless competition report, CTIA said in comments. Other industry commenters offered the same take in docket 15-125. But industry observers told us they see little chance the FCC will change course and agree with them. The first seven wireless competition reports didn't include any conclusions on whether the industry was effectively competitive, though the next six reports concluded it was. All reports since 2010 have not drawn a conclusion.

The U.S. wireless industry is “more vibrant and vigorously competitive than ever before” and the FCC should recognize that in its next wireless competition report, CTIA said in comments. Other industry commenters offered the same take in docket 15-125. But industry observers told us they see little chance the FCC will change course and agree with them. The first seven wireless competition reports didn't include any conclusions on whether the industry was effectively competitive, though the next six reports concluded it was. All reports since 2010 have not drawn a conclusion.

Amid FCC pressure, PayPal made changes to its user policy to clarify that it will use robocalls and texts to contact customers “for marketing purposes” only when they have provided “express written consent.” The agency recently approved an order and declaratory ruling designed to get tough on companies that violate the Telephone Consumers Protection Act (see 1506180046).

Amid FCC pressure, PayPal made changes to its user policy to clarify that it will use robocalls and texts to contact customers “for marketing purposes” only when they have provided “express written consent.” The agency recently approved an order and declaratory ruling designed to get tough on companies that violate the Telephone Consumers Protection Act (see 1506180046).