CARI.net, TechFreedom and Internet entrepreneurs Scott Banister, Wendell Brown, David Frankel, Charles Giancarlo and Jeff Pulver asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit for leave to intervene in an industry challenge to FCC net neutrality rules. The motion attacks on mostly technical grounds the net neutrality order approved by a divided FCC in February.

The Communications Workers of America said Verizon neglects legacy telecom networks "in favor of larger profits," as CWA sought access to the company's repair, maintenance and installation records for its landline service in six eastern states and the District of Columbia. Verizon dismissed the union's claims as "absurd" and a typical tactic when the union is about to begin bargaining talks over the next labor contract.

CARI.net, TechFreedom and Internet entrepreneurs Scott Banister, Wendell Brown, David Frankel, Charles Giancarlo and Jeff Pulver asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit for leave to intervene in an industry challenge to FCC net neutrality rules. The motion attacks on mostly technical grounds the net neutrality order approved by a divided FCC in February.

The past year’s court rulings on corporate employee liability for customs violations has sparked deliberation in the trade community over what Trek Leather means for import compliance professionals. Customs lawyers warn of the possibility that unsuspecting corporate officers and compliance managers could find themselves subject to penalties and fines, although some attorneys say those concerns are overstated. Trade associations are busy deciphering how importers should address any liability arising from the case, including whether they should offer employees indemnification or insurance. However, creating insurance covering employee liability for customs violations is fraught with difficulties, and lawyers and insurers interviewed said no such policies exist as of yet.

Public Knowledge and VoIP company Bandwidth.com are concerned about an FCC draft order that would give VoIP providers the ability to obtain phone numbers directly from numbering administrators, an action which is on the tentative agenda for the June 18 meeting (see 1505280059). Public Knowledge said the FCC should not give phone numbers directly to VoIP providers unless it can ensure it has the jurisdiction to safeguard the numbering system and network security. Bandwidth.com said it had concerns about the FCC's VoIP numbering plans without the benefit of further analysis, given that the change would touch "virtually every aspect of voice communications regulation." Level 3 said the FCC needed to take steps to ensure competitive LECs can collect intercarrier compensation if VoIP providers obtain numbers directly.

Public Knowledge and VoIP company Bandwidth.com are concerned about an FCC draft order that would give VoIP providers the ability to obtain phone numbers directly from numbering administrators, an action which is on the tentative agenda for the June 18 meeting (see 1505280059). Public Knowledge said the FCC should not give phone numbers directly to VoIP providers unless it can ensure it has the jurisdiction to safeguard the numbering system and network security. Bandwidth.com said it had concerns about the FCC's VoIP numbering plans without the benefit of further analysis, given that the change would touch "virtually every aspect of voice communications regulation." Level 3 said the FCC needed to take steps to ensure competitive LECs can collect intercarrier compensation if VoIP providers obtain numbers directly.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) data breach announced Thursday, in combination with Congress’ recent passage of the USA Freedom Act (see 1506020052), temporarily increases attention on Senate consideration of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (S-754), but it's unclear whether that will improve the bill's chances of passage, industry lawyers and lobbyists told us in interviews. The White House cited the data breach, which OPM said may have compromised the personally identifiable information (PII) of about 4 million current and former federal employees, as a reason for Congress to pass cybersecurity legislation (see 1506050042). The House overwhelmingly passed two cybersecurity information sharing bills in April -- the National Cybersecurity Protection Advancement Act (HR-1731) and the Protecting Cyber Networks Act (HR-1560) -- and sent the language from both bills to the Senate as a revised version of HR-1560 (see 1504230062 and 1504220066).

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler juggles a contentious, complicated and not always visible relationship with GOP-controlled Capitol Hill in executing his agenda, said lawmakers and former FCC chairmen in interviews. More than 20 months into the Wheeler chairmanship, lawmakers from both parties praised Wheeler’s ability to face intense congressional oversight and cultivate relationships outside of the hearing room. Partisan undercurrents affected how some Republicans and Democrats perceive the 69-year-old Wheeler, an Obama administration appointee and former Obama campaign fundraiser, following explosively political debate on net neutrality.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) data breach announced Thursday, in combination with Congress’ recent passage of the USA Freedom Act (see 1506020052), temporarily increases attention on Senate consideration of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (S-754), but it's unclear whether that will improve the bill's chances of passage, industry lawyers and lobbyists told us in interviews. The White House cited the data breach, which OPM said may have compromised the personally identifiable information (PII) of about 4 million current and former federal employees, as a reason for Congress to pass cybersecurity legislation (see 1506050042). The House overwhelmingly passed two cybersecurity information sharing bills in April -- the National Cybersecurity Protection Advancement Act (HR-1731) and the Protecting Cyber Networks Act (HR-1560) -- and sent the language from both bills to the Senate as a revised version of HR-1560 (see 1504230062 and 1504220066).

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler juggles a contentious, complicated and not always visible relationship with GOP-controlled Capitol Hill in executing his agenda, said lawmakers and former FCC chairmen in interviews. More than 20 months into the Wheeler chairmanship, lawmakers from both parties praised Wheeler’s ability to face intense congressional oversight and cultivate relationships outside of the hearing room. Partisan undercurrents affected how some Republicans and Democrats perceive the 69-year-old Wheeler, an Obama administration appointee and former Obama campaign fundraiser, following explosively political debate on net neutrality.