NASHVILLE -- Home Technology Specialists of America (HTSA) dealers were optimistic amid unknowns following the announcement at the HTSA spring meeting of an alliance between it and the Nationwide Marketing Group. Executives from both associations emphasized that the groups would remain separate while benefiting from shared programs and unspecified knowledge exchange initiatives.
Privacy and security concerns associated with telehealth technologies were largely set aside during the Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation and the Internet’s hearing Tuesday. Though some senators raised concerns, the witnesses said privacy and security concerns were a much smaller problem with telehealth than lack of broadband access. Ranking member Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, mentioned the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act and encryption use for telehealth technologies, but didn’t ask witnesses any direct questions regarding privacy or security concerns.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, predicted a “strong bipartisan vote in favor" of Trade Promotion Authority and the advancement of the other three major trade bills, at the outset of a committee trade markup on April 22. The committee, however, postponed the markup to a later time in the afternoon of April 22, around 4 p.m., following an objection raised by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., on the Senate floor.
Privacy and security concerns associated with telehealth technologies were largely set aside during the Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation and the Internet’s hearing Tuesday. Though some senators raised concerns, the witnesses said privacy and security concerns were a much smaller problem with telehealth than lack of broadband access. Ranking member Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, mentioned the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act and encryption use for telehealth technologies, but didn’t ask witnesses any direct questions regarding privacy or security concerns.
Sprint and T-Mobile spent less on lobbying so far this year, Q1 lobbying reports showed. Monday was the deadline for quarterly lobbying reports, but many trade associations and companies hadn't filed theirs by our deadline. Observers have said net neutrality and proposed acquisitions are big drivers of spending in the telecom space, and those issues turned up repeatedly in the Q1 forms posted this week.
Sprint and T-Mobile spent less on lobbying so far this year, Q1 lobbying reports showed. Monday was the deadline for quarterly lobbying reports, but many trade associations and companies hadn't filed theirs by our deadline. Observers have said net neutrality and proposed acquisitions are big drivers of spending in the telecom space, and those issues turned up repeatedly in the Q1 forms posted this week.
Prospects remain good for two cybersecurity information sharing bills to pass the House later this week, but there’s still potential for a contentious debate over privacy and liability protection aspects of the bills, industry lawyers and lobbyists told us. The House is expected to vote on the Protecting Cyber Networks Act (HR-1560) on Wednesday and the National Cybersecurity Protection Advancement Act (HR-1731) on Thursday, said the office of House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. The House Intelligence Committee-passed HR-1560 focuses on private sector sharing with U.S. intelligence agencies, while the House Homeland Security Committee-passed HR-1731 would establish the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center as the main federal civilian hub for information sharing. Both bills contain liability protection for companies that participate in the sharing programs the bills would establish.
Drawback modernization, an increase in the de minimis level to $800, and an exemption from duties for container residue are components of the customs reauthorization bill set for inclusion in the package of trade legislation coming together in Congress, according to a summary of the draft bill from Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah (here). The customs reauthorization bill, introduced in the Senate (here), would also provide for enhanced trade enforcement, including databases of new importers and importer of record numbers, the ability for CBP to share unredacted samples of articles suspected to infringe intellectual property rights, and timelines for formal CBP investigations of antidumping and countervailing duty evasion. Highlights of the summary, which was provided by Hatch in anticipation of a markup scheduled for April 22 (see 1504200054), are as follows:
Prospects remain good for two cybersecurity information sharing bills to pass the House later this week, but there’s still potential for a contentious debate over privacy and liability protection aspects of the bills, industry lawyers and lobbyists told us. The House is expected to vote on the Protecting Cyber Networks Act (HR-1560) on Wednesday and the National Cybersecurity Protection Advancement Act (HR-1731) on Thursday, said the office of House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. The House Intelligence Committee-passed HR-1560 focuses on private sector sharing with U.S. intelligence agencies, while the House Homeland Security Committee-passed HR-1731 would establish the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center as the main federal civilian hub for information sharing. Both bills contain liability protection for companies that participate in the sharing programs the bills would establish.
The FCC approved a public notice seeking additional comment on designated entity (DE) rules that would encourage bidding by small market players in FCC auctions, via electronic voting. Chairman Tom Wheeler circulated the PN in March (see 1503240055). The item was stricken from the agenda of the FCC meeting shortly before it began, so there was no discussion at the meeting by commissioners. Questions have been raised about Dish Network’s use of two DEs in the AWS-3 auction to obtain licenses at reduced prices through bidding credits, including on Capitol Hill (see 1503090034). Wheeler told reporters after the meeting the Wireless Bureau is still collecting information on the bids by the DEs. The FCC will seek comment on the long-form applications by the DEs, Wheeler said. The FCC is “in the first stages” of the investigation, he said. “We will make a decision based on the record, based on the facts.” Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., ranking member of the Commerce Committee, said he was pleased the FCC had approved the notice, "taking action to make sure the agency's policies help small businesses not just survive, but compete, thrive, and best serve their consumers." “Soliciting further input on alternative proposals and exploring other issues raised in the record to date will provide a more complete record for us to evaluate and act upon,” the notice said. It also allows commenters to weigh in based on the lessons learned in the AWS-3 auction, the FCC said. “Abuse of the DE program has robbed actual small businesses of the spectrum they need to serve their local communities,” Commissioner Ajit Pai said in a statement accompanying the order. “This taxpayer-funded program is now being used by Fortune 500 companies to disadvantage the very small companies it was intended to help. This must end.” The AWS-3 auction “put a spotlight on the questionable uses of the FCC’s designated entity program,” Commissioner Mike O’Rielly said. “Although the Commission is taking the first steps to consider rule deficiencies, this does not substitute for the distinct and thorough review of the AWS-3 designated entity applications, which must occur to ensure that the entities receiving government subsidies are in compliance with our rules.” Commissioner Mignon Clyburn said the DE rules are in need of an overhaul. “If we are careful and approach this proceeding in a fair and objective manner, I am confident that we will strike the proper balance and realize all of these important public interest goals,” she said.