FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai and FTC Commissioner Joshua Wright said in an Chicago Tribune op-ed Wednesday that the “vague” Internet conduct rule in Chairman Tom Wheeler’s draft net neutrality order may be its “most problematic” part. The proposal would put in the “FCC’s cross hairs” on plans involving data caps like T-Mobile’s Music Freedom, Pai and Wright wrote. Separately, Evan Engstrom, policy director of Engine, also said he expects the draft to presumptively ban certain types of zero-rating.

FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai and FTC Commissioner Joshua Wright said in an Chicago Tribune op-ed Wednesday that the “vague” Internet conduct rule in Chairman Tom Wheeler’s draft net neutrality order may be its “most problematic” part. The proposal would put in the “FCC’s cross hairs” on plans involving data caps like T-Mobile’s Music Freedom, Pai and Wright wrote. Separately, Evan Engstrom, policy director of Engine, also said he expects the draft to presumptively ban certain types of zero-rating.

The ICANN board’s willingness to accept its removal in the event of the mismanagement of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority functions signaled progress at ICANN 52 in Singapore, ICANN experts said Wednesday. The conference ended last week and included talk of the IANA transition and its corresponding accountability review (see 1502060057). Domain-related issues also were addressed at ICANN 52, including universal acceptance and second level two-character domains, domain industry officials said.

The ICANN board’s willingness to accept its removal in the event of the mismanagement of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority functions signaled progress at ICANN 52 in Singapore, ICANN experts said Wednesday. The conference ended last week and included talk of the IANA transition and its corresponding accountability review (see 1502060057). Domain-related issues also were addressed at ICANN 52, including universal acceptance and second level two-character domains, domain industry officials said.

Sens. John Thune, R-S.D., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., introduced a bill Thursday to quadruple the duty-free de minimis level for U.S. imports to $800, from $200. The de minimis is the threshold on which goods are able to enter the U.S. duty-free. Both lawmakers tried but failed to advance the Low Value Shipment Regulatory Modernization Act last Congress. The measure would be a particular boost to small businesses and the digital trade world, both lawmakers said in statements. “Current import policies on low-value shipments are outdated and need to be modernized for the benefit of American consumers and for small businesses, which increasingly use the Internet to access global markets,” Thune said. “Goods shipped to American consumers should be treated the same way as goods carried on a plane to the United States by American travelers.” In recent years, Congress raised the de minimis to $800 for most circumstances where U.S. citizens are returning from abroad. The increased level would take effect in 2016. The bill also calls on the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to try to raise de minimis levels in trade negotiations. Many lawmakers on Capitol Hill support that goal, as do industry representatives.

Sens. John Thune, R-S.D., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., introduced a bill Thursday to quadruple the duty-free de minimis level for U.S. imports to $800, from $200. The de minimis is the threshold on which goods are able to enter the U.S. duty-free. Both lawmakers tried but failed to advance the Low Value Shipment Regulatory Modernization Act last Congress. The measure would be a particular boost to small businesses and the digital trade world, both lawmakers said in statements. “Current import policies on low-value shipments are outdated and need to be modernized for the benefit of American consumers and for small businesses, which increasingly use the Internet to access global markets,” Thune said. “Goods shipped to American consumers should be treated the same way as goods carried on a plane to the United States by American travelers.” In recent years, Congress raised the de minimis to $800 for most circumstances where U.S. citizens are returning from abroad. The increased level would take effect in 2016. The bill also calls on the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to try to raise de minimis levels in trade negotiations. Many lawmakers on Capitol Hill support that goal, as do industry representatives.

The Express Association of America applauded recently introduced legislation to raise the de minimis level for U.S. commercial imports to $800, in a Feb. 13 press release. Sens. John Thune, R-S.D., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., introduced the Low Value Shipment Regulatory Modernization Act, S-489, on Feb. 12 (see 1502120074). Reps. Aaron Schock, R-Ill., and Joe Crowley, D-N.Y., led the bill’s introduction in the House as well.

Sens. John Thune, R-S.D., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., introduced a bill Thursday to quadruple the duty-free de minimis level for U.S. imports to $800, from $200. The de minimis is the threshold on which goods are able to enter the U.S. duty-free. Both lawmakers tried but failed to advance the Low Value Shipment Regulatory Modernization Act last Congress. The measure would be a particular boost to small businesses and the digital trade world, both lawmakers said in statements. “Current import policies on low-value shipments are outdated and need to be modernized for the benefit of American consumers and for small businesses, which increasingly use the Internet to access global markets,” Thune said. “Goods shipped to American consumers should be treated the same way as goods carried on a plane to the United States by American travelers.” In recent years, Congress raised the de minimis to $800 for most circumstances where U.S. citizens are returning from abroad. The increased level would take effect in 2016. The bill also calls on the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to try to raise de minimis levels in trade negotiations. Many lawmakers on Capitol Hill support that goal, as do industry representatives.

Emergency communications, the IP transition and net neutrality are expected to be the main telecom issues discussed at NARUC’s meeting in Washington, state officials and industry observers told us. The meeting is to unofficially begin Friday and run through Wednesday, with Telecom Committee sessions to begin Monday. The Telecom Committee is considering two resolutions, including one that would urge the FCC to continue collaborating with state utility regulators on issues included in the commission’s November IP transition NPRM. The other telecom resolution would seek expedited FCC approval of a 2009 petition from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for state regulators to get state-specific access to the commission’s Network Outage Reporting System (NORS) (see 1502050039).

A draft order on establishing air-ground (ATG) mobile broadband service for aircraft passengers in the 14.0 to 14.5 GHz band was removed from circulation Feb. 6 amid national security concerns, FCC officials said. It was circulated Jan. 23, according to the agency's public list of circulated items. The Association of Flight Attendants raised concerns in a Feb. 5 comment in docket 13-114 that the system could increase the risk of terrorism and cyberwarfare (see 1502060034). Federal law enforcement also raised concerns.