A pre-emptive federal data breach notification law is necessary to reduce the complexity of dealing with such breaches, both for businesses and consumers, several witnesses told the Senate Commerce Consumer Protection Subcommittee at a hearing Thursday. But Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said notification concerns are “overblown” and any federal standard must be stronger than current state laws.

Lawmakers introduced the following trade-related bills since International Trade Today's last legislative update:

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said he will circulate an order Thursday reclassifying broadband as a common carrier service and imposing the same net neutrality rules on fixed and mobile broadband. Wheeler’s office briefed the FCC’s eighth floor and others on the plan Wednesday. Wheeler published in Wired an op-ed Wednesday explaining why his thinking had shifted to embrace reclassification. “I am submitting to my colleagues the strongest open internet protections ever proposed by the FCC,” he said.

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said he will circulate an order Thursday reclassifying broadband as a common carrier service and imposing the same net neutrality rules on fixed and mobile broadband. Wheeler’s office briefed the FCC’s eighth floor and others on the plan Wednesday. Wheeler published in Wired an op-ed Wednesday explaining why his thinking had shifted to embrace reclassification. “I am submitting to my colleagues the strongest open internet protections ever proposed by the FCC,” he said.

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said he will circulate an order Thursday reclassifying broadband as a common carrier service and imposing the same net neutrality rules on fixed and mobile broadband. Wheeler’s office briefed the FCC’s eighth floor and others on the plan Wednesday. Wheeler published in Wired an op-ed Wednesday explaining why his thinking had shifted to embrace reclassification. “I am submitting to my colleagues the strongest open internet protections ever proposed by the FCC,” he said.

House Communications Subcommittee Vice Chairman Bob Latta, R-Ohio, in a speech to the Telecommunications Industry Association board Tuesday, “focused on the FCC’s overreach and Commissioner [Tom] Wheeler’s misguided net neutrality approach,” his spokeswoman told us, citing legislation that Latta had introduced to limit the agency’s use of Communications Act Title II. “This proposal was also included as a provision in the bill that [Hill Republicans] introduced last month.” TIA didn’t comment on Latta’s speech but tweeted a photo of Latta speaking. Latta introduced a new piece of legislation (HR-655) Monday “to reform the Federal Communications Commission by requiring an analysis of benefits and costs during the rule making process and creating certain presumptions regarding regulatory forbearance and biennial regulatory review determinations,” its longer title said. The bill text wasn't available Tuesday. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., is the bill’s one co-sponsor. It was referred to Commerce. One concern Republicans have raised about the FCC’s net neutrality proceeding has been the agency’s lack of cost-benefit analysis.

House Communications Subcommittee Vice Chairman Bob Latta, R-Ohio, in a speech to the Telecommunications Industry Association board Tuesday, “focused on the FCC’s overreach and Commissioner [Tom] Wheeler’s misguided net neutrality approach,” his spokeswoman told us, citing legislation that Latta had introduced to limit the agency’s use of Communications Act Title II. “This proposal was also included as a provision in the bill that [Hill Republicans] introduced last month.” TIA didn’t comment on Latta’s speech but tweeted a photo of Latta speaking. Latta introduced a new piece of legislation (HR-655) Monday “to reform the Federal Communications Commission by requiring an analysis of benefits and costs during the rule making process and creating certain presumptions regarding regulatory forbearance and biennial regulatory review determinations,” its longer title said. The bill text wasn't available Tuesday. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., is the bill’s one co-sponsor. It was referred to Commerce. One concern Republicans have raised about the FCC’s net neutrality proceeding has been the agency’s lack of cost-benefit analysis.

FCC increase of speed thresholds for broadband was criticized by industry groups and others in statements after Thursday's decision (see 1501290043). Reflecting the party-line division in Thursday’s vote, consumer groups praised the move, saying it will push ISPs to provide faster service. The decision “by regulatory fiat” to raise the standard for judging broadband deployment to 25 Mbps down/3 Mbps up “is not grounded in marketplace realities dictated by actual consumer demand and willingness to pay,” Free State Foundation President Randolph May said: “It is conjured up in the imaginations of those who wish to exert more government control over Internet providers by artificially narrowing the market definition."

FCC increase of speed thresholds for broadband was criticized by industry groups and others in statements after Thursday's decision (see 1501290043). Reflecting the party-line division in Thursday’s vote, consumer groups praised the move, saying it will push ISPs to provide faster service. The decision “by regulatory fiat” to raise the standard for judging broadband deployment to 25 Mbps down/3 Mbps up “is not grounded in marketplace realities dictated by actual consumer demand and willingness to pay,” Free State Foundation President Randolph May said: “It is conjured up in the imaginations of those who wish to exert more government control over Internet providers by artificially narrowing the market definition."

The FCC raised to 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload the standard for determining whether broadband is being sufficiently deployed around the country Thursday, over objections of Republican commissioners and ISPs. The 3-2 vote had been expected (see 1501280056). The commission accepted the conclusion in the agency’s broadband progress report that, under the new standard, broadband is not being deployed in a reasonable or timely fashion. That finding requires the agency to take “immediate” steps to improve deployment under the Telecommunications Act's Section 706. A separate party-line 3-2 vote approved a notice of inquiry seeking ideas on how to improve broadband deployment.