Net neutrality comments are due at the FCC Tuesday and most observers expect most key industry players to weigh in. Industry observers told us the battle lines are well drawn, but the comments are still likely to be closely read by the FCC and some could form the basis for eventual legal challenges to the rules. The FCC approved rules for the first time in December 2010, under former Chairman Julius Genachowski. In January, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit overturned many of the rules (CD Jan 15 p1), virtually guaranteeing that net neutrality would be a big issue for Genachowski’s successor Tom Wheeler as well.

Net neutrality comments are due at the FCC Tuesday and most observers expect most key industry players to weigh in. Industry observers told us the battle lines are well drawn, but the comments are still likely to be closely read by the FCC and some could form the basis for eventual legal challenges to the rules. The FCC approved rules for the first time in December 2010, under former Chairman Julius Genachowski. In January, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit overturned many of the rules (WID Jan 15 p1), virtually guaranteeing that net neutrality would be a big issue for Genachowski’s successor Tom Wheeler as well.

Net neutrality comments are due at the FCC Tuesday and most observers expect most key industry players to weigh in. Industry observers told us the battle lines are well drawn, but the comments are still likely to be closely read by the FCC and some could form the basis for eventual legal challenges to the rules. The FCC approved rules for the first time in December 2010, under former Chairman Julius Genachowski. In January, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit overturned many of the rules, virtually guaranteeing that net neutrality would be a big issue for Genachowski’s successor Tom Wheeler as well.

A bill to curb misleading patent demand letters will move to the full House Commerce Committee despite Democratic opposition in a subcommittee markup Thursday. The House Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee voted 13-6 to approve the Targeting Rogue and Opaque Letters (TROL) Act (HR-4450), which is intended to stop “patent trolls” -- entities that request compensation for patent infringement without producing products -- from sending patent demand letters written in “bad faith.” Two Democrats joined with the Republicans voting in favor of the bill.

A bill to curb misleading patent demand letters will move to the full House Commerce Committee despite Democratic opposition in a subcommittee markup Thursday. The House Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee voted 13-6 to approve the Targeting Rogue and Opaque Letters (TROL) Act (HR-4450), which is intended to stop “patent trolls” -- entities that request compensation for patent infringement without producing products -- from sending patent demand letters written in “bad faith.” Two Democrats joined with the Republicans voting in favor of the bill.

A bill to curb misleading patent demand letters will move to the full House Commerce Committee despite Democratic opposition in a subcommittee markup Thursday. The House Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee voted 13-6 to approve the Targeting Rogue and Opaque Letters (TROL) Act (HR-4450), which is intended to stop “patent trolls” -- entities that request compensation for patent infringement without producing products -- from sending patent demand letters written in “bad faith.” Two Democrats joined with the Republicans voting in favor of the bill.

In a repeat of the dynamic before the FCC approved its last major orders in May, Chairman Tom Wheeler once again finds himself having to cut deals with the other two Democrats to win approval for an order on E-rate overhaul, scheduled for a vote Friday. Leading up to the commission’s May 15 votes on a net neutrality NPRM, spectrum aggregation rules and preliminary rules for the TV incentive auction, Wheeler also had to accommodate Democratic commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel after Republicans Ajit Pai and Mike O'Rielly were unable to work out any agreements with Wheeler.

In a repeat of the dynamic before the FCC approved its last major orders in May, Chairman Tom Wheeler once again finds himself having to cut deals with the other two Democrats to win approval for an order on E-rate overhaul, scheduled for a vote Friday. Leading up to the commission’s May 15 votes on a net neutrality NPRM, spectrum aggregation rules and preliminary rules for the TV incentive auction, Wheeler also had to accommodate Democratic commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel after Republicans Ajit Pai and Mike O'Rielly were unable to work out any agreements with Wheeler.

Large tech companies have used a 2010 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision to essentially require a warrant before responding to law enforcement requests for content, said representatives from Google and Facebook at a Tuesday Cato Institute event. “We're not getting much pushback,” said Microsoft Attorney Nate Jones. But countless smaller companies “don’t necessarily have the resources or legal acumen” to know to use the decision -- United States v. Warshak -- in such a manner, said Google Senior Privacy Policy Counsel David Lieber. And overseas customers don’t understand the patchwork of standards created by court rulings and federal law, Jones said. Which means a congressional solution is still needed, they said.

Large tech companies have used a 2010 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision to essentially require a warrant before responding to law enforcement requests for content, said representatives from Google and Facebook at a Tuesday Cato Institute event. “We're not getting much pushback,” said Microsoft Attorney Nate Jones. But countless smaller companies “don’t necessarily have the resources or legal acumen” to know to use the decision -- United States v. Warshak -- in such a manner, said Google Senior Privacy Policy Counsel David Lieber. And overseas customers don’t understand the patchwork of standards created by court rulings and federal law, Jones said. Which means a congressional solution is still needed, they said.