The Coalition for Emergency Response and Critical Infrastructure (CERCI) refuted the Public Safety Spectrum Alliance’s (PSSA) latest arguments for effectively giving control of the 4.9 GHz band to the FirstNet Authority (see [Ref:2405240048). PSSA said CERCI’s approach is “wrong from top to bottom.” The alliance’s latest argument “purports to ‘provide clarity regarding the Commission’s legal authority’ to adopt PSSA’s proposal, but it does no such thing,” CERCI said in a filing posted Friday in docket 07-100: “Rather than engage meaningfully with the legal issues CERCI has raised, PSSA primarily responds with policy arguments.” The FCC lacks authority, “absent express statutory authorization, to assign spectrum to a Federal entity,” including the authority, which is part of NTIA, CERCI said. The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, which led to the creation of FirstNet, gave the federal network access to only 700 MHz spectrum, CERCI said.
New York will soon require social media platforms to obtain parental consent when using algorithms to sort feeds for minors.
Google is unwilling to publicly support a kids’ social media proposal in Pennsylvania, despite the House Children and Youth Committee announcing the company’s backing Wednesday (see 2406050055).
An FCC proposal that requires disclosing AI-generated content in political ads seems aimed at having rules ready for the 2024 presidential election, statements Thursday from FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and agency spokespeople indicate. However, broadcast insiders told us there probably isn’t enough time for that to happen without causing severe disruption. The FCC is proposing an update of the political file rules “to meet the moment we are in,” Rosenworcel said during a news conference. Her statement was in response to a question about whether the rules would be in effect on Election Day. Rosenworcel didn't explicitly say the item was intended for the 2024 election, though. “She has been clear that the time to act on public disclosure of AI use is now,” an agency spokesperson said in an email after being asked to clarify the planned timing of the proposal.
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez told us during an exclusive Communications Daily Q&A that evaluating assessments made on consumers' bills as part of funding the Universal Service Fund is her top issue amid calls for contribution reform (see 2404190043). Sworn in in September, Gomez also mentioned concerns about USF's future and the affordable connectivity program. She also urged ISPs to create their digital equity plans with "intentionality."
Cash-strapped California has many challenges ahead as it seeks to connect everyone to broadband, said state, local and industry officials Wednesday at the livestreamed California Broadband Summit. Assembly Communications Committee Chair Tasha Boerner (D) said she has several concerns with state broadband policy, including that the California Public Utilities Commission is taking too long to distribute last-mile grants.
The following are short summaries of recent CBP NY rulings issued by the agency's National Commodity Specialist Division in New York:
The FCC’s Oct. 25 declaratory ruling authorizing E-rate funding for Wi-Fi on school buses (see 2312200040) was simply the commission’s response to requests to add to the list of services eligible for support under the E-rate program, the FCC’s 5th U.S. Circuit Appeals Court appellee brief said Monday (docket 23-60641) in support of the ruling.
The House version of the FY 2025 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill could withhold funds the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network may need to implement or enforce its new beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting rule.
The FCC’s Oct. 25 declaratory ruling authorizing E-rate funding for Wi-Fi on school buses (see 2312200040) was simply the commission’s response to requests to add to the list of services eligible for support under the E-rate program, the FCC’s 5th U.S. Circuit Appeals Court appellee brief said Monday (docket 23-60641) in support of the ruling.