The Dept. of Justice, 16 state attorneys general and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce sided with the Bells’ plea that the U.S. Supreme Court reject a class-action suit charging them with “parallel action” and “conspiracy.” The suit, by customers William Twombly and Lawrence Marcus, was thrown out by the U.S. Dist. Court, N.Y., but reinstated last year by the 2nd U.S. Appeals Court, N.Y. The Supreme Court has accepted the case -- Bell Atlantic v. Twombly -- but not set oral argument. One source speculated that oral argument would be late this year. Briefs by Twombly and supporters are due Oct. 13.
Last week’s privacy gaffe by Verizon Wireless raises policy questions on the Hill and elsewhere, several players told Communications Daily. Bills on state preemption and privacy relate to events like the wireless carrier’s accidental distribution of customer data, they said.
Comcast is willing to make 2 concessions in its CableCARD waiver request at the FCC on low-cost, limited- capability digital cable set-tops if it will promote faster Commission action on the request, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts wrote FCC Chmn. Martin in a letter Mon.
BRUSSELS -- Deutsche Telekom must give rivals more access to its phone network to spur competition in the German high-speed Internet access market, the European Commission said Mon. in a letter to Germany’s telecom regulator BNetZA. The EC was endorsing the regulator’s proposal to give new market entrants access to DT broadband networks.
BRUSSELS -- Deutsche Telekom must give rivals more access to its phone network to spur competition in the German high-speed Internet access market, the European Commission said Mon. in a letter to Germany’s telecom regulator BNetZA. The EC was endorsing the regulator’s proposal to give new market entrants access to DT broadband networks.
With the Hill schedule packed with higher priority items, a copyright bill by House Judiciary Chmn. Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) probably won’t see action this year, U.S. Chamber of Commerce officials said in a briefing with reporters Mon. But “you'll see next year this bill will be taken up in earnest,” Senior Coordinator-Intellectual Property Enforcement Brad Huther said. Sensenbrenner’s Intellectual Property Enhanced Criminal Enforcement Act (HR- 5921), written by DoJ, circulated in draft as the Intellectual Property Protection Act until late July (WID July 27 p4). The Chamber’s other priority, anti- counterfeiting bill HR-32, was signed earlier this year by President Bush.
ASPEN, Colo. -- FTC Chmn. Deborah Majoras announced Mon. an Internet access task force that will look at net neutrality and other issues raised by converging technologies and regulatory developments. Speaking at the Progress & Freedom Foundation’s annual conference here, Majoras urged caution in moving forward with any net neutrality proceedings. She expressed surprise at how many successful companies have sought govt. regulation on this issue: “Absent clear evidence of market failures, policymaker shouldn’t step in.”
Comcast is willing to make 2 concessions in its CableCARD waiver request at the FCC on low-cost, limited- capability digital cable set-tops if it will promote faster Commission action on the request, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts wrote FCC Chmn. Martin in a letter Mon.
There was “nothing unreasonable” in the FCC’s March 2005 decision letting stand the integration ban on digital cable set-tops, the U.S. Appeals Court, D.C., said Fri., denying a cable industry challenge.
There was “nothing unreasonable” in the FCC’s March 2005 decision letting stand the integration ban on digital cable set-tops, the U.S. Appeals Court, D.C., said Fri., denying a cable industry challenge. “In light of the evolving nature” of downloadable security technology as a successor to CableCARD, it also was “hardly unreasonable for the FCC to delay, but not to delete, the integration ban,” wrote Judge Merrick Garland. Also on the panel were Chief Judge Douglas Ginsburg and Judge David Tatel.