The House was expected to vote as soon as Monday night on the Senate-approved version of the 5G Spectrum Authority Licensing Enforcement Act (S-2787), as expected (see 2312060073), amid hopes of salvaging at least incremental progress after months of stalled Capitol Hill talks on a broader legislative package that would renew the FCC’s general auction authority. FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr and former commission and State Department officials highlighted during a Center for Strategic and International Studies event the importance of Congress reauthorizing the spectrum auction mandate and reaching a consensus that will allow the U.S. to reclaim a top leadership role in wireless innovation.
California should be cautious about adopting limits from other jurisdictions’ privacy laws as it decides how to apply rules to AI, California Privacy Protection Agency Chairperson Jennifer Urban said Friday. But board member Alastair Mactaggart raised concerns that the CPPA is proposing too broad a definition of automated decision-making technology (ADMT) during the board’s virtual meeting. The CPPA board discussed pre-rulemaking proposals on cybersecurity audits, risk assessments and ADMT that privacy experts say could affect many industries, including communications and the internet (see 2312060021).
Utility pole owners, ISPs and advocacy groups widely backed the FCC's efforts to expedite the pole attachment application process in a draft order, declaratory ruling and Further NPRM that commissioners will consider during an agency meeting next week (see 2311210043). Some sought additional clarification of definitions and transparency requirements. Others urged the FCC to add specificity to the application review process.
The FCC will likely rework part of its robotexting order, set for a commissioners vote Wednesday, industry lawyers said. Objections were raised on several fronts. One area that could see change is a provision clamping down on the lead generator loophole. The Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy elevated the issue when it asked the FCC to seek further comment (see 2312040028), lawyers said.
An FCC draft report and order slated for commissioners' open meeting Wednesday creating a one-year window allowing certain low-power TV stations to convert to Class A status is expected to receive unanimous approval and perhaps an early vote, agency officials told us. The Class A window would open on the draft order’s effective date. The draft item has attracted little lobbying since it was announced last month, with the most recent filings in the docket (23-126) from June.
The Biden administration Thursday directed the President's National Security Telecommunications Committee to explore principles for baseline security offerings from cloud-service providers, with a report expected in May. NSTAC met Thursday and Anne Neuberger, deputy national security adviser-cyber and emerging technology, asked for the cloud-security report.
A week ahead of Wednesday’s FCC commissioner vote on revised data breach reporting requirements, providers and major industry associations raised concerns about the proposed rules (see 2311220047) and whether they would withstand a court challenge. Filings on meetings with commissioner staff and other FCC officials were posted Thursday in docket 22-21. Only NCTA raised concerns in the docket prior to Thursday (see 2312060037).
Bicameral draft language released Thursday for Congress’ $900 billion defense bill includes a four-month extension of the FBI’s controversial foreign intelligence surveillance authority (see 2312060048).
Backers of the 5G Spectrum Authority Licensing Enforcement Act (HR-5677/S-2787) are seeking House floor consideration next week under suspension of the rules in hopes Capitol Hill can close out 2023 with a stopgap, temporary restoration of some elements of the FCC’s lapsed spectrum auction authority after almost nine months of stalled talks on a broader bill. Meanwhile, supporters of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (HR-3413/S-1669) drew attention Tuesday night to that bill when Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Ted Cruz, R-Texas, tried and failed to pass it by unanimous consent in a coordinated standoff with Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.
The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday voted 35-2 to advance legislation requiring members of the intelligence community to obtain a warrant when targeting Americans using foreign intelligence surveillance authority (see 2312050054).