Ten individual and group plaintiffs oppose the Feb. 28 motion for reconsideration of the March 2023 order granting summary judgment against Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman for their roles in the robocall campaign designed to suppress Black citizens' mail-in votes in the run-up to the 2020 election (see 2402290047), said their opposition Monday (docket 1:20-cv-08668) in U.S. District Court for Southern New York in Manhattan. The defendants have failed to demonstrate the extraordinary circumstances justifying the relief they seek, said the plaintiffs, including New York Attorney General Letitia James (D). The court already “considered and rejected” issues raised in their motion when it ruled that Wohl and Burkman acted intentionally in intimidating voters with their robocall campaign by making threats of legal, economic and physical harm, said the opposition.

Industry widely opposes the FCC's proposal to adopt additional reporting requirements for providers as part of the commission's efforts to combat digital discrimination. Commissioners sought comment on an NPRM proposing to adopt annual reporting and internal compliance program requirements following a November order adopting rules to curb discrimination (see 2401310052). Comments were posted Tuesday in docket 22-69. Consumer advocates and state officials urged the FCC to adopt the proposed requirements and establish an Office of Civil Rights within the commission.

The House is expected to vote as soon as Wednesday on the 2024 Consolidated Appropriations Act, a “minibus” funding bill that includes reductions for NTIA and other Commerce Department agencies but a slight increase for the DOJ Antitrust Division. President Joe Biden signed a continuing resolution (HR-7463) March 1 that extended federal appropriations for those agencies through Friday, March 8 (see 2403010072). The chamber is also set to vote this week on the 988 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act (HR-498) and NTIA Reauthorization Act (HR-4510) under suspension of the rules (see 2403010073).

A fresh stab at creating a state net neutrality law met industry opposition this week. Connecticut’s joint General Law Committee held a hearing Thursday on a wide-ranging bill (SB-3) that would also require affordable broadband, ban junk fees, require streaming TV prorating and let consumers repair electronics. The legislature’s consumer protection bill “addresses inequities,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D).

Crown Castle co-founder Ted Miller brought suit Tuesday in Delaware Chancery Court to invalidate the “cooperation agreement” the Crown Castle board entered into with Elliott Investment Management, an “activist” Crown Castle investor.

President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order directing DOJ to establish rules blocking large-scale transfers of Americans’ personal data to entities in hostile nations.

Riveted Games, developer of the online video game CryptoBlades, defrauded investor Tenzor Capital after entering two "simple agreement for future tokens" (SAFT) pacts in August 2021, said Tenzor's complaint Monday (docket 2:24-cv-00955) in U.S. District Court for South Carolina in Charleston.

Sen. Joe Manchin told us Tuesday he supports Congress allocating funding for the FCC's affordable connectivity program (ACP). "The money's there," but congressional leaders must "get the bill on the floor," the West Virginia Democrat said after a speech at the NARUC meeting in Washington. Later, a NARUC panel said states should learn from Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) problems when setting rules for internet service providers to participate in the broadband, equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program.

CBP announced an Enforce and Protect Act investigation saying there is reasonable suspicion that several companies evaded the antidumping and countervailing duty orders on mattresses from China and Vietnam. The companies are Beanomy, IYEE Nature, Kelanch, Wakodo Household Supply, Xinshidian Trading, Zevoky, Kakaivy, Weekaly, Heniddy, Ryan James Engineering, Sunwind Trading and Anlowo. The agency said this finding made the enactment of interim measures necessary.

Walmart “sympathizes” with Risa Potters and other fraud victims, but her claims that the retailer should have done more to protect her from a third-party fraudster “are meritless and should be dismissed,” said its memorandum of points and authorities Friday (docket 1:22-cv-0337) in U.S. District Court for Central California in Los Angeles in support of its motion to dismiss Potters' December fraud class action (see 2312110039).