Facebook and Twitter will use Wednesday’s Senate Intelligence Committee hearing (see 1808300043) to highlight progress made combating Russian influence and other perceived bad actors. Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg is to testify alongside Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, who also will appear by himself at a House Commerce Committee afternoon hearing (see 1808290054). Senate Intelligence leadership, who invited Alphabet CEO Larry Page, declined subsidiary Google’s offer to send Senior Vice President-Global Affairs Kent Walker. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai also continued his scrutiny against such platforms.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai plans a Sept. 26 vote on a proposal to improve 911 calling from office buildings, schools, hotels and other locations using multiline, centralized communications systems. In a Tuesday blog, Pai said commissioners' September meeting also will consider orders aimed at speeding 5G wireless deployment (see 1809040056), consolidating rules governing earth stations in motion (ESIM) and eliminating an annual filing requirement by cable operators; a Further NPRM on changing rules governing franchise fees charged by local franchise authorities; an item on a possible auction of toll-free numbers; and two enforcement actions. The preliminary meeting agenda and draft items are due Wednesday.
An FCC wireless infrastructure draft order would set “high-level guardrails” for rates and shot clocks (see 1809040005) but wouldn’t stop states from setting them lower, Commissioner Brendan Carr said in a Tuesday interview. The proposed order is to be released Wednesday along with other items (see 1809040058) and set for a vote at the Sept. 26 commissioners’ meeting, as expected (see 1808300028). It takes a “balanced approach” by allowing local governments to retain some autonomy over their reviews of small-cell deployments in rights of way while also streamlining the process, Carr said in a livestreamed speech at the Indiana State House.
It’s ironic Donald Trump attacked Google and online platforms last week over alleged conservative bias (see 1808280055) because he owes his 2016 victory to social media amplifying campaign messages, CTA Senior Vice President-Government Affairs Michael Petricone told us Friday. A media group executive, various scholars and a tech expert agreed the president’s complaint wasn't credible.
California lawmakers advancing net neutrality legislation sends a message to Washington that Americans want an open internet, supporters said after Thursday’s vote (see 1808300056). FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly condemned the action, which Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel welcomed. National industry groups called for a federal law, saying state-specific rules threaten broadband investment. Lawsuits could come, said observers, although three other states earlier enacted net neutrality bills without legal challenge.
Senate Judiciary Committee members are certain to bring up Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's views on the Chevron doctrine and net neutrality during his confirmation hearing, lawmakers and lobbyists told us. They cautioned those issues will compete for attention with higher-profile ones like limits of executive power, abortion and same-sex marriage, as happened during 2017 confirmation hearings for now-Justice Neil Gorsuch (see 1703200051 and 1703210065). Kavanaugh's hearing begins at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in 216 Hart and continues through Thursday or Friday.
A long-awaited FCC order on changes to rules for the citizens broadband radio service band is unlikely for the Sept. 26 commissioners’ meeting, but should get a vote at the Oct. 23 meeting, said industry officials active in the 3.5 GHz proceeding. FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly said in early July he started to share his long-awaited proposal for the band with Chairman Ajit Pai (see Notebook section at end of 1807120033).
A hallmark of the Ajit Pai FCC chairmanship is that he has almost complete support from fellow Republicans, who have maintained party discipline. Republican Mike O’Rielly has had one full dissent and 12 partial dissents, our review found. Former officials told us Pai has no reason to complain.
BERLIN -- Sony executives are big on 5G, they told a consumer electronics conference Thursday. They said it will benefit gaming and other user experiences. The company also unveiled a new smartphone.
PHILADELPHIA -- NATOA is mobilizing members for an autumn battle expected at the FCC over wireless infrastructure deployment in the right of way, while the Wireless Infrastructure Association is hearing from local government concerns about small cells, said the groups’ officials in interviews this week. Local representatives asked hard questions of industry officials -- and tensions sometimes flared -- at NATOA’s annual conference (see 1808290044 and 1808280032). “Not always an easy conversation, but it is an appropriate conversation,” said WIA Director-Government Affairs Zac Champ.