The House Rules Committee considered proposed amendments to the chamber’s FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (HR-6395) Friday, including those trying to advance and stop efforts to hinder Ligado’s L-band plan. HR-6395 and Senate NDAA version S-4049 have anti-Ligado language (see 2007010070). Most telecom and tech-related amendments (see 2007150062) lawmakers proposed to attach to HR-6395 hadn’t come up by early evening.
Twitter’s human-enabled hack is another example of why the White House needs a national cyber director and the Cyberspace Solarium Commission’s (CSC) recommendations should be implemented (see 2007150065), said House Cybersecurity Subcommittee members during a hearing Friday. “It doesn’t take much imagination to see what chaos one could sow with such access on election day if a bad actor was pushing out disinformation,” said Rep. James Langevin, D-R.I., of the Twitter hack.
Talk among consumer electronics and tech executives about strategies for launching the first virtual CEDIA Expo Sept. 15-17 (see Ref:2007090070]), instead of the physical one previously planned for Denver, highlight event challenges faced in the COVID-19. Last week, we interviewed about a dozen such representatives.
The newly formed Independent Broadcasters Association (see 2007100040) is intended to let independent radio stations cooperate to get some of the financial advantages the largest station groups enjoy, not as a lobbying group or alternative to NAB or RAB, said the group’s members in interviews last week. The IBA will be a buying group and one-stop shop for national advertisers, not a lobbying organization, said founder Ron Stone, CEO of Adams Radio Group. NAB and RAB “do an outstanding job,” said IBA member and Renda Broadcasting CEO Tony Renda. “Why reinvent the cow?”
The ViacomCBS decision to license catalog Paramount TV shows and movies to NBCUniversal’s Peacock streaming service (see 2007010024) demonstrates “we’re in the content monetization business,” Dan Cohen, president, ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group, told the Digital Entertainment Group’s DEG Expo virtual event Thursday. ViacomCBS also is “very much in the space of using content for our own platforms and services,” he said.
Twitter, among social media and tech companies under public and policymaker scrutiny, faced additional skepticism after a hack of high-profile accounts. Legislators from both parties expressed concerns Thursday. After those who had verified accounts couldn't post new tweets Wednesday, the problem seemed fixed later that day. The company didn't comment.
Commissioners approved a declaratory ruling saying that regulator has fulfilled one of its obligations under the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act (HR-4998). The FCC approved the item despite the different stances of Mike O’Rielly and Brendan Carr. Commissioners Geoffrey Starks and Jessica Rosenworcel said the FCC still isn't doing enough to ensure secure networks in the U.S. After the draft item was circulated, the agency barred Huawei and ZTE from participating in the USF (see 2006300078).
The FCC approved a broadband mapping order and Further NPRM, as expected (see 2007140060), with changes to the draft circulated by Chairman Ajit Pai. He warned the FCC doesn't have the money to start mapping. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel partially dissented. Commissioner Geoffrey Starks concurred. Commissioners agreed to change the maximum buffers for wireline networks and will seek comment on rather than require infrastructure reporting by wireless providers. The maps are considered necessary to offering money through the 5G Fund (see 2006260057).
The FCC didn't budge on an implementation deadline that telecom interests said couldn't be met. The commission's 988 suicide prevention hotline order approved unanimously Thursday tried to mitigate some problems they face, Commissioner Mike O'Rielly said. No change to the two-year deadline was expected (see 2007150058) Telecoms argued universal implementation by that deadline is impossible (see 2006230022). Some commissioners disagreed.
The FCC provided more details on the rules for the upcoming C-band auction in the draft public notice, circulated for an Aug. 6 vote by commissioners (see 2007150066). The FCC also posted draft items on inmate calling services rates and media modernization, among others set for a vote.