Businesses will soon have to comply with the California Consumer Privacy Act despite calls for delay and speculation the state DOJ would miss an important procedural deadline. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra (D) submitted final rules for implementing CCPA just before Monday night’s Office of Administrative Law deadline (see 2006020039). Final text included no substantial changes to regulations from a March revised draft submitted for OAL review.
FCC commissioners and broadcasting and journalism organizations condemned attacks on broadcast reporters by protesters and police in a host of statements issued Monday and over the weekend. Numerous incidents involving police and protesters attacking or accosting journalists were recounted in news reports and on social media during the weekend of protests sparked by the May 25 death of George Floyd while being subdued by police.
Having approved Ligado license modifications, the FCC is expected to consider the 1675-1680 MHz band, on which the agency took comment last year. NOAA is preparing a report on potential effect on federal users of sharing the band, but it’s unclear whether it will be made public, industry officials said in interviews. Ligado asked for the NPRM and could combine it with its other spectrum, for 40 MHz for 5G.
Aides to Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., said Friday they believe additional emergency broadband funding has a good chance of making it into the next COVID-19 package, even if the Senate doesn’t take up the House-passed Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act. HR-6800 includes an $8.8 billion Emergency Broadband Connectivity Fund and $5 billion for E-rate (see 2005130059). They spoke during a Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition webinar.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai questioned Twitter’s policies, as the platform for a second day flagged President Donald Trump’s tweets (see 2005280060). Pai asked Friday whether tweets from Iran Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei violate platform rules about glorifying violence, rules that Twitter cited in flagging Trump.
Ligado’s path forward could be difficult even after the FCC approved an order granting its longstanding request for license modifications (see 2004200039), industry officials said in interviews last week. In conversations with investors, Ligado focuses on a deal with Verizon to pair its L-band spectrum with C-band spectrum from the upcoming FCC auction rather than relying on the industrial IoT (IIoT), industry officials said. Ligado critics said any terrestrial use of the band would be a concern. Also Friday, the company said NTIA concern about FCC OK is groundless (see 2005290057).
Some local supporters don’t speak for most governments on the FCC’s latest infrastructure proposal, said their representatives in interviews last week. Many local officials have no time in a pandemic to consider a draft declaratory ruling on circulation clarifying industry can swap out antennas and other infrastructure on towers without delay under the 2012 Spectrum Act (see 2005190058), they said. Cheyenne Mayor Marian Orr supports the commission acting quickly because COVID-19 shows connectivity is critical, the Wyoming Republican said.
Since it began holding commissioners’ gatherings via teleconference March 31, the FCC reduced news briefings it holds after monthly meetings. Eighth-floor officials suggested logistical and technical concerns could be factors. Republican commissioners have held all of the few post-meeting media briefings, while Democratic commissioners and bureaus held none. Chairman Ajit Pai held one.
House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., and Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., filed the Rural Broadband Acceleration Act (HR-7022) Thursday in a bid to speed disbursing funds from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction before its start date. The FCC plans to begin the first phase of the 10-year, $20.4 billion RDOF Oct. 29. Some stakeholders want RDOF Phase I to be delayed, but no change is likely (see 2004280055).
Industry, USF recipients and consumer advocates are exploring new ways to fund USF. Talks began last year and remain in early stages, participants said in interviews. Parties fear the contribution factor, which reached a record high of 25% last fall (see 1909130003), isn't sustainable. Some want to present a unified funding proposal to Congress or the FCC. Most want the matter addressed next year.