The tech industry’s content liability shield should be tightened because its protections have expanded well beyond the original intent, House Commerce Committee ranking member Greg Walden, R-Ore., told us Thursday. Congressional scrutiny of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act is growing.
FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly’s concerns C-band rules give incumbents adequate incentives to voluntarily move is emerging as a key question as Chairman Ajit Pai prepares to unveil his proposal Thursday, for a vote at the Feb. 28 commissioners’ meeting. Industry and FCC officials told us O’Rielly’s support is critical and Democrats Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks may be unlikely to cut a deal with Pai to bypass O’Rielly support, though they're willing to talk. Pai will lay out his vision Thursday at a lunch event at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. Also see here.
The astronomy community is anticipating big impacts on ground-based observation capabilities from the expected non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite boom. But it doesn't likely have a legal route to challenge FCC OK of SpaceX's StarLink or other mega constellations on environmental grounds, satellite lawyers told us. Litigation has been talked about in space circles since a Jan. 16 Scientific American story raised questions about the legality of the FCC's approvals.
The New Jersey Broadcasters Association has claimed for years that the state’s emergency alerting system is out of date and on the brink of failure. Now, things may come to a head, some warned. Microsoft ends support in January for the Windows 7 software that the state’s EMnet software runs on means the problem has worsened, said NJBA President Paul Rotella.
Chairman Ajit Pai said the FCC Enforcement Bureau completed an investigation of whether carriers violated federal law by disclosing consumers’ real-time location data (see 2001310041). One or more enforcement actions will be announced in coming days. Pai announced the probe's conclusion Friday in a letter responding to a November query from House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone of New Jersey, House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle of Pennsylvania and other committee Democrats (see 1911080051). The agency declined other comment.
The FCC approved 5-0 Thursday an NPRM seeking comment on whether the FCC should update its hearing aid standards, based on American National Standards Institute (ANSI) 2019 standards. Current rules are based on 2011 standards. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said the FCC must address the issue that last year’s ANSI standards don’t take into account new 5G phones using high-band spectrum.
Two FCC commissioners expressed doubts Thursday about a $12.9 million fine proposed against Scott Rhodes for apparently making thousands of spoofed, racist robocalls. A notice of apparent liability was approved 4-1 at the commissioners' meeting. Comments answering an FCC request for proposals to stop robocalls posted through Thursday in docket 17-59. Some comments were posted earlier (see 2001290024).
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo played down concerns Thursday about potential strain in the U.S. intelligence sharing relationship with the U.K. after that country’s decision to allow equipment from Chinese telecom equipment manufacturer Huawei on “non-core” parts of its communications infrastructure (see 2001280074). House Commerce Committee ranking member Greg Walden, R-Ore., meanwhile, told reporters he believes the decision should put pressure on Congress to reach a deal on legislation to provide funding to help U.S. communications providers remove from their networks equipment determined to threaten national security.
The FTC will review social media advertising guidance in 2020, the agency confirmed (see 2001300032) Thursday. It will consider updating ad endorsement and testimonial guidance involving unfair and deceptive ad laws the FTC polices.
The FCC must get accurate wireless coverage maps for its proposed 5G fund that’s to replace the terminated Mobility Fund Phase II, said sponsors of a NARUC draft resolution up for vote at state utility commissioners’ Feb. 9-12 meeting in Washington. First fund areas with no wireless service, urged lead sponsor and South Dakota Public Utilities Commissioner Chris Nelson (R). The resolution asks the commission to require current and accurate wireless coverage maps before awarding support, and to prioritize areas without at least 5 Mbps speeds (see 2001280045).