Congress can protect privacy and national security by letting the Patriot Act-related phone records program and other unwanted surveillance authorities expire (see 1905060048), said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. Friday's comments responded to Office of National Intelligence outgoing Director Dan Coats’ request that the Senate Intelligence and Judiciary Committees permanently reauthorize certain Patriot and USA Freedom Act-related authorities. Coats seeks permanent authorization of a controversial call detail records (CDR) program he acknowledged the intelligence community suspended. Privacy advocates hoped ODNI would allow some provisions to expire, after reports the program had gone dormant (see 1904240068).
NAB and several large radio groups defended an FM translator interference order, in filings in docket 18-119 posted Friday opposing petitions for reconsideration by the LPFM Coalition, Skywave Consulting and several radio licensees (see 1907290064). The FCC “was on solid empirical ground” in deciding the 45 dBu contour limit and other policies for the revamped translator interference rules, said iHeart, Entercom, Cox, Neuhoff, Radio One and Beasley. Media Alliance supported of the LPFM Coalition’s recon petition, saying the revamped rules violate “citizen rights to petition a government agency for redress.”
New ways to help farmers get the best yields from their crops and the most from their broadband connections are being pushed by some rural ISPs, we found in interviews last week. Policymakers are looking at how to advance precision agriculture and expand broadband access to farms in unserved communities. The FCC plans a precision agriculture task force (see 1906170024). And the USDA's ReConnect funds are for expanding connectivity to unserved rural areas (see 1812130064).
Low-power broadcasters, TV translator stations and FM broadcasters seeking reimbursement for costs from the post-incentive auction repacking have until Oct. 15 to file with the FCC, said the Incentive Auction Task Force and the Media Bureau in public notices Thursday on the procedures and banking policies. Industry officials told us many broadcasters paid for relocation costs some time ago and need the funds.
Different sides offered the FCC conflicting readings of initial comments on alternative plans for opening the C band for 5G. Those comments showed little move toward consensus (see 1908080041) on how the regulator should address the band, which has emerged as a top commission spectrum priority. The FCC sought input on a proposal by America’s Communications Association, the Competitive Carriers Association and Charter Communications and a study by Jeff Reed of Virginia Tech and Reed Engineering on sharing the band with fixed point-to-multipoint (P2MP) operations (see 1907020061). The regulator also asked about an AT&T letter raising technical and band plan issues. Replies posted through Thursday in docket 18-122.
Faced with divisions whether to repurpose 611 for a national three-digit suicide hotline or add that to 211 (see 1812110033), the FCC is recommending to Congress 988 be used instead. That route may not become a compromise solution all stakeholders rally behind, interviews show.
The FCC isn't seen likely to play a role in regulatory review of CBS buying former sibling Viacom (see 1908130050). That would fit with some recent precedent, like when AT&T bought Time Warner.
About 10 comments from associations and companies that would be affected by France's digital services tax backed U.S. concern, many saying there's a discriminatory DST intent against American companies. Some told the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in advance testimony that U.S. tariffs on French imports aren't the way to fix the problem. Sixteen filings in USTR-2019-0009 were posted through this week. A USTR hearing is set for Monday (see 1907150037).
BALTIMORE -- FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel told APCO it's time to ensure 911 call-center operators are classified as first responders. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai also backed (see 1904090078) the 911 Supporting Accurate Views of Emergency Services (Saves) Act, which would change the federal government's classification of public safety call-takers and dispatchers to “protective service occupations" rather than administrative or clerical occupations (see 1902280072).
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said Wednesday he circulated an order approving T-Mobile buying Sprint. Opponents promise another legal challenge on top of the one by states to be heard in December in a federal courtroom in Manhattan. Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks are expected to dissent, so a 3-2 vote is likely. DOJ, which cleared the deal subject to conditions including a divestiture to Dish Network, cheered.