LAS VEGAS -- Though many industry watchers considered the wireless charging market to be Qi's when Apple chose that standard for the iPhone 8 and X (see 1709130040), startups told us at CES this month they have other ideas for the smart home and other consumer spaces. The technologies are low-power solutions lacking transmitter-receiver coil-to-coil contact requirements of the Qi specification.
A fight before the Supreme Court about whether public, educational and governmental channels could be deemed state actors (see 1810170027) is also becoming a venue for a skirmish between NCTA on one side and NATOA and PEG access groups on the other over constitutionality of cable operators' PEG requirements. The respondents in the Supreme Court case also got support from the New York County Lawyers Association (NYCLA) and Columbia University's Knight First Amendment Institute in amicus briefs posted Friday. Oral argument is Feb. 25.
Copyright-focused lawmakers are looking to build on the Music Modernization Act’s 2018 success with new projects this term, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., told us. Jeffries said he’s in discussions with House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., and ranking member Doug Collins, R-Ga., all original MMA co-sponsors.
As the FCC closure dragged on Friday, the agency reversed course by reopening the equipment authorization system (see 1901180040). That EAS resumption potentially lets some new RF equipment get approval, though particularly complex gear might still need to wait. The Jan. 2 public notice on what the commission was shutting and leaving open during the partial government shutdown said the EAS wouldn't be available, the FCC noted Friday. All other parts of that earlier PN remain effective.
The partial federal shutdown isn’t affecting the repacking directly. But inability to get transaction applications and other non-auction filings processed is making things tough for some broadcasters, lawyers and industry officials told us.
The partial government shutdown appears to have slowed but not completely stalled White House plans to revive an infrastructure legislative package this year (see 1810100049), lawmakers and communications lobbyists told us. Officials in President Donald Trump's administration are considering whether to mention a revised infrastructure proposal in his State of the Union message. Communications interests hope for a return to focus on infrastructure legislation, particularly a robust broadband title, given perceptions it's an area of potential bipartisan agreement (see 1811130011).
Grace Koh is leaving DLA Piper's telecom practice to join the State Department as head of the U.S. delegation to the World Radiocommunication Conference, the law firm announced. Industry officials said it may be premature and the administration hasn't confirmed the decision.
Netflix changes pricing “from time to time” as it continues “investing in great entertainment and improving the overall Netflix experience,” said the company Thursday in its quarterly shareholder letter. The price increases Netflix imposed this week on U.S. subscribers will help “lift” average selling prices as the hikes are phased in for existing customers over Q1 and Q2, it said.
Using public TV spectrum to datacast important information to first responders will allow navigation of increasingly complex emergency situations for agencies that have become more dependent on connected devices, datacasting advocates said during a public safety webinar. Such backers said the fact they were invited to speak about it at the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) event is a step toward getting wider traction for the technology.
Votes planned for a Jan. 30 FCC meeting are at risk as the partial government shutdown drags on with no end in sight, agency observers said. Even if lawmakers jump-start negotiations and reopen FCC offices before Jan. 30, time is slipping away for deliberations and votes by officials who would be scrambling to play catch-up and address backlogs. Another complication is the looming addition of Commissioner Geoffrey Starks, who hasn't been sworn in despite being confirmed (see 901170036).