Federal judges grilled both sides in an FCC video relay service case over rate tiers in a 2017 order, which VRS provider Sorenson Communications is challenging. Judges asked scores of questions and pressed attorneys during oral argument at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit Monday that lasted almost 90 minutes after being scheduled to run 30 in Sorenson v. FCC, No. 17-1198.
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. -- The U.S. is worried about fallout from EU's General Data Protection Regulation taking effect May 25, said Trump administration officials at the FCBA retreat Saturday. "It will have a sweeping impact on many, many sectors of the U.S. economy," said NTIA Administrator David Redl. He voiced particular concern about possible disruption to parties needing access to the Whois database of online domain name ownership, which is used by law enforcement and others.
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. -- FCC Commissioner Mike O'Rielly said the U.S. is in a 5G race against rivals, some of which have government-run "industrial policy." The U.S. faces challenges from other nations "racing ahead" to try to take the lead in deploying next-generation networks and services that "will decide" wireless communications for the next 20-25 years, he said, responding to a question Saturday at the FCBA retreat where he appeared with Commissioner Brendan Carr.
FTC says Chairman Joseph Simons sworn in, which spokesman says occurred at agency headquarters by FTC Secretary Donald Clark; Noah Phillips, Rebecca Slaughter and Rohit Chopra to be sworn in later this week; and Christine Wilson takes office when Commissioner Maureen Ohlhausen leaves ... DLA Piper hires Grace Koh, ex-National Economic Council (see 1802150048), to Telecom practice as partner; expertise includes media and technology policy, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence ... With Cisco selling Service Provider Video Software Solutions business to Permira, which will create rebranded company focused on pay-TV video, Abe Peled, adviser to Permira Funds, named chairman of the new company.
As the FCC Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee prepares to harmonize its working group reports, some members said the final act isn’t fully worked out. Local and utility members raised concerns about the state model code approved at Wednesday’s meeting with seven nays (see 1804250064). Some members in interviews cited collegiality and genuine efforts for consensus.
After confirmation Thursday of five FTC commissioners, several issues are worth watching early in their tenures concerning privacy, competition and personnel (see 1804260041), stakeholders said the next day. Topping issues, according to industry attorneys and former officials: a determination of potential 2011 consent decree violations by Facebook (see 1804050058), handling continued antitrust complaints against Google, and retention of acting Competition Bureau Director Bruce Hoffman and acting General Counsel Alden Abbott. “It’s an important and interesting time for the FTC because they’ve been shorthanded so long, so it’s really good to see a full complement of commissioners,” said Bloom Strategic Counsel founder Seth Bloom. “These next few months are going to be important to see what they’re up to and what they take up as their priorities.”
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., chastised Facebook, Google and Twitter for refusing to testify at a Thursday hearing on social media filtering (see 1804250072). Democratic members accused Republicans of considering social media issues only when it suits their interests. The committee debated perceived platform censorship against conservatives and Christians.
Utah Public Service Commission staff is pleased with early results of changing state USF to a connections-based contribution from the earlier revenue-based model, said PSC Telecom Manager Bill Duncan in an interview this week. The change to 36 cents per line took effect Jan. 1; PSC telecom staff released its first status report taking connections into account on April 19. CTIA opposes the change and its lawsuit created legal uncertainty for Utah's pioneering shift away from revenue-based contribution, the method used for federal and other state USFs (see 1804120046). Separately, industry supported an Idaho Public Utilities Commission staff finding that revamping state USF requires the state legislature to act.
The Senate Commerce Committee advanced FTC nominee Rebecca Slaughter Wednesday on a voice vote, setting up a potential final confirmation vote on her and President Donald Trump's four other nominees to the commission as soon as Thursday. The committee put forward the four other FTC nominees during a February markup, including antitrust lawyer Joseph Simons, whom Trump plans to designate chairman (see 1802280044). The other nominees are former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Assistant Director Rohit Chopra; Noah Phillips, aide to Senate Minority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas; and Delta Air Lines' Christine Wilson (see 1801250055 and 1801250066).
Comcast NBCUniversal promotes Phil Tahtakran to head-NBCUniversal Federal Government Affairs and Margaret Tobey to senior vice president-regulatory affairs; Tahtakran succeeds Mitch Rose, himself recently elevated (see this section of the March 20 issue of this publication); Tobey represents NBC on the NAB board, Tahtakran represents the company through MPAA membership ... Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission Executive Director-Secretary Steve King retiring, succeeded by Mark Johnson, UTC director-administrative services, who's promoted to executive director-secretary, effective May 1.