NTIA is moving forward on its long-awaited national spectrum strategy, releasing a request for comments Wednesday that poses more than 60 questions on what that strategy should include. NTIA also scheduled two “listening sessions.” Comment deadlines are to come in a Federal Register notice, to be filed in NTIA-2023-0003.
Ford anticipates filing dual motions to compel arbitration and to dismiss when it answers plaintiff Michael Scriber’s putative 3G telematics class action April 24, said the automaker’s filing Monday (docket 3:22-cv-01716) in U.S. District Court for Southern California in San Diego. Scriber alleges the internet-enabled features, such as roadside emergency assistance, on his 2020 Ford Fusion Energi were rendered inoperable after AT&T’s 3G phaseout in 2022 (see 2211070032). Ford’s warranty manual makes no mention that Ford installed an inferior 3G modem in the vehicle, he alleges. Ford is analyzing “the impact of two arbitration agreements” related to Scriber’s class action, it told the court. Scriber’s class action is one of about a half dozen nationally that allege some of the major automakers did nothing to upgrade their vehicles’ telematics equipment despite having advance knowledge of AT&T’s 3G shutdown. BMW of North America was the first defendant automaker to answer any of the complaints, and did so by filing a motion to compel plaintiff Peter Grayson’s dispute to arbitration (see 2301310001).
Banning TikTok outright is a better approach than relying on the Commerce Department to take action against the Chinese-owned social media app, Senate Intelligence Committee ranking member Marco Rubio, R-Fla., told us last week. Several senators, both Republican and Democrat, told us they're interested in co-sponsoring a bill that favors the latter approach (see 2303080075).
Iranian national Mehdi Khoshghadam violated U.S. export controls by illegally shipping electrical cables and connectors from the U.S. through Hong Kong and to Iran, DOJ said March 9. Khoshghadam was charged with one count of conspiracy, one count of violating of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. The indictment also seeks to forfeit all “proceeds” earned by Khoshghadam from the illegal exports.
President Joe Biden last week extended for one year beyond March 15 a national emergency that authorizes certain sanctions related to Iran. The White House said Iran continues to participate in the "proliferation and development of missiles and other asymmetric and conventional weapons capabilities," support terrorist groups and otherwise threaten U.S. national security.
The Biden administration's FY 2024 budget request includes funding to support a new outbound investment review “program” and more money for U.S. agencies to carry out export control and sanctions authorities.
The FCC's single network future NPRM on its March agenda (see 2302230059) is expected to get 4-0 commissioner support, we were told.
The former interim director of the 911 center in Washington, D.C., filed a whistleblower complaint against District Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), the Office of Unified Communications (OUC) and the D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services (FEMS) Department. The D.C. Superior Court set a virtual initial scheduling conference for June 2 at 9:30 a.m. EDT (case 2023-CAB-001335). Cleo Subido alleged the District “retaliated against her after she disclosed irregularities, violations of laws and regulations, gross mismanagement, waste, fraud, and abuse, and threats to the health and safety of the public concerning the manner in which [OUC] operated.” After repeated 911 failures by OUC, Subido made changes to bring the office in compliance with national standards, cooperated with a D.C. audit, responded to FOIA requests, “truthfully” responded to media queries and “brought to the attention of her staff and superiors … deep and at times fatal flaws in OUC’s operations.” In response, Bowser “scuttled Ms. Subido’s anticipated promotion to OUC’s permanent Director, and instead demoted her,” Subido claimed. In November, Bowser “inexplicably placed Ms. Subido on administrative leave.” In January, after Subido raised legal concerns, defendants terminated her employment, she said. “Defendants’ actions were intended to silence Ms. Subido and deter others from raising and/or addressing similar concerns.” Subido seeks relief including “reinstatement to the position she would have held” without the retaliation, “recovery of all lost wages, salary, and employment benefits,” interest, damages, injunctive relief and attorney fees, she said. The D.C. Council is scheduled to consider the nomination of OUC acting Director Heather McGaffin, named in the complaint, at a roundtable March 15 (see 2302240061). OUC has been criticized about recent audits finding problems at the 911 office and specific incidents where incorrect addresses and miscommunication led to dispatching delays (see 2212060042, 2211100036 and 2209090049). OUC declined to comment Wednesday. Bowser and FEMS didn’t comment.
TikTok’s popularity with young Americans isn’t a good reason to not take strong action against the popular Chinese-owned social media app, FBI Director Christopher Wray told the Senate Intelligence Committee Wednesday. A day earlier the White House announced support for bipartisan legislation to authorize the Commerce Department to effectively ban TikTok in the U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and more than 10 senators backed the bill.
Communications sector officials voiced elevated concerns Wednesday about the prospects that the FCC’s spectrum auction authority might expire Thursday night, before a planned floor showdown between Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., and other Senate officials over dueling proposals to extend the mandate (see 2303080045).