The FCC approved an order 3-2 making broad changes to how the 4.9 GHz band is allocated. Wednesday's commissioners' meeting featured dissents from Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks, as expected (see 2009240039). Mike O’Rielly expressed skepticism, saying he voted yes because doing something is better than doing nothing. Commissioners approved 5-0 a notice of inquiry on “ways to dissuade states and territories from diverting fees collected for 911 to other purposes.” That's as expected (see 2009230046).
The National Tribal Telecommunications Association seconded concerns NTCA raised in August about the resurgent FCC budget control mechanism on rural LECs receiving cost-based Connect America Fund broadband loop support or high-cost loop support. NTCA said the mechanism “will reduce by more than $37 million” over the next year “the amount of universal service support to be received by several hundred small rural companies and cooperatives.” NTTA members, like rural LECs in general, “have been making significant efforts to ensure customers retain broadband service, including not disconnecting service for an inability to pay due to COVID-19 related financial difficulties many customers are facing,” said NTTA's docket 10-90 filing Tuesday: “NTCA’s request to waive the operation of the [mechanism] ‘for the pendency of the COVID-19 national emergency’ should be adopted … as soon as possible.”
House Democrats bowed revised COVID-19 aid legislation Monday that retains many of the telecom provisions included in the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (Heroes) Act (HR-6800), which the chamber passed in May (see 2005130059). House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told reporters Tuesday she’s “hopeful” a deal on pandemic aid is possible this week amid renewed talks with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows wasn't directly involved in a Tuesday phone conversation between Pelosi and Mnuchin but told reporters, “Hopefully, we’ll make some progress and find a solution.” Negotiations have gone on for months, leading some to believe broadband funding talk could make its way into election campaigns (see 2008210001). The revised Heroes Act allocates more than $15 billion for broadband, including $12 billion for an FCC-administered Emergency Connectivity Fund to provide “funding for Wi-fi hotspots, other equipment, connected devices, and advanced telecommunications and information services to schools and libraries.” An additional $3 billion would go to an Emergency Broadband Connectivity Fund to provide “an emergency benefit for broadband service,” with the national Lifeline verifier serving as one potential way of determining eligibility. The bill would temporarily increase minimum Lifeline service standards to include unlimited voice and data allowances. Like HR-6800, it would appropriate $24 million to the FCC for implementing the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act broadband mapping law (S-1822). It allocates $200 million to the FCC’s COVID-19 Telehealth Program and $175 million to CPB “to maintain programming and services and preserve small and rural stations threatened by declines in non-Federal revenues.” The measure mirrors HR-6800’s language barring ISPs and voice providers from terminating or otherwise altering service to individual customers and small businesses because of inability “to pay as a result of disruptions caused by the public health emergency.” It includes language from the Don’t Break Up the T-Band Act (HR-451) and Martha Wright Prison Phone Justice Act (HR-6389). It contains HR-6800’s language to address price gouging during COVID-19 and make local media eligible for PPP.
House Democrats bowed revised COVID-19 aid legislation Monday that retains many of the telecom provisions included in the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (Heroes) Act (HR-6800), which the chamber passed in May (see 2005130059). House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told reporters Tuesday she’s “hopeful” a deal on pandemic aid is possible this week amid renewed talks with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows wasn't directly involved in a Tuesday phone conversation between Pelosi and Mnuchin but told reporters, “Hopefully, we’ll make some progress and find a solution.” Negotiations have gone on for months, leading some to believe broadband funding talk could make its way into election campaigns (see 2008210001). The revised Heroes Act allocates more than $15 billion for broadband, including $12 billion for an FCC-administered Emergency Connectivity Fund to provide “funding for Wi-fi hotspots, other equipment, connected devices, and advanced telecommunications and information services to schools and libraries.” An additional $3 billion would go to an Emergency Broadband Connectivity Fund to provide “an emergency benefit for broadband service,” with the national Lifeline verifier serving as one potential way of determining eligibility. The bill would temporarily increase minimum Lifeline service standards to include unlimited voice and data allowances. Like HR-6800, it would appropriate $24 million to the FCC for implementing the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act broadband mapping law (S-1822). It allocates $200 million to the FCC’s COVID-19 Telehealth Program and $175 million to CPB “to maintain programming and services and preserve small and rural stations threatened by declines in non-Federal revenues.” The measure mirrors HR-6800’s language barring ISPs and voice providers from terminating or otherwise altering service to individual customers and small businesses because of inability “to pay as a result of disruptions caused by the public health emergency.” It includes language from the Don’t Break Up the T-Band Act (HR-451) and Martha Wright Prison Phone Justice Act (HR-6389). It contains HR-6800’s language to address price gouging during COVID-19 and make local media eligible for PPP.
Two Iranian men were charged in a conspiracy to illegally export computer servers to Iran, the Justice Department said Sept. 28. Ebrahim Azadegan and Alireza Alvandi were charged with violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations when they allegedly tried to ship the servers without licenses. The servers are classified as dual-use goods under the Commerce Control List and are export controlled for anti-terrorism and national security reasons.
Multilateral export regimes need to be modernized to address new export and proliferation controls surrounding emerging technologies, technology proliferation experts said. While groups such as the Wassenaar Arrangement work well to control physical categories of items, they may overlook advancements in exports and other technology areas that could lead to proliferation of dual-use goods, the experts said.
China opposes the Trump administration's "unjustified suppression and bullying" of non-U.S. companies under the "weakest pretext of national security," said a Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Monday. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted a preliminary injunction Sunday against implementing President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to ban Chinese-owned apps TikTok and WeChat from U.S. app stores (see 2009180051). U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols issued the order (in Pacer). TikTok showed the prohibitions “likely exceed the lawful bounds proscribed” by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, Nichols wrote in the accompanying memorandum opinion (in Pacer), which was unsealed Monday. He cited IEEPA’s limitations in regulating “informational” materials. "We hope the U.S. can earnestly respect the principles of market economy and fair competition, observe international trade rules, and foster an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for foreign companies operating and investing in the U.S.,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson said. The Commerce Department said the government will comply with the injunction but “intends to vigorously defend the E.O. and the Secretary’s implementation efforts from legal challenges.” The EO “is fully consistent with the law and promotes legitimate national security interests,” Commerce said. TikTok said it “will continue defending our rights for the benefit of our community and employees" and continue its dialogue with the federal government.
China opposes the Trump administration's "unjustified suppression and bullying" of non-U.S. companies under the "weakest pretext of national security," said a Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Monday. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted a preliminary injunction Sunday against implementing President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to ban Chinese-owned apps TikTok and WeChat from U.S. app stores (see 2009180051). U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols issued the order (in Pacer). TikTok showed the prohibitions “likely exceed the lawful bounds proscribed” by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, Nichols wrote in the accompanying memorandum opinion (in Pacer), which was unsealed Monday. He cited IEEPA’s limitations in regulating “informational” materials. "We hope the U.S. can earnestly respect the principles of market economy and fair competition, observe international trade rules, and foster an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for foreign companies operating and investing in the U.S.,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson said. The Commerce Department said the government will comply with the injunction but “intends to vigorously defend the E.O. and the Secretary’s implementation efforts from legal challenges.” The EO “is fully consistent with the law and promotes legitimate national security interests,” Commerce said. TikTok said it “will continue defending our rights for the benefit of our community and employees" and continue its dialogue with the federal government.
China opposes the Trump administration's "unjustified suppression and bullying" of non-U.S. companies under the "weakest pretext of national security," said a Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Monday. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted a preliminary injunction Sunday against implementing President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to ban Chinese-owned apps TikTok and WeChat from U.S. app stores (see 2009180051). U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols issued the order (in Pacer). TikTok showed the prohibitions “likely exceed the lawful bounds proscribed” by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, Nichols wrote in the accompanying memorandum opinion (in Pacer), which was unsealed Monday. He cited IEEPA’s limitations in regulating “informational” materials. "We hope the U.S. can earnestly respect the principles of market economy and fair competition, observe international trade rules, and foster an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for foreign companies operating and investing in the U.S.,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson said. The Commerce Department said the government will comply with the injunction but “intends to vigorously defend the E.O. and the Secretary’s implementation efforts from legal challenges.” The EO “is fully consistent with the law and promotes legitimate national security interests,” Commerce said. TikTok said it “will continue defending our rights for the benefit of our community and employees" and continue its dialogue with the federal government.
The California Public Utilities Commission should pump the brakes on state LifeLine changes until the FCC resolves federal Lifeline minimum service standards (MSS), the National Lifeline Association commented Thursday in CPUC docket R.20-02-008. Many at the federal agency seek to freeze MSS at 3 GB and oppose an FCC plan to raise MSS to 4.5 GB monthly; it would increase to 11.75 GB on Dec. 1 otherwise (see 2009150072). NaLA raised legal concerns with the CPUC’s proposal, saying it’s “likely to be challenged in federal court because it breaks with the Commission’s own precedent and mandates that the wireless Basic and Standard Plans be provided to California LifeLine participants for free in violation of Section 332(c)(3) of the Communications Act.” Federal law bans state commissions from setting wireless Lifeline co-payments, TracFone commented. Requiring free services is prohibited rate regulation, said the company, being bought by Verizon. The CPUC Public Advocates Office praised the agency’s plan to include wireline broadband service in LifeLine. "Given more than six months have passed since the start of the pandemic and many Californians may be in need of affordable broadband options to perform these essential activities, Cal Advocates urges the Commission to implement the [proposed decision's] interim rules swiftly and with urgency.” The California Emergency Technology Fund agreed. Frontier Communications raised concerns the proposal recommends replacing only $2 of a $4 monthly federal funding reduction coming in December. “This proposal will result in rate increases of up to $2.00 and harm low-income consumers at a time when they are most vulnerable from the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing financial crisis.”