Shure told the FCC it still supports a Sennheiser petition from two years ago seeking an NPRM on innovation and development of new wireless microphone technologies such as wireless multichannel audio systems (WMAS) technology (see 1812280053). “Proposed rules should be carefully structured to encourage material improvements in spectrum efficiency but sufficiently flexible and scalable to promote broad WMAS use,” Shure said in a filing posted Wednesday in RM-11821. Shure also recommended specific rule language. WMAS should be permitted in “all frequencies available to Part 74 microphones,” it said.

The FCC’s proposed rules for foreign-sponsored programming are too broad and threaten “to interfere with core First Amendment activities,” said NPR in comments posted Tuesday in docket 20-299 (see 2010260052). The NPRM “would appear to require everyone involved in funding, producing, acquiring, distributing and broadcasting programming” to research potential financial supporters and providers of content “on a routine basis no matter how innocuous the putative ‘sponsor,’” NPR said. The proposal assumes identifying foreign-sponsored content is easier than it really is and all foreign government-sponsored content is political, NPR said. It also should clarify that sponsor identification isn’t required “when a broadcaster exercises sole and independent editorial control” over content. “Unless expressly limited, these facets of the NPRM’s expanded sponsor identification obligation would pose significant obstacles to broadcasters like NPR,” the filing said. The agency should reconsider whether such rules are needed or limit their scope, NPR said.

Vista Outdoor agreed to pay $55,000 and implement a compliance plan for marketing wireless hunting decoys under the Primos Hunting brand without the required FCC equipment authorization, the Enforcement Bureau said Monday. A “routine audit” by a telecommunication certification body last year noted the noncompliant decoy, the bureau said. Vista identified other models the FCC hadn't cleared and recalled all the decoys.

GAO found that 11 surveyed DOD IT programs have reduced their cost estimates, while four others increased their life-cycle cost estimates, it said Wednesday. Ten of the programs reported schedule delays of up to five years, GAO said. Ten of the 15 programs reported using commercial off-the-shelf software, which reduces development time and costs, the report said. Fourteen programs use an “iterative software development approach” that “may help reduce cost growth and deliver better results to the customer. However, programs also reported using an older approach to software development, known as waterfall, which could introduce risk for program cost growth because of its linear and sequential phases of development that may be implemented over a longer period of time.” All 15 surveyed programs are “developing cybersecurity strategies, which are intended to help ensure that programs are planning for and documenting cybersecurity risk management efforts,” GAO said. But “only eight” reported “conducting cybersecurity vulnerability assessments.” DOD reported it “continues to evolve its acquisition processes to reduce software development time, allow for faster delivery of capabilities, and lower life-cycle costs,” GAO said. The department said "the report highlighted opportunities for continued improvement in its efforts to acquire IT capabilities,” and it believes “implementation and wider adoption of the software acquisition pathway will assist in reducing risks and challenges, as will continued implementation of the DOD Cyber Strategy, which includes a line of effort aimed at improving the DOD cyber workforce by investing in future talent, identifying and recruiting sought-after talent, and retaining the current cyber workforce.”

The FTC seeks comment by Feb. 16 on costs, benefits, necessity and "regulatory and economic impact” of its rules on power output claims for amplifiers used in home entertainment products, said Friday's Federal Register. The rules date to 1974 and set uniform measurements and disclosures for home entertainment amplifiers. The rules were issued "in response to misleading or confusing power, distortion, and other performance claims," it said. The agency wants to know if any rule modifications are needed. The request comes as part of “a systematic review of all current FTC rules and guides.”

The FTC ordered nine social media and video streaming companies Monday to detail data practices and how they affect younger users. Commissioners voted 4-1, with Noah Phillips dissenting, for orders to Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Amazon, Twitter, ByteDance, Reddit, Snap and Discord. The agency issued the orders through Section 6(b) authority, which allows subpoenas. The companies have 45 days to respond. This “will lift the hood on the social media and video streaming firms to carefully study their engines,” said Commissioners Rohit Chopra, Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and Christine Wilson: “As concerns mount regarding the impact of the tech companies on Americans’ privacy and behavior, this study is timely and important.” Phillips called this “an undisciplined foray into a wide variety of topics, some only tangentially related to the stated focus.” The order will produce little valuable information and “divert scarce commission resources,” he said. The agency is seeking information about ad targeting, algorithm application to personal information and user engagement practices. The Internet Association didn’t comment. Sens. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Mark Warner, D-Va., welcomed the 6(b) study. “Parents and policymakers alike are in the dark about how powerful websites and apps are siphoning kids’ and teens’ personal information, profiling users, and raking in profits while children get hooked on their devices,” said Markey. Warner called it “long overdue.”

Several public safety groups, including the National Sheriffs’ Association, International Association of Fire Chiefs, asked President-elect Joe Biden to name Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel as permanent FCC chair. The National Education Association and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., also back Rosenworcel. There are several possible contenders to lead the FCC. Rosenworcel “has distinguished herself as someone who clearly understands the needs of public safety and has worked effectively with us for many years, while at the same time has balanced the needs of other stakeholders,” said the IAFC, NSA and others in a letter to Biden that we obtained. “First responder communications are critical for all successful emergency operations,” which means “the person chosen to become the FCC Chairperson is very consequential to the public safety community.” The Major County Sheriffs of America, the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association and the National Association of State EMS Officials also signed the letter.

With nothing new filed since 2015 regarding the mandatory carriage complaint brought by KSQA Topeka, Kansas, against DirecTV, the FCC should reject KSQA's petition for reconsideration of that docket's termination, said AT&T, DirecTV's parent company, in a docket 20-158 posting Thursday. It said KSQA's complaint became moot at the end of 2017, which was the end of the complaint's election cycle. It said a Media Bureau ruling on the complaint would be over "a stale set of facts that will have no practical effect" since KSQA at the time wasn't audio streaming in AC-3, which is why DirecTV wouldn't carry it, but now is doing so. KSQA in its recon petition said its complaint wasn't rendered moot by the end of the previous must-carry election cycle, it's still not being carried, and AT&T has never told it what equipment would be needed for audio signal conversion. It said ending an adjudicatory proceeding without notifying a party to the adjudication is an Administrative Procedure Act violation.

DOJ filed a lawsuit Thursday against Facebook, alleging the platform illegally favored temporary visa holders over U.S. workers. Facebook “engaged in intentional and widespread violations of the law, by setting aside positions for temporary visa holders instead of considering interested and qualified U.S. workers,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband. The company’s alleged discrimination concerned some 2,600 positions with an average salary of about $156,000. DOJ investigated for two years and secured a “reasonable cause” determination. “You cannot illegally prefer to recruit, consider, or hire temporary visa holders over U.S. workers,” he said. “Facebook has been cooperating with the DOJ in its review of this issue and while we dispute the allegations in the complaint, we cannot comment further on pending litigation," emailed a spokesperson.

The FCC and FTC have begun working with President-elect Joe Biden’s transition review teams, the agencies confirmed. The moves, weeks after news agencies declared that Biden defeated President Donald Trump, follow General Services Administration head Emily Murphy’s Monday decision to allow federal agencies to begin the transition process. The FCC and Biden’s review team for the commission “have made contact,” and the commission “will fully cooperate in the transition process,” a spokesperson emailed. Michael Carowitz, special counsel to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, is “running point on the transition for the Chairman’s Office." Carowitz was previously acting Enforcement Bureau chief and Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau deputy chief. Biden’s FCC team members are House Judiciary Committee Senior Counselor John Williams; former Commissioner Mignon Clyburn; DLA Piper’s Smitty Smith, a former FCC and NTIA staffer; and Paul de Sa, former FCC official and analyst. FTC Chairman Joe Simons also “instructed Commissioners and staff that the transition is underway,” a spokesperson emailed. It “provides us an opportunity to show both the great work the FTC has done in the past, as well as the FTC’s commitment to continuing that work in the future.” FTC Executive Director David Robbins and Deputy Monique Fortenberry are the commission’s point people working with the Biden team. Biden’s FTC team members are former commission Deputy General Counsel Heather Hippsley, Brookings Institution’s Bill Baer and Georgetown Law Center on Privacy & Technology Associate Director Laura Moy.