Timothy Pearson, manager of a “secure computer design and manufacturing firm” in Illinois, wants the FTC to “put a stop” to manufacturer restrictions on third-party tech product repairs because they run counter to innovation and promote the discarding of perfectly workable electronics in the waste stream, he commented, as posted Friday to docket FTC-2019-0013. His was the first posted in the agency's inquiry, in preparation for a daylong workshop July 16, into how manufacturer “limitations” on third-party product repairs may affect consumer protections (see 1903130060). Pearson’s firm, which he didn’t name, has “run into significant problems from certain component vendors that overlap with right to repair legislation,” he said. “Certain vendors require all firmware components to be signed with their vendor key in order for the firmware to execute.” The practice “severely impairs the repair capability of their devices,” he said. It also adds e-waste “when the vendor is unwilling to fix known bugs in their firmware,” and instead recommends discarding the device and buying a “newer or more expensive” replacement, he said. When a vendor has virtual exclusivity in “a specific class of computing peripheral, this has the effect of not only stifling repair of entire classes of devices, but also encouraging foreign (usually Asian) companies to innovate where US citizens and corporations are locked out by vendor decisions,” he said. He alleged Nvidia’s “cryptographic signing” forces “continual replacement of otherwise functional" graphics cards. He blamed the “replace and discard” recommendations on its unwillingness, “for commercial reasons,” to fix “firmware-enforced driver bugs.” Nvidia didn’t comment Friday. The FTC is seeking "empirical" data by April 30 on third-party repair limitations to help staff prepare for the July workshop. Comments in the docket are due Sept.16.

The FCC's September wireless infrastructure order set a rate ceiling of $270 annually per small-cell facility (see 1903130066).

How manufacturer “limitations” on third-party product repairs may affect consumer protections is the subject of an FTC workshop July 16 at Constitution Center (also webcast), said the agency Wednesday. Whether the restrictions impair consumer rights under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act will be among the issues the FTC wants to study, it said. The 1975 statute, which the agency enforces, was created to thwart manufacturers from using warranty disclaimers that dupe consumers. The FTC also wants to learn the impact the restrictions have on small and local businesses, and the extent to which consumers even know about the restrictions. So-called “right-to-repair” bills in several states (see 1704090001) threaten manufacturers with fines for restricting third-party repairs. The tech industry mobilized against the bills, on various grounds, including arguing that enabling product repairs through independent shops risks exposing trade secrets. The FTC seeks “empirical research” data by April 30 on the “prevalence and impact” of repair restrictions. Limitations may include “code” that disables products repaired by someone other than the manufacturer, or product designs that “inhibit repairs,” such as attaching batteries with proprietary glue that only the manufacturer can remove, it said. The commission also seeks public comment by Sept. 16 in docket FTC-2019-0013 via regulations.gov on issues related to repair restrictions.

Project OAR is “actively in talks” with other TV makers and has issued invitations to join the consortium, a Vizio spokesperson emailed us Wednesday, after Tuesday's announcement (see 1903120071) its Inscape technology is at the heart of the Open Addressable Ready standard for targeted advertising via connected TVs. OAR was formed last year with founding members CBS, Disney's Media Networks, Comcast's FreeWheel and NBCUniversal, Xandr, Turner (now part of AT&T), Discovery, Hearst Television, AMC Networks, Vizio and Inscape. The charter is to “deliver better advertising experiences to viewers” through dynamic commercials on internet-connected TVs and devices. There’s no exclusivity period for Vizio or any other network or platform member, the spokesperson said: The working group was “formed under the concept that a rising tide lifts all boats." On whether any modifications will be required to TV designs to accommodate the standard, he said the group is working on specifications that allow for easiest adoption, and "it's too early to tell if any changes will be required." Viewers will be given the option to participate in addressable, "and they may subsequently opt out if they choose," he said. On whether consumers would lose access to certain features or functionality if they opt out, he said the goals are more relevant ads and better viewing experience.

A Crisis Wasted: Barack Obama's Defining Decisions, a book by former FCC Chairman Reed Hundt reviewing domestic policy decisions Barack Obama and his transition team made between September 2008 and his January 2009 inauguration, is to be released April 2, according to the publisher. Hundt was a member of the transition team. One action was asking Congress in early January 2009 to postpone the hard analog TV cutoff date from Feb. 17 for fear that funding problems with NTIA's DTV converter box coupon program would disenfranchise consumers (see 0901090135). Congress passed the DTV Delay Act in early February 2009, putting off the DTV transition to June 12 (see 0902050110).

State attorneys general joined federal agencies in a crackdown on tech support scams, the National Association of Attorneys General said Thursday. Scammers use pop-up messages, phone calls or websites to claim a consumer’s computer is infected, and then ask for personal information or remote access to a victim’s computer to fix the problem. More than 60 percent of consumers faced them last year, said NAAG President and Louisiana AG Jeff Landry (R). “Education, prevention, and enforcement are instrumental in addressing these tech scams.” Sweep participants are DOJ, the FTC and AG offices from Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Washington, D.C. The sweep includes "criminal charges, criminal proceed seizures, civil injunction lawsuits, and the execution of search warrants," said a DOJ fact sheet.

Pay TV ended 2018 with a 78 percent penetration rate and that's likely to decline due to increased digital adoption and more streaming alternatives, Macquarie's Amy Yong wrote investors Tuesday. She said video subscriber losses likely will be around 3 million through 2020, with cable having about 700,000 and satellite TV losses accelerating with AT&T's focus on DirecTV Now and Dish Network's programming disputes. Broadband reached 82 percent penetration last year "and is likely to inch higher" with cable adding subscribers seeking higher speeds, the analyst wrote: There are indications many would consider switching broadband service from a cable provider to a telecom provider for 5G home broadband.

The Home Technology Specialists of America said Friday 55 dealer members are certified under its level one lighting masterclass program that debuted last year. Certification testing was conducted independently by the American Lighting Association.

Shifting the dates of the CE China show in Guangzhou to mid-September, days after the IFA show closes (see 1902010004), won’t create a hardship for Messe Berlin, which produces both events, emailed a spokesperson. “On the contrary, it creates added value,” she said. “The products, newly introduced at IFA, can also be presented at CE China and therefore to retailers in China.” She denied organizers shifted the dates to give CE China months of separation from the rival CTA-produced CES Asia show mid-June in Shanghai. By “switching the dates to September, we enable the industry to be even more efficient in preparing for the economically important Singles’ Day,” she said. Scheduled for Nov. 11, Singles’ Day is China’s version of Cyber Monday.

CE China is shifting to new dates and a new location for 2019, opening Sept. 19 for a three-day run in Guangzhou, “the heart of China’s trade and manufacturing business,” said the show’s IFA organizers Friday. Previous shows were held in May in Shenzhen (see 1710230001). The new dates give CE China months of separation from the rival CTA-produced CES Asia show June 11-13 in Shanghai, but mean the Guangzhou event opens roughly a week after the early September IFA show completes its six days in Berlin. Organizers picked Guangzhou because of the city’s “long history as a trading hub and gateway to China” and its “super-modern exhibition grounds,” they said. Direct flights to Guangzhou are available from Europe and the U.S., they said.