House Communications Subcommittee ranking member Bob Latta, R-Ohio, is considering all options to restore law enforcement access to ICANN’s Whois database, a spokesperson told us Wednesday. Earlier, FTC Chairman Joe Simons wrote Latta about concerns about the availability of accurate domain name registration information when investigating crimes.
President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign appears unlikely to deviate in any substantive way from the administration’s existing stances on 5G and broadband policy, despite questions about whether language in an agenda outline released earlier this week (see 2008240056) was a callback to past nationalization proposals. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden cited broadband and other infrastructure during the party’s convention last week as part of “a new foundation for economic growth" (see 2008210001).
In a week when Fitbit introduced its most advanced health-tracking smartwatch to date (see 2008250014), Amazon announced the Halo monitoring service and a wrist-worn wearable. The company is taking requests for the Halo Band ($65) at a 35% discount off the $99 regular price in an early access invitation program, a similar approach it took with the launch of the Echo smart speaker. “If selected,” customers will receive an email notifying them when access is available. Access will be issued on a rolling basis.
The FCC’s May order reallocating a 6 GHz swath of spectrum in 900 MHz for broadband could be a game changer for utilities (see 2005130057), speakers said Wednesday at IWCE. Most are still watching, they said. On another panel, experts said despite the growth of FirstNet many public safety agencies remain committed to land-mobile radio (LMR).
The FTC is collaborating with at least six state attorneys general on contact tracing scams, Chairman Joe Simons recently wrote Sens. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. We obtained the correspondence through a Freedom of Information Act request. The FTC is working with state AGs in Alaska, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina and Oregon, plus the National Association of Attorneys General, Simons wrote the senators Aug. 4. An FTC spokesperson declined comment on whether the group plans law enforcement action.
Two big issues dominated discussions at the virtual International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE) on its first day Monday: the promise from 5G and the continuing threat from the COVID-19 pandemic. Both still have many unknowns, speakers said.
TikTok sued the Trump administration Monday, challenging its effort to “ban” the company in the U.S. and citing a lack of due process (see 2008070032). TikTok prefers constructive dialogue over litigation, but President Donald Trump’s executive order leaves the company with “no choice,” it said Monday. The White House and DOJ didn’t comment.
All companies face uncertainties from the global pandemic, but also increasing trade tensions between the U.S. and China, said Alibaba CEO Daniel Zhang on a fiscal Q1 investor call Thursday: “As the world's largest e-commerce platform, Alibaba's primary commercial focus in the U.S. is to support American brands, retailers, small businesses and farmers to sell to consumers and trade partners in China as well as the other key markets around the world.”
Some lawmakers and advocates believe Capitol Hill’s inability to agree on an additional COVID-19 aid bill that includes broadband funding presents an opening for the issue to become a focus during the presidential and congressional campaigns this fall, they told us. Congress provided some related funding in March via the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (see 2003250046).
Commissioner Mike O’Rielly's departure from the FCC, likely in January, could cause delays in FCC action on rules on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act if President Donald Trump is re-elected in November. Unless another Republican is approved by January, the FCC would be evenly split between Republicans and Democrats. Even if Chairman Ajit Pai were determined to move an NPRM he wouldn’t have the votes to do so, given the almost certain opposition of Democrats, industry officials said.