The Trump administration hasn’t given any indication it’s capable of maintaining a “massive health data network” without undermining personal privacy, Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., wrote Wednesday. He’s “deeply concerned” about reports White House senior adviser Jared Kushner is looking to “create a national coronavirus surveillance system, including a national database of potentially sensitive health information.” The White House didn’t comment.
White House Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow doused speculation that the Trump administration was considering short-term deferrals or rollbacks of tariffs on Chinese imports during the COVID-19 pandemic. There will be “no tariff pullback right now," Kudlow told Bloomberg TV Friday. “We never looked in any serious way about rolling back tariffs,” he said. “I would not expect to see any movement on tariffs right now.” Lobbying for tariff deferrals or the removal of duties on medically essential product imports from China intensified in recent days (see 2004020057).
President Donald Trump doesn’t oppose deferring tariffs on Chinese imports for 90 days during the pandemic, he told a White House briefing Tuesday. “I’m going to have to approve the plan,” said Trump. “I approve everything. And they haven’t presented it to me.” He sees “nothing wrong” with deferring the levies. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, wrote Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer Friday to back a 90-day delay because “the response to COVID-19 has now added another layer of pressure as businesses are facing severe cash flow problems” (see 2003300012). The U.S. Chamber of Commerce also came out Wednesday in support of “tariff relief,” saying it would “provide some welcome breathing room for American businesses and consumers.”
President Donald Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (HR-748) Friday, soon after the House voice voted to pass the bill. The Senate passed the measure Wednesday (see 2003260063). HR-748, Congress’ third bill to address the effects of COVID-19, includes telehealth provisions and pandemic-related appropriations for the FCC, Rural Utilities Service and CPB. The measure allows the register of copyrights to temporarily toll, waive, adjust or modify deadline and timing provisions through December 2021 if an executive-declared national emergency disrupts or suspends ordinary copyright system functions. The law gives the register discretion over the reasonableness, scope and severity of the alterations. House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., wants additional telecom language in “future legislation.” Congress “must ensure affordable treatment for all, expand distance learning programs and access to the internet for low-income Americans, protect consumers from price gouging and prevent critical services from being shut off during this crisis,” he said. Several other Democrats also want a fourth COVID-19 bill to include broadband capacity and distance learning provisions, including Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Maria Cantwell, D-Wash. (see 2003250046). House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle, D-Pa., said Congress “must do more … but this bill is an important step in the right direction.” House Commerce ranking member Greg Walden, R-Ore., hopes “as this public health crisis evolves, we can put the political swords down, focus on finding solutions and prove to the American people that we are in it together.” Commissioner Geoffrey Starks believes the FCC “must do more to advance its own ‘connectivity stimulus,’” including examining “its statutory authority and funding resources and take bold action to respond to the current crisis.” NTCA believes additional legislation should include language from the recently filed Keeping Critical Connections Act (HR-6394/S-3569), said CEO Shirley Bloomfield. HR-6394/S-3569 would set up a $2 billion fund at the FCC to compensate ISPs with fewer than 250,000 customers for providing free or discounted broadband services during the pandemic to low-income households that can't afford to pay their bills. NAB plans to advocate for future COVID-19 bills to include "further relief for broadcasters who keep communities safe with life-saving emergency information and fact-based journalism," said CEO Gordon Smith. ATA, CTA and the Wireless ISP Association also praised HR-748.
The White House posted a 5G security report Tuesday, providing a high-level overview of efforts to secure networks. Industry and government officials said in interviews Wednesday the White House likely would have released the report as part of its planned April 1 5G summit, which was expected to focus on open networks, but posted it after postponing the event because of the COVID-19 pandemic (see 2003170004). The White House hasn't released its long-term national spectrum strategy, which had been expected last year. “5G infrastructure will be an attractive target for criminals and foreign adversaries due to the large volume of data it transmits and processes as well as the support that 5G will provide to critical infrastructure,” the report said. It sought speeding the rollout of 5G, assessing cybersecurity risks, “addressing risks to United States economic and national security during development and deployment of 5G infrastructure worldwide” and “promoting responsible global development and deployment of secure and reliable 5G infrastructure.” The report highlights work by the FCC and the National Economic Council and companies' role. The U.S. “will participate in the development of international 5G security principles through frameworks, such as the Prague 5G Security Conference,” the document said: The U.S. must play a role in international standards. “It’s very bare bones, thin on details,” said Lindsay Gorman, fellow with the German Marshall Fund’s Alliance for Securing Democracy. “I would like to see some more specifics on what relative agencies … will take a lead and how this coordination will happen.” The federal government has focused on rolling out 5G and making spectrum available and a “big diplomatic push,” particularly in Europe, to get other countries to exclude Chinese vendors from their networks, Gorman noted: “This document incorporates those objectives.” It’s positive the administration puts some focus on international standards, Gorman said. The report “takes a baby step” toward recognizing the U.S. needs to do more, she said. “I don’t think there’s anything new,” emailed Zack Cooper, China expert at the American Enterprise Institute. “This overview is a good first step, and it is good to see the White House continue to engage here, but this issue deserves more substance,” said Information Technology and Innovation Foundation Broadband and Spectrum Policy Director Doug Brake. The White House and FCC didn't comment.
President Donald Trump signed the Secure 5G and Beyond Act (S-893) and Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act broadband mapping legislative package (S-1822) Monday, to applause from lawmakers and FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. S-893 requires the president to develop a strategy for ensuring the security of 5G networks and infrastructure (see 2003110074). S-1822 requires the FCC to collect more granular broadband coverage data and create a user-friendly challenge process. It includes language from the House-passed Mapping Accuracy Promotes Services Act (HR-4227), which would bar companies from knowingly giving the FCC inaccurate broadband coverage data (see 2003110071). Trump said he will apply a section of S-893 requiring the president engage in international diplomacy to share information and pursue policy goals specified by Congress “in a manner that does not interfere with the President's exclusive constitutional authorities with respect to foreign relations.” Trump believes a section that “purports to condition the President's authority to implement parts of” the 5G security strategy “upon the approval of” the FCC “does not preclude me or future Presidents from exercising our constitutional authorities as the ‘sole organ’ of the Nation in foreign relations and as the head of the unitary Executive Branch.” S-893 and S-1822 “are critical to ensuring that all Americans can access broadband and that our networks are secure,” said House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., ranking member Greg Walden, R-Ore., Communications Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle, D-Pa., and ranking member Bob Latta, R-Ohio. "The need for connectivity is even more critical now that millions of Americans are teleworking and learning from home in response to the coronavirus pandemic.” To "close the digital divide, we need accurate maps to show where there is broadband service and at what speeds," said Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss. Pai said the law “affirms the FCC’s approach to collecting more precise and granular broadband data through our new Digital Opportunity Data Collection program" and it's "vital for Congress to provide the FCC as soon as possible with the appropriations necessary to implement the Act." S-1822's prohibition on Universal Service Administrative Co. means "if Congress does not act soon, this well-intentioned legislation will have the unfortunate effect of delaying rather than expediting the development of better broadband maps," he said.
IBM, Amazon, Google and Microsoft are offering supercomputing resources in an effort with the White House to stop the spread of COVID-19, the Office of Science and Technology Policy announced Sunday. The COVID-19 High Performance Computing Consortium aims to develop predictive models and virus remedies. Department of Energy national labs, the National Science Foundation and NASA are partnering with academics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for the effort.
President Donald Trump’s renomination of FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly Wednesday drew widespread praise. O’Rielly would serve a term ending June 30, 2024 (see 2003180070). His current term ended in June, but he can remain until this Congress ends at the beginning of 2021 (see 1910250039). “I am deeply appreciative of the President’s decision and his aggressive leadership on communications policy, including extensive efforts to bring broadband access to all Americans,” O’Rielly said. As a commissioner “I have advocated for preserving and advancing American free market principles to develop common sense regulation and eliminate unnecessary rules that hurt consumers.” It’s “gratifying to watch the private and public sectors pulling together to rise to the occasion” amid the COVID-19 pandemic and other “monumental challenges currently confronting our nation,” he said. Trump “made a wise choice,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. O’Rielly has “made many contributions to the work of the Commission, from his leadership on 3.5 GHz spectrum policy to his unwavering advocacy against state misuse of 911 funding. And when we were in the minority, he consistently stood on principle while being pragmatic.” O’Rielly’s “tireless work ethic has helped deliver many good wins for this country during his time on the Commission,” said Commissioner Brendan Carr. O’Rielly “is incredibly knowledgeable on communications policy matters and has contributed so much to the work of the agency,” said Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. Commissioner Geoffrey Starks also congratulated O’Rielly. CTIA President Meredith Baker highlighted O’Rielly for being “a champion for smart spectrum policies, ending 9-1-1 fee diversion.” NAB “supports the renomination,” said CEO Gordon Smith. Charter Communications, Comcast, the Competitive Carriers Association, Incompas, Wireless Infrastructure Association and Wireless ISP Association also applauded the renomination.
The White House credited the tech industry Wednesday for launching an online education website as part of the coronavirus response. Launched by the Software & Information Industry Association, TechforLearners.org provides a searchable online database to facilitate online teaching. The Office of Science and Technology Policy’s COVID-19 technology initiative called for online resources last week. It's an "important resource,” said Chief Technology Officer Michael Kratsios.
President Donald Trump said his administration will allow telehealth services to be covered under Medicare, which he called a “historic breakthrough” aimed at reducing the number of Americans contracting COVID-19 at doctors’ offices. “Medicare patients can now visit any doctor by phone or videoconference at no additional cost, including with commonly used services like FaceTime and Skype,” Trump said during a Tuesday White House news conference. “This has never been done before.” Stakeholders have also been urging the FCC to expedite its Connected Care in-home patient monitoring pilot (see 2003120002). The Trump administration is expanding telehealth eligibility by giving the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services the authority to waive program requirements restricting funding for treatments outside of in-person doctor visits. “Medicare beneficiaries across the nation, no matter where they live, will now be able to receive a wide range of services via telehealth without ever having to leave home,” said CMMS Administrator Seema Verma. “And these services can also be provided in a variety of settings, including nursing homes, hospital outpatient departments, and more.” The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Civil Rights also won't levy penalties for telehealth-related violations of patient privacy under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. States also have the authority to cover telehealth services for their medical patients, Trump said. Legislation Trump signed Friday to provide $8.3 billion in coronavirus-related funding included $500 million for expanding telehealth services.