CNN Worldwide President Jeff Zucker condemned comments on the media by President Donald Trump after an apparent attempted bombing of the network and several prominent Democrats Wednesday. “There is a total and complete lack of understanding at the White House about the seriousness of their continued attacks on the media," Zucker said. FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel tweeted: “Right now would be a really good time to make clear that media is not the enemy of the people" The president, "and especially the White House Press Secretary, should understand their words matter,” Zucker said. “They have shown no comprehension of that.” The White House didn’t comment.
NTIA Administrator David Redl urged stakeholders to communicate with the White House as it develops an artificial intelligence strategy. In Brussels Thursday, Redl cited the White House Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence’s comment solicitation. The effort will “ensure that U.S. R&D investments remain at the cutting edge,” Redl said. On NTIA's effort to develop privacy principles (see 1810120053), the goal should be to “provide high levels of consumer protection while giving business legal clarity and flexibility to innovate,” he said.
President Donald Trump views infrastructure legislation as an area of potential “commonality” with Democrats if the party wins control of the House in the November elections, he said during a Thursday Fox News interview. Trump administration officials have been quietly exploring potentially revisiting its infrastructure legislative proposal after the next Congress convenes in January, with Special Assistant to the President for Innovation Policy Matt Lira raising the prospect during a September 5G summit (see 1809280054 and 1810100049). “I think [the GOP is] going to be successful” in the November elections but “if we lose the majority in the House, which is always a possibility, we will just have to fight it out,” Trump said during the Fox interview. “Can we get along? Maybe” on some issues. The Democrats “want infrastructure, I want infrastructure,” Trump said. “There's something that can bring us together.”
Past administrations of "both parties" gave "some lip service" to curbing China's unfair trade practices "but never followed through," National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow said during a Q&A at the Economic Club of Washington Thursday. President Donald Trump "is following through" with the three rounds of Trade Act Section 301 tariffs he imposed over the summer, Kudlow said. He acknowledged he's "more of a doctrinaire free trader" than his boss, and that he opposed the administration's Section 232 tariffs on steel imports before joining the White House from CNBC. But there's "a lot of unfair trading practices" worldwide, and "the biggest culprit is China, and that can't be left alone," said Kudlow. "China has played fast and loose with the rules," he said. "The World Trade Organization needs reforms to enforce those rules. China's taken advantage. They're not a third-world country anymore. Why should we have to suffer?" Trump wants "a level playing field" with China, said Kudlow. "He wants reciprocity. Ultimately, he wants zero tariffs, zero non-tariff barriers, zero subsidies." Kudlow acknowledged tariffs "may be painful in some cases," but Trump is "a disrupter." Kudlow is "quite patient" with the policy, and confident a deal with China "can be negotiated" as a result, he said. It has been only "four or five months" since Trump first imposed tariffs, Kudlow said: "Let him do his work."
The White House wants an update to the national artificial intelligence strategy on research and development, and opened the process to public comment, an AI advisory board announced Wednesday. The Office of Science and Technology Policy’s Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence (see 1805100065), which is under the National Science and Technology Council, “began updating” the National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan Wednesday. “By updating our strategic plan for AI R&D, we help ensure that the United States continues to lead in cutting edge AI innovations that address the most pressing AI challenges of today,” said Deputy Assistant to the President-Technology Policy Michael Kratsios. BSA|The Software Alliance Vice President-Global Policy Aaron Cooper said: “Ensuring that the federal government’s funding is used efficiently and effectively -- both on basic research and in addressing workforce shifts -- is a key pillar of a national AI strategy.” Comments are due Oct. 26.
The Music Modernization Act was one of two copyright bills the House passed unanimously Tuesday, as expected (see 1809190029), and the bill awaits the president’s signature. The Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Act also passed the House after clearing the upper chamber (see 1806290051).
The White House is exploring antitrust action to prevent political bias on online platforms, said a draft executive order reportedly circulated over the weekend. By using search and social media, consumers count on platforms to provide “reliable information to shape a host of decisions ranging from consumer purchases to votes in elections,” the order said. Antitrust enforcers should use their authority to “promote competition and ensure that no online platform exercises market power in a way that harms consumers, including through the exercise of bias,” it said. President Donald Trump recently attacked Google, Facebook and other online platforms for alleged conservative bias. DOJ officials are expected to meet with state attorneys general Tuesday to discuss big tech competition concerns (see 1809210047). The White House didn’t comment.
The White House is planning a Sept. 28 meeting with federal and industry officials on developing and deploying 5G, officials and lobbyists said. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and NTIA Administrator David Redl are expected to speak. Executives are also expected to attend, with several telling us they received invitations Friday. Those notices didn’t include specifics on who would be there or what issues would be discussed, the officials said. The White House is aiming for the event to focus on an industry-driven approach to ensuring U.S. leadership on 5G, with included discussions on rural broadband and spectrum issues, two lobbyists said. President Donald Trump’s administration drew ire from Capitol Hill and the private sector in January after a leaked National Security Council draft memo proposed 5G nationalization because of concerns China could otherwise build a network (see 1801290034). The administration mentioned 5G deployment in its December national security strategy (see 1712180071 and 1712270032). NTIA referred questions to the White House, which didn’t comment. The FCC also didn’t comment. “5G has taken on a somewhat nationalist component and is more and more considered an important strategic platform for economic competitiveness,” said Information Technology and Innovation Foundation Spectrum Policy Director Doug Brake. “Hosting a summit to gather input and discussion on the topic to inform policy across federal agencies makes a lot of sense.”
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday “imposing certain sanctions in the event of foreign interference” in a U.S. election and declaring a "national emergency." “The proliferation of digital devices and internet-based communications has created significant vulnerabilities and magnified the scope and intensity of the threat of foreign interference, as illustrated in the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment,” Trump said. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said “an executive order that inevitably leaves the President broad discretion to decide whether to impose tough sanctions against those who attack our democracy is insufficient.” He called for spelling out “strong, clear consequences” through the Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines (Deter) Act (S-2313).
The Senate Commerce Committee advanced White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director nominee Kelvin Droegemeier to the full Senate Wednesday on a voice vote. The vote to send Droegemeier to the full Senate was expected after a largely positive August confirmation hearing (see 1808230041). Senate Commerce “has received dozens of endorsements for Dr. Droegemeier, and I think it’s safe to say the research community is eager” for his swift confirmation, said ranking member Bill Nelson, D-Fla.