Tapjoy duped consumers and failed to provide promised in-game rewards, the FTC alleged in a 5-0 settlement Thursday. The mobile ad company is “prohibited from misleading users” about rewards and “must monitor” third-party ad partners to “ensure they do what is necessary to enable Tapjoy to deliver promised rewards to consumers.” There was no monetary penalty, but the company faces fines up to $43,280 for subsequent violations of the consent order. “The settlement proposed today should help reverse the lax policing practices that led hundreds of thousands of gamers to file complaints,” said Commissioners Rohit Chopra and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter: The agency must address “deeper structural problems” and should continue to scrutinize ad middlemen and app stores. An attorney for the company didn’t comment.
New FCC rules on unbundling and resale requirements for unbundled network elements take effect Feb. 8, says Friday's Federal Register (see 2002060006).
The FCC Wireline Bureau seeks comment by Jan. 19 in docket 20-89 on how to best administer the second round of COVID-19 telehealth funding, said a public notice said Wednesday. Congress included $249.95 million for the program in a recent stimulus bill (see 2012280052).
The Copyright Royalty Board Tuesday announced proceedings for determining “reasonable rates and terms.” Copyright royalty judges will determine “reasonable rates and terms for making and distributing phonorecords” Jan. 1, 2023, to Dec. 31, 2027. Judges will also determine “reasonable rates and terms for the use of certain copyrighted works by public broadcasting entities” for the same period. Deadlines to participate in the proceedings are Feb. 4.
Dell CEO Michael Dell spoke with FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington about the importance of the 12 GHz band, and open radio access networks in general, for 5G. “Open, interoperable systems would create more opportunities for innovation and allow new entrants into the market than earlier-generation systems,” said a filing posted Friday in RM-11768. Dell “also emphasized the critical need for dependable and resilient communications networks to bridge the digital divide.” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has circulated a neutral NPRM on the 12 GHz band (see 2012290032).
The FCC seeks comment on how to best distribute a $3.2 billion emergency broadband connectivity fund (see 2012210055), said a Wireline Bureau public notice Monday. Comments are due Jan. 25, replies Feb. 16, in docket 20-445. The funds are part of Congress' latest COVID-19 relief bill. Providers seeking to participate must be designated as eligible telecom carriers or approved by the commission. Eligible households will receive a discount of up to $50 monthly, those on tribal lands up to $75. "Our staff is moving quickly to stand up this program so we can quickly direct funding to consumers who need the help," said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said: "We need to find ways to get 100% of us connected in this country and this program is an essential part of making that happen.”
The North American Numbering Council will meet Feb. 4 to discuss the feasibility and cost of including automatic dispatchable locations for the anticipated 988 suicide hotline, a public notice said Thursday. NANC will also receive an update from the Secure Telephone Identity Governance Authority. The virtual meeting will be at 9:30 a.m. EST.
The FCC Office of Economics and Analytics found a mobile digital divide and urged further study, in a white paper in Thursday’s Daily Digest. Rural areas tend to be more reliant on non-Wi-Fi mobile technology and get slower connections, the paper said. “Counties with higher minority populations are more likely to use older mobile technologies and experience slower speeds,” it said: “Counties with older populations are more likely to use mobile technologies and are more likely to have slower speeds. Counties with larger households are more likely to use WiFi and also have faster WiFi.”
Eyeing a cloud service to let customers download and process earth observation data, Microsoft asked for FCC OK to operate an earth station in Washington state to communicate with Planet Labs' SkySat earth observation constellation, it said in an International Bureau application Wednesday. It might file other applications in the future for more points of communication, it said.
Antitrust authorities cleared the way for investment firm Mithril to buy data analytics software company Palantir Technologies. An FTC early termination notice dated Dec. 23 and released Wednesday ended the Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period.