President Joe Biden’s reported decision to nominate Columbia Law School’s Lina Khan for an open FTC seat drew reactions mostly along party lines Tuesday. Consumer groups praised the news. The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation called her “populist” views a threat to traditional antitrust enforcement.
The House appears poised to agree later this week to Senate-passed changes to the American Rescue Plan Act COVID-19 budget reconciliation package, which includes emergency broadband and CPB funding. The Senate passed its amended version of HR-1319 Saturday 50-49 after a protracted floor battle in which Republicans proposed but ultimately didn’t seek votes on almost two dozen telecom amendments, as expected (see 2103030063). Telecom-focused Capitol Hill Republicans, meanwhile, pressed the FCC to explain why it now believes improved broadband coverage data maps won’t be available until at least late 2022 (see 2102170052).
Senate Intellectual Property Subcommittee ranking member Thom Tillis, R-N.C., hopes to introduce bipartisan legislation in late April or early May updating the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, he told us Monday. His office gathered comments from groups through Friday on a discussion draft titled the Digital Copyright Act of 2021. As chairman last session, Tillis worked with then-ranking member Chris Coons, D-Del., on a multi-hearing review of the DMCA.
FCC staff is struggling to work through the information submitted by winners of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction, which closed in December, and it could take a year or longer for money to start flowing through the program, industry and FCC officials said in interviews. The FCC said 417 applicants filed long-form applications after winning bids. Long-form application reviews are complicated and take time to process, officials said.
Providers are gearing up to offer discounted services through the FCC emergency broadband benefit program. The $3.2 billion program is expected to help millions of low-income consumers and those hit hardest by the pandemic (see 2102260058).
FCC media modernization on deregulation and rule streamlining seemingly came to an end with a new administration. Broadcast and cable lawyers told us there weren't major items left on the to-do list. No media items were on the first two monthly agendas of Jessica Rosenworcel's tenure as acting chairwoman, though we're told it's unlikely that signals media items will be completely back-burnered. The FCC didn't comment.
Meetings make states hopeful about closer FCC rapport under President Joe Biden, said officials from NARUC and the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates in recent interviews. Local officials seek a louder voice at the federal agency. “The relationship between state commissions and the FCC over the last four years” under then-President Donald Trump was “less than an example of cooperative federalism,” said NARUC President Paul Kjellander. FCC acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel reacted favorably to states' hopes.
European Commission proposals don't go far enough to address problems raised by online platforms, stakeholders told a webcast conference Thursday. EU lawmakers, civil society, internet companies, broadcasters and others backed the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act. But they said DSA and DMA need work. DSA measures could counter illegal content and require platform transparency, building on EU e-commerce directive intermediary liability rules (see 2012150022). DMA further obligates very large platforms ("gatekeepers").
California Public Utilities Commissioners all OK'd a rulemaking asking if the state should switch to a connections-based USF contribution mechanism. Meeting virtually Thursday, they also all supported requiring open access for middle-mile infrastructure funded by the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) and a $1.3 million fine for Frontier Communications for 2019 service-quality failures. Commissioner Darcie Houck, at her first CPUC meeting, supported all three items.
Satellite interests and proponents of using the 12 GHz band for 5G clashed during an FCBA webinar Thursday. FCC members approved a neutral NPRM 5-0 in January (see 2101130067). A final decision could take 18 months or longer (see 2102080067).