In a case that could affect global personal data transfers, Europe's high court will consider a challenge Tuesday by privacy lawyer Max Schrems to Facebook's use of standard contractual clauses (SCCs) to shift personal data to the U.S. Schrems filed the case, Data Protection Commissioner v. Facebook Ireland and Maximilian Schrems, in the Irish High Court. That court referred it to the European Court of Justice for a ruling on whether SCCs are valid under EU law (see 1710030011). ECJ's decision could reach as far as trans-Atlantic data transfer agreement Privacy Shield, lawyers told us.
FCC preliminary numbers show about 12 percent of Lifeline subscribers de-enrolled in states where the national verifier is reaching final steps in the reverification process. Lifeline providers saw many Lifeline de-enrollments in recent weeks in some of the first states where the NV launched, but carrier application program interface remains unavailable and Universal Service Administrative Co. still lacks access to many state databases or the national Medicaid database, said John Heitmann of Kelley Drye, counsel to the National Lifeline Association. At least 2 million could be de-enrolled due to difficulties verifying, he said.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai circulated Monday an order banning malicious caller ID spoofing of text messages and international calls for a vote at the Aug. 1 commissioners’ meeting. In February, commissioners voted 5-0 to launch a rulemaking on curbing spoofed robocalls (see 1902140039), implementing part of Ray Baum's Act.
The intensifying 2020 presidential race could affect FCC policymaking as the election gets much closer, industry and former officials told us, though they don’t all agree on what the effect will be. Some expect the agency and Chairman Ajit Pai to seek to avoid headline-grabbing rulemakings that create ammunition for President Donald Trump’s opponents. Others expect Pai to push his agenda to get policies approved while Republican control of the agency is certain.
Amazon's plan now before the FCC for a 3,236-satellite non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) constellation is increasing the pressure on the agency to act on its orbital debris proceeding, especially since the e-tailer's resources make its constellation plan less speculative than others, satellite experts told us. Amazon's International Bureau application filed Thursday also could raise red flags from other satellite operators about its trying to bypass the processing round process, said satellite lawyer Steve Goodman of Butzel Long.
Facebook later this month will offer high-profile testimony to Congress, this time on the company’s entry into digital currency markets (see 1906190060). Calibra Head David Marcus is expected before the Senate Banking Committee on July 16 (see 1906190060) and the House Financial Services Committee on July 17.
Consensus on FCC legal authority for a particular method of C-band clearing remains elusive, judging by docket 18-122 comments posted through Friday on such issues as enforceable interference protection rights in the band. Parties jousted over the nature of satellite and earth station operators' rights and various proposals for clearing the 3.7-4.2 GHz band.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and other telecom-focused lawmakers are expected to move on legislation to improve FCC broadband coverage data collection process despite commissioners' planned Aug. 1 vote on a yet-to-be-released order on producing more-granular maps (see 1906120076). Officials and lobbyists believe further advancement of legislation like the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability (Data) Act (S-1822) could influence the direction in the pending order.
FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr told us he's ready to refer nonprofit educational broadband services to the Enforcement Bureau, based on letters he's sending to various institutions. Carr said any proceeds from the sale of licenses by nonprofits found to violate the rules could be used to pay for education. Commissioners will vote Wednesday on an order reallocating the 2.5 GHz to an auction.
Electric utilities have a mixed take on a proposal to reconfigure the 900 MHz band to allow for broadband, the Utilities Technology Council replied. Commissioners approved the NPRM in March, before that month's FCC meeting (see 1903130062). In initial comments last month, the plan got mixed reviews (see 1906050040), with the Association of American Railroads and others raising concerns. Replies were posted through Wednesday in docket 17-200.