The FCC Media Bureau is pausing the 180-day “shot clock” for the Sinclair/Tribune deal so Sinclair can amend its application and file divestiture applications and staff can review them, the bureau said in a letter to Sinclair Wednesday. The pause, which the letter describes as being “as of January 4, 2018,” is a reaction to Sinclair’s informing the Media Bureau in a Jan. 4 meeting (see 1801100032) that it was evaluating divestitures and Top-4 showings and that DOJ review may “impact” divestiture choices, the letter said. “It is appropriate to stop the informal 180-day clock until after the referenced amendments and divestiture applications have been filed and staff has had an opportunity to fully review them,” the letter said. The shot clock on the FCC’s website was paused at day 167 Thursday. Sinclair didn’t comment.
The FCC Media Bureau is pausing the 180-day “shot clock” for the Sinclair/Tribune deal so Sinclair can amend its application and file divestiture applications and staff can review them, the bureau said in a letter to Sinclair Wednesday. The pause, which the letter describes as being “as of January 4, 2018,” is a reaction to Sinclair’s informing the Media Bureau in a Jan. 4 meeting (see 1801100032) that it was evaluating divestitures and Top-4 showings and that DOJ review may “impact” divestiture choices, the letter said. “It is appropriate to stop the informal 180-day clock until after the referenced amendments and divestiture applications have been filed and staff has had an opportunity to fully review them,” the letter said. The shot clock on the FCC’s website was paused at day 167 Thursday. Sinclair didn’t comment.
Backers of new limits on the U.S. intelligence community's use of data collected under Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Section 702 girded themselves Wednesday for a Thursday House floor debate on replacing the revised text of the Rapid DNA Act (S-139), which now contains language similar to the controversial FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act (HR-4478), with text from alternate Section 702 legislation. The House voted 233-181 Wednesday to move forward with the Thursday debate and vote on the measure. The House Rules Committee voted 6-3 Tuesday to allow House consideration of an amendment to substitute text from the Uniting and Strengthening America by Reforming and Improving the Government’s High-Tech Surveillance (USA Rights) Act (HR-4124/S-1997) before a floor vote on the underlying S-139. House leaders moved last week to bring S-139 to the floor as a vehicle for taking up HR-4478's language (see 1801050059 and 1801080014).
Backers of new limits on the U.S. intelligence community's use of data collected under Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Section 702 girded themselves Wednesday for a Thursday House floor debate on replacing the revised text of the Rapid DNA Act (S-139), which now contains language similar to the controversial FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act (HR-4478), with text from alternate Section 702 legislation. The House voted 233-181 Wednesday to move forward with the Thursday debate and vote on the measure. The House Rules Committee voted 6-3 Tuesday to allow House consideration of an amendment to substitute text from the Uniting and Strengthening America by Reforming and Improving the Government’s High-Tech Surveillance (USA Rights) Act (HR-4124/S-1997) before a floor vote on the underlying S-139. House leaders moved last week to bring S-139 to the floor as a vehicle for taking up HR-4478's language (see 1801050059 and 1801080014).
The Wyoming Public Service Commission suspended a CenturyLink service-quality probe to allow settlement talks, granting a request by the company and the Wyoming Office of Consumer Advocate in docket 14475 (see 1712080068). The PSC directed parties to update commissioners at their Jan. 30 meeting.
Amazon announced a workaround to not having access to Google Chrome and YouTube on the Echo Show and Fire TV (see 1712060058 and 1712200044). Amazon Fire TV users can now browse the web on TV via Fire TV using Firefox and Silk browsers, Amazon said Wednesday, listing Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo, reddit and others. Amazon is “open to other browsers," a spokeswoman said. “We hope to resolve this with Google as soon as possible.” Google didn’t comment. On how Amazon ensures security via browsers, the spokeswoman said Fire TV doesn’t allow downloads. Silk and Firefox “both respect user privacy,” she said, and browsing history is kept “private and secure.” Neither stores personal identifiable information data, she said. Alexa controls some functions, but during playback, viewers use the Fire TV remote for play, pause, fast forward and rewind functions, said the spokeswoman.
Amazon announced a workaround to not having access to Google Chrome and YouTube on the Echo Show and Fire TV (see 1712060058 and 1712200044). Amazon Fire TV users can now browse the web on TV via Fire TV using Firefox and Silk browsers, Amazon said Wednesday, listing Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo, reddit and others. Amazon is “open to other browsers," a spokeswoman said. “We hope to resolve this with Google as soon as possible.” Google didn’t comment. On how Amazon ensures security via browsers, the spokeswoman said Fire TV doesn’t allow downloads. Silk and Firefox “both respect user privacy,” she said, and browsing history is kept “private and secure.” Neither stores personal identifiable information data, she said. Alexa controls some functions, but during playback, viewers use the Fire TV remote for play, pause, fast forward and rewind functions, said the spokeswoman.
Amazon announced Wednesday a workaround to not having access to Google Chrome and YouTube on the Echo Show and Fire TV, in the midst of an ongoing feud between the tech giants. Amazon Fire TV users can now browse the web on TV via Fire TV using Firefox and Silk browsers, Amazon said, listing Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo, reddit and unnamed local and international news sites, video sharing services, cloud photo sites and other social news, sports and entertainment content.
Channel Master is announcing “upcoming availability” Tuesday of Stream+, a coffee-cup-size media player that integrates streaming services and games with live broadcast TV and includes an on-screen channel guide with DVR capability to pause, rewind and record live TV, the company said. Channel Master’s online store immediately will begin taking preorders for the Stream+ at the special introductory price of $99, but “actual” retail pricing will be announced in mid-January when inventories of the product become available, said the company.
AT&T and Granite Telecom said they are close to agreement to resolve Granite’s wholesale pricing complaint against AT&T. In a joint motion posted Tuesday in docket C17-08-020, the companies asked the California Public Utilities Commission to pause proceedings until Jan. 5. Granite complained July 24 about alleged AT&T “unjust, unreasonable and discriminatory” wholesale pricing practices.