CTA, CTIA, Mobile Future, NCTA, USTelecom and the Wireless ISP Association jointly urged the FCC to back away from privacy rules for ISPs. The record doesn't support heightened privacy rules for just ISPs, the groups said Monday in a joint blog post. “Opposition to the FCC’s proposed broadband privacy rules continues to grow,” they said. “The recently filed ‘reply round’ comments, new reports, and expert submissions to the Commission, and testimony before Congress all demonstrate a growing consensus that the Commission’s proposed approach is flawed and a new course must be taken -- one that protects consumer data, encourages innovation and growth online, and provides consistent and evenhanded standards for all internet companies.” The post cites numerous filings in opposition to the rules. “Many commenters echoed a fundamental point made by Ghostery in its two visits to the Commission -- that the proposed rules’ opt-in default and other problematic measures will undermine consumer choice and stifle innovation, depriving consumers of new choices, options, and alternatives online.”
CTA, CTIA, Mobile Future, NCTA, USTelecom and the Wireless ISP Association jointly urged the FCC to back away from privacy rules for ISPs. The record doesn't support heightened privacy rules for just ISPs, the groups said Monday in a joint blog post. “Opposition to the FCC’s proposed broadband privacy rules continues to grow,” they said. “The recently filed ‘reply round’ comments, new reports, and expert submissions to the Commission, and testimony before Congress all demonstrate a growing consensus that the Commission’s proposed approach is flawed and a new course must be taken -- one that protects consumer data, encourages innovation and growth online, and provides consistent and evenhanded standards for all internet companies.” The post cites numerous filings in opposition to the rules. “Many commenters echoed a fundamental point made by Ghostery in its two visits to the Commission -- that the proposed rules’ opt-in default and other problematic measures will undermine consumer choice and stifle innovation, depriving consumers of new choices, options, and alternatives online.”
The FCC approved Verizon's de facto spectrum leasing arrangement with Nextlink, a subsidiary of XO Holdings, in an order issued Monday by the Wireless Bureau. Verizon plans to lease Nextlink spectrum associated with 93 local multipoint distribution service (LMDS) licenses and nine 39 GHz band licenses covering about 63 percent of the U.S. population. The bureau said the likelihood of any public interest harms "at this point in time is low."
The FCC paused the 180-day clock on its review of Verizon's planned buy of XO Communications and its wireline assets, Wireline Bureau Chief Matt DelNero notified them in a Wednesday letter. DelNero said the FCC would pause the unofficial clock as of July 7, which was Day 86 of review. The FCC sought information and documents from both companies with a July 7 due date, the letter said. As of Wednesday, “neither Applicant has completed their production of responsive material,” DelNero wrote. “With respect to certain information requests no anticipated production date has been offered.”
The FCC paused the 180-day clock on its review of Verizon's planned buy of XO Communications and its wireline assets, Wireline Bureau Chief Matt DelNero notified them in a Wednesday letter. DelNero said the FCC would pause the unofficial clock as of July 7, which was Day 86 of review. The FCC sought information and documents from both companies with a July 7 due date, the letter said. As of Wednesday, “neither Applicant has completed their production of responsive material,” DelNero wrote. “With respect to certain information requests no anticipated production date has been offered.”
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., tore into FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, attacking the substance of his policies, the partisanship of the agency’s votes. and in particular the possible disclosure of nonpublic information from the chairman’s office, subject to ongoing investigation from the FCC inspector general. Thune spent more than 15 minutes on the chamber floor Thursday citing his many objections to Wheeler’s leadership.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., tore into FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, attacking the substance of his policies, the partisanship of the agency’s votes. and in particular the possible disclosure of nonpublic information from the chairman’s office, subject to ongoing investigation from the FCC inspector general. Thune spent more than 15 minutes on the chamber floor Thursday citing his many objections to Wheeler’s leadership.
ISPs, and the groups that represent them, made a last pitch in reply comments at the agency to try to get the FCC to back down from tough privacy rules that apply only to ISPs. But industry observers said Thursday the FCC appears likely to move in a matter of months to approve rules as proposed by Chairman Tom Wheeler in March (see 1603310049). Many of the ISPs noted the FTC raised questions about the FCC’s approach and whether it would create major differences between how ISPs and other companies are regulated (see 1606020062).
ISPs, and the groups that represent them, made a last pitch in reply comments at the agency to try to get the FCC to back down from tough privacy rules that apply only to ISPs. But industry observers said Thursday the FCC appears likely to move in a matter of months to approve rules as proposed by Chairman Tom Wheeler in March (see 1603310049). Many of the ISPs noted the FTC raised questions about the FCC’s approach and whether it would create major differences between how ISPs and other companies are regulated (see 1606020062).
Several House Communications Subcommittee members see virtue in the industry’s "Ditch the Box" alternative set-top proposal, their offices told us. The issue is expected to come up and create pressure at the subcommittee’s Tuesday FCC oversight hearing, scheduled for 10:15 a.m. in 2123 Rayburn. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler's appearance is seen by officials on both sides of the set-top matter as applying some time pressure to the FCC's set-top plans, they said in interviews. Opposition to the original FCC proposal has been more bipartisan and more strenuous than FCC officials expected, both proponents and opponents of the FCC plan have said.