Commissioner Ajit Pai said he hasn't given up on turning back an FCC move to reclassify broadband as a Communications Act Title II service as is expected to be recommended by Chairman Tom Wheeler. The FCC is to vote on the order at its Feb. 26 meeting, approving classification with some form of forbearance from most parts of Title II (see 1501070054). Pai also was candid Wednesday in his comments on how Wheeler runs the commission, alleging the agency has become more political than in the past. The Pai interview is scheduled to appear on C-SPAN’s The Communicators this weekend.
A partisan rift persisted and clouded prospects for net neutrality legislation Wednesday, which GOP lawmakers in both chambers began circulating in draft form last week. GOP leaders of the Commerce committees held two hearings on legislation they call a bipartisan compromise, spurring plentiful outcry from Democrats. The draft text would codify several net neutrality protections while limiting FCC authority under Communications Act Title II and Telecom Act Section 706. No Democrats have lent any backing, and many observers have guessed a White House veto of a partisan bill is likely.
Commissioner Ajit Pai said he hasn't given up on turning back an FCC move to reclassify broadband as a Communications Act Title II service as is expected to be recommended by Chairman Tom Wheeler. The FCC is to vote on the order at its Feb. 26 meeting, approving classification with some form of forbearance from most parts of Title II (see 1501070054). Pai also was candid Wednesday in his comments on how Wheeler runs the commission, alleging the agency has become more political than in the past. The Pai interview is scheduled to appear on C-SPAN’s The Communicators this weekend.
A partisan rift persisted and clouded prospects for net neutrality legislation Wednesday, which GOP lawmakers in both chambers began circulating in draft form last week. GOP leaders of the Commerce committees held two hearings on legislation they call a bipartisan compromise, spurring plentiful outcry from Democrats. The draft text would codify several net neutrality protections while limiting FCC authority under Communications Act Title II and Telecom Act Section 706. No Democrats have lent any backing, and many observers have guessed a White House veto of a partisan bill is likely.
A growing group of conservatives pressed the FCC to wait for Congress before advancing with its net neutrality proposal. GOP lawmakers released a draft version of net neutrality legislation Friday, prompting pushback from Hill Democrats, Free Press and Public Knowledge (see 1501160048). Republicans said they want Congress to advance the bill, which many frame as a compromise despite current lack of Democratic support and several concerns ahead of Wednesday hearings (see 1501200056), before the FCC votes on net neutrality Feb. 26.
A growing group of conservatives pressed the FCC to wait for Congress before advancing with its net neutrality proposal. GOP lawmakers released a draft version of net neutrality legislation Friday, prompting pushback from Hill Democrats, Free Press and Public Knowledge (see 1501160048). Republicans said they want Congress to advance the bill, which many frame as a compromise despite current lack of Democratic support and several concerns ahead of Wednesday hearings (see 1501200056), before the FCC votes on net neutrality Feb. 26.
The Food and Drug Administration has resumed its pilot program on microbiological sampling of raw milk cheese, according to the Cheese Importers Association of America (here). The agency will reportedly take 40 samples each week through its New York office, then pause the program in mid-February for the Passover and Easter holidays. After the holidays sampling will resume, with FDA purportedly planning to take another 50 samples by September. To speed the process, cheese importers should make sure the foreign manufacturer includes the correct FDA product code on each invoice on a line-level basis, said CIAA. The Process Indicator Codes (PICs) are reviewed carefully by the FDA entry reviewers, said the trade group. The PIC (P) should be used for cultured cured (raw milk) cheese and PIC (O) should be used for pasteurized milk cheese, it said.
Republican leaders of the Commerce committees want what they call a public discussion on a new net neutrality proposal. House Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich., is partnering with Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D. Some observers see bipartisan congressional resolution of net neutrality debates as the only way to allow an overhaul of the Communications Act later this Congress.
Republican leaders of the Commerce committees want what they call a public discussion on a new net neutrality proposal. House Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich., is partnering with Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D. Some observers see bipartisan congressional resolution of net neutrality debates as the only way to allow an overhaul of the Communications Act later this Congress.
The FCC may not necessarily delay the TV incentive auction until after 2016, industry and FCC officials said, despite general support among commissioners for a pause in the auction. But one big takeaway from CES last week was that major carriers, including AT&T and Verizon, and some broadcasters are considering the merits of a delay for different reasons, industry observers said.