New York Attorney General Letitia James and 18 other Democratic state attorneys general were among those filing amicus briefs Wednesday opposing a DOJ bid to get a preliminary injunction to stop enforcement of California’s net neutrality law (see 2008050060). DOJ's and ISPs’ lawsuits against the California statute (SB-822) in U.S. District Court in Sacramento resumed in early August after Mozilla and others let pass a July 6 deadline to seek a Supreme Court review of FCC rescission of its 2015 national rules (see 2007300041). TechFreedom, TIA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce filed amicus briefs in August supporting the litigation (see 2008200034).
New York Attorney General Letitia James and 18 other Democratic state attorneys general were among those filing amicus briefs Wednesday opposing a DOJ bid to get a preliminary injunction to stop enforcement of California’s net neutrality law (see 2008050060). DOJ's and ISPs’ lawsuits against the California statute (SB-822) in U.S. District Court in Sacramento resumed in early August after Mozilla and others let pass a July 6 deadline to seek a Supreme Court review of FCC rescission of its 2015 national rules (see 2007300041). TechFreedom, TIA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce filed amicus briefs in August supporting the litigation (see 2008200034).
Commissioner Mike O'Rielly's nearly seven-year FCC career will wrap up by year's end. During the agency's September meeting Wednesday, he said he's folding on others' efforts to get himself renominated. He said he's leaving regardless of how the November presidential election plays out (see 2009300014).
U.S. District Court in Burlington paused litigation challenging Vermont’s net neutrality law. Judge Christina Reiss ordered the stay (in Pacer) Friday after Vermont agreed Thursday with ISPs to keep the law on ice at least until preliminary injunction decisions come in lawsuits challenging California's net neutrality law (see 2009240065). The litigation stay expires Jan. 30 if preliminary injunction motions are unresolved.
The California Public Utilities Commission should pump the brakes on state LifeLine changes until the FCC resolves federal Lifeline minimum service standards (MSS), the National Lifeline Association commented Thursday in CPUC docket R.20-02-008. Many at the federal agency seek to freeze MSS at 3 GB and oppose an FCC plan to raise MSS to 4.5 GB monthly; it would increase to 11.75 GB on Dec. 1 otherwise (see 2009150072). NaLA raised legal concerns with the CPUC’s proposal, saying it’s “likely to be challenged in federal court because it breaks with the Commission’s own precedent and mandates that the wireless Basic and Standard Plans be provided to California LifeLine participants for free in violation of Section 332(c)(3) of the Communications Act.” Federal law bans state commissions from setting wireless Lifeline co-payments, TracFone commented. Requiring free services is prohibited rate regulation, said the company, being bought by Verizon. The CPUC Public Advocates Office praised the agency’s plan to include wireline broadband service in LifeLine. "Given more than six months have passed since the start of the pandemic and many Californians may be in need of affordable broadband options to perform these essential activities, Cal Advocates urges the Commission to implement the [proposed decision's] interim rules swiftly and with urgency.” The California Emergency Technology Fund agreed. Frontier Communications raised concerns the proposal recommends replacing only $2 of a $4 monthly federal funding reduction coming in December. “This proposal will result in rate increases of up to $2.00 and harm low-income consumers at a time when they are most vulnerable from the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing financial crisis.”
The California Public Utilities Commission should pump the brakes on state LifeLine changes until the FCC resolves federal Lifeline minimum service standards (MSS), the National Lifeline Association commented Thursday in CPUC docket R.20-02-008. Many at the federal agency seek to freeze MSS at 3 GB and oppose an FCC plan to raise MSS to 4.5 GB monthly; it would increase to 11.75 GB on Dec. 1 otherwise (see 2009150072). NaLA raised legal concerns with the CPUC’s proposal, saying it’s “likely to be challenged in federal court because it breaks with the Commission’s own precedent and mandates that the wireless Basic and Standard Plans be provided to California LifeLine participants for free in violation of Section 332(c)(3) of the Communications Act.” Federal law bans state commissions from setting wireless Lifeline co-payments, TracFone commented. Requiring free services is prohibited rate regulation, said the company, being bought by Verizon. The CPUC Public Advocates Office praised the agency’s plan to include wireline broadband service in LifeLine. "Given more than six months have passed since the start of the pandemic and many Californians may be in need of affordable broadband options to perform these essential activities, Cal Advocates urges the Commission to implement the [proposed decision's] interim rules swiftly and with urgency.” The California Emergency Technology Fund agreed. Frontier Communications raised concerns the proposal recommends replacing only $2 of a $4 monthly federal funding reduction coming in December. “This proposal will result in rate increases of up to $2.00 and harm low-income consumers at a time when they are most vulnerable from the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing financial crisis.”
U.S. District Court in Burlington paused litigation challenging Vermont’s net neutrality law. Judge Christina Reiss ordered the stay (in Pacer) Friday after Vermont agreed Thursday with ISPs to keep the law on ice at least until preliminary injunction decisions come in lawsuits challenging California's net neutrality law (see 2009240065). The litigation stay expires Jan. 30 if preliminary injunction motions are unresolved.
Bowers & Wilkins bowed a Carbon Edition version of its flagship PX7 over-ear wireless headphones with Bluetooth aptX technology. The $399 cans, due next month, support hi-res audio up to 24-bit/48kHz streaming quality, Andy Kerr, director-product marketing, told a media briefing. They use B&W’s adaptive noise-cancellation technology the company developed last year. It’s based on four mics that analyze ambient noise in real time and identify the most effective noise cancellation solution, Kerr said. A pass-through feature allows voices to get through noise cancellation, he said. A proximity sensor automatically pauses music when an earcup is lifted and resumes when the cup returns to the ear. Users can launch Siri or Google Assistant voice assistants by pushing a button on the earcup. Battery life is 30 hours; a 15-minute boost provides five hours’ additional life, said Kerr.
Bowers & Wilkins bowed a Carbon Edition version of its flagship PX7 over-ear wireless headphones with Bluetooth aptX technology. The $399 cans, due next month, support hi-res audio up to 24-bit/48kHz streaming quality, Andy Kerr, director-product marketing, told a media briefing. They use B&W’s adaptive noise-cancellation technology the company developed last year. It’s based on four mics that analyze ambient noise in real time and identify the most effective noise cancellation solution, Kerr said. A pass-through feature allows voices to get through noise cancellation, he said. A proximity sensor automatically pauses music when an earcup is lifted and resumes when the cup returns to the ear. Users can launch Siri or Google Assistant voice assistants by pushing a button on the earcup. Battery life is 30 hours; a 15-minute boost provides five hours’ additional life, said Kerr.
The National Lifeline Association (NaLA) petitioned the FCC for a waiver to keep the minimum service standard for Lifeline mobile broadband at 3 GB (see 2008240024), said the petition posted in docket 11-42 Thursday. Under the current rules the standard will automatically increase to 11.75 GB in December, and a proposal on circulation at the FCC would change the way the MSS is calculated and set it at 4.5 GB. The NaLA petition also wants the agency to keep Lifeline voice support at $7.25 instead of decreasing it to $5.25 as planned. “While the record contains no evidence to demonstrate that any increase above 3 GB would be affordable, there is ample evidence in the record that any increase above 3 GB would mandate service offerings that are not affordable and would result in less access to Lifeline,” NaLA said. The reasons that led to the FCC issuing a similar waiver in 2019 are still in effect, said the petition. In 2019, the agency “improperly” dismissed record evidence about Lifeline rates and shouldn’t do so again, NaLa said. “All Lifeline stakeholders, including the service providers, public interest, civil rights and consumer advocates and policymakers of both parties are in agreement that the Commission should pause the mobile broadband MSS at 3 GB.” The agency should grant the waiver pending the results of the planned 2021 State of the Lifeline Marketplace Report, NaLA said. “We agree with the Chairman that the cycle of annual mobile broadband MSS crises must come to an end.”