The FCC should ensure that efforts to streamline international licensing and other authorizations actually accomplish that, said industry parties reacting to an NTIA letter suggesting commission process changes to facilitate executive branch reviews (see 1605120035). Parties voiced concern that the administration's proposal for the FCC to require certain applicants to provide more information upfront is overly broad and could add to industry burdens. They said the FCC should issue an NPRM that proposes specific time frames and other steps to streamline its international reviews, which are coordinated with the executive branch's "Team Telecom" on national security, law enforcement and other issues. Comments on an FCC public notice teeing up the NTIA letter were posted in docket 16-155 Monday and Tuesday.
Wiley Rein became the Satellite Industry Association's first affiliate member, SIA said in a news release Monday. The trade group launched its affiliate membership category in 2015, aimed at companies and groups previously not eligible for membership.
The Senate Commerce Committee’s hearing Tuesday on the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) transition is likely to bring lingering skepticism about the transition back into the spotlight despite some optimism that preparations for the transition are steadily reaching their conclusion, ICANN stakeholders said in interviews. They said they will be following the House Appropriations Committee’s markup of its FY 2017 Commerce, Justice and Science budget, which includes a proposal to retain a rider that bars NTIA from using its funding on the IANA transition. House Appropriations’ Commerce Subcommittee advanced the $56 billion budget last week (see 1605180063). The Senate Commerce hearing will begin at 10 a.m. in 253 Russell. The House Appropriations markup begins at 10:30 a.m. in 2359 Rayburn.
Industry can and should self-regulate on cybersecurity matters, with government's role being to provide incentives in the form of tax breaks or liability limits, said Jamie Barnett, part of Venable's cybersecurity practice, on a cybersecurity panel at the FCBA annual seminar Saturday. Multiple speakers said industry trust of government is difficult when data breaches are often followed by rulemaking or enforcement actions. "The FBI shows up, Secret Service shows up, they want to help," Barnett said. "Then six months on, the Enforcement Bureau knocks on the door and they are not perceived as so helpful by the carrier. Is government going to be on the side of companies as they try to defend? Or is government going to be criticizing companies? As long as government wants to be on both ends, it becomes very difficult to work with them." Megan Brown, a leader of Wiley Rein's Cybersecurity, Data and Network Security practice, agreed existing constructs are too adversarial. The next FCC administration has to figure out a means of getting industry comfortable with government collaboration on cybersecurity issues, she said. Brown said government wants companies to be candid with it in talks about cybersecurity threats, but "it's treacherous" and there are big questions about where that information subsequently could end up. The New York Attorney General's Office floated the idea of immunity that would come from meeting certain standards that are signed off on by a third party, but regulatory minimums can create a compliance mindset of meeting that minimum and nothing beyond, Brown said. Barnett also advocated creating a federal Department of Communications and Cyberspace, combining NTIA and the Department of Homeland Security's cybersecurity directorate. "Most nations have a ministry of communications," he said, though he said it would likely take a major cybersecurity breach before that would happen. Edward McNicholas, co-head of Sidley Austin's Privacy, Data Security and Information Law practice, said the insurance market could play a vital role in cybersecurity, but there's no good reinsurance market yet. Unlike standard directors and officers liability policies, cybersecurity policies vary considerably and the insurance market needs to be able to compare cybersecurity practices across companies, he said.
New York City signed off on the Altice buy of Cablevision, leaving New York state's Public Service Commission as the last regulatory approval needed to close the deal. The city’s Franchise and Concession Review Committee voted Wednesday to approve the draft resolution with conditions proposed by Mayor Bill de Blasio's office (see 1605060038). The Democratic mayor had proposed requirements that Altice give the Bronx and Brooklyn priority for infrastructure upgrades, and that it reach an agreement with the state PSC -- acceptable to the city's Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications -- that maintains “levels of customer-facing employees for an appropriate time period.” The mayor’s office applauded Wednesday’s vote. “We are pleased that the FCRC has voted to allow this transaction to proceed with conditional approval,” mayor’s counsel Maya Wiley said in a statement. “The City worked hard to make sure Altice’s acquisition of Cablevision would ensure fairness for all New Yorkers -- particularly residents of Brooklyn and the Bronx -- so we applaud a deal that accomplishes that goal.” The need for a New York City review had been debated. The city said its franchise agreement with Cablevision includes authority to review transfers of control, but Altice and Cablevision contested that right (see 1604050059). The last remaining regulatory hurdle is the New York PSC, which is expected to decide Friday next week. The FCC OK'd Altice/Cablevision without conditions other than for national security (see 1605040010). Altice didn’t comment.
Spectrum availability, cybersecurity and interoperability are some of the critical issues for Congress as it helps further IoT development, said Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., who spoke Wednesday at a Wiley Rein-McBee Strategic policy roundtable on regulating IoT, which, by some estimates, will grow to 20 to 30 billion connected devices by 2020. The discussions also included several industry and government representatives, who generally spoke about IoT benefits but also cited concerns about privacy and security and the need for a light regulatory touch so innovation isn't stifled in this area.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) recommended conditional OK of Altice's buying Cablevision. The city’s Franchise and Concession Review Committee plans a hearing to review the transaction Monday and will vote Wednesday. Next up will be state approval, with the New York Public Service Commission expected to decide May 20 (see 1604050059). "After several in-depth discussions and multiple requests for supporting information to ensure an equitable buildout of infrastructure and fulfillment of customer service contracts, the City is recommending conditional approval of this transaction,” mayor’s counsel Maya Wiley said in an emailed statement. “We are conditioning approval on satisfactory staffing levels to ensure compliance with franchise agreement commitments. The condition will help the City ensure a fair and equitable deal for our Brooklyn and Bronx residents." Under the draft resolution, Altice must give the Bronx and Brooklyn priority for infrastructure upgrades, and it must reach an agreement with the New York PSC -- acceptable to the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications -- that maintains “levels of customer facing employees for an appropriate time period.” The FCC OK'd Altice/Cablevision without conditions other than for national security (see 1605040010).
LTE over unlicensed spectrum (LTE-U) could act like an “invasive species” that will harm existing Wi-Fi networks unless regulators intervene, said Wi-Fi advocates on a panel at a New America Foundation event Monday that was live streamed from New York City. They agreed with “grave” concerns about the possible impact of LTE-U to the city’s free Wi-Fi network (see 1601060055), as detailed in a Monday letter from the office of Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and copied to the FCC, IEEE and Wi-Fi Alliance. After the event, carriers and others said it’s wrong to regulate unlicensed spectrum that was set up to be unregulated. Carriers and LTE-U backers like Qualcomm have been disputing cable and public interest Wi-Fi advocates' claims the newer technology could interfere with the often-free broadband services, and the two sides are eyeing interference tests (see 1604270042).
Tom Wheeler hasn't reached the point in his FCC chairmanship where he will be unable to launch new major rulemakings, but if he wants to wrap them up before the Nov. 8 election he will need to start them soon, officials said. Last week, Wheeler started what's expected to be his final nine months as chairman. The FCC didn't comment.
CBS promotes Kurt Davis to executive vice president-affiliate relations, CBS Television Network, succeeding Elizabeth Tumulty ... National Geographic Society hires Emma Carrasco, ex-NPR, as chief marketing and communications officer/senior vice president-global strategy, new position ... Wiley Rein hires Garth Moore, ex-The ONE Campaign, as vice president-digital, McBee Strategic, where he heads the digital team ... Maxwell Technologies hires Henning Hauenstein, ex-Infineon Technologies, as vice president-strategy and marketing, effective May 2 ... Competitive Carriers Association adds to board James Groft, James Valley Telecommunications.