Both chambers of Congress are moving ahead with a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval to take down FCC ISP privacy rules, and the Senate may take the rare position of moving on such a resolution first. That timing is still being decided, both House and Senate Republican sponsors told us Wednesday. Public interest groups and Democratic lawmakers began criticizing the strategy after the Tuesday introduction of a CRA resolution by Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz. (see 1703070050).

Both chambers of Congress are moving ahead with a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval to take down FCC ISP privacy rules, and the Senate may take the rare position of moving on such a resolution first. That timing is still being decided, both House and Senate Republican sponsors told us Wednesday. Public interest groups and Democratic lawmakers began criticizing the strategy after the Tuesday introduction of a CRA resolution by Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz. (see 1703070050).

House Commerce Committee Democrats filed three bills Thursday aimed at requiring the FCC to strengthen cybersecurity policies. Industry lawyers and lobbyists said the bills appear unlikely to advance even beyond the House Communications Subcommittee given the current political climate, and appear to be more designed to send a message. Committee Democrats filed the bills a day after the FCC voted 2-1 to stay data security aspects of the ISP privacy rules (see 1703010069). FCC reversal last month of several other cybersecurity-related proceedings and proposals promulgated under then-Chairman Tom Wheeler was seen as a sign of an agencywide shift on cybersecurity policy under new Chairman Ajit Pai (see 1702060059). Introduction of the bills came as former NSA Director Keith Alexander called for the federal government to shift away from its existing “stovepiped” cybersecurity apparatus (see 1703020074).

House Commerce Committee Democrats filed three bills Thursday aimed at requiring the FCC to strengthen cybersecurity policies. Industry lawyers and lobbyists said the bills appear unlikely to advance even beyond the House Communications Subcommittee given the current political climate, and appear to be more designed to send a message. Committee Democrats filed the bills a day after the FCC voted 2-1 to stay data security aspects of the ISP privacy rules (see 1703010069). FCC reversal last month of several other cybersecurity-related proceedings and proposals promulgated under then-Chairman Tom Wheeler was seen as a sign of an agencywide shift on cybersecurity policy under new Chairman Ajit Pai (see 1702060059). Introduction of the bills came as former NSA Director Keith Alexander called for the federal government to shift away from its existing “stovepiped” cybersecurity apparatus (see 1703020074).

House Commerce Committee Democrats filed three bills Thursday aimed at requiring the FCC to strengthen cybersecurity policies. Industry lawyers and lobbyists said the bills appear unlikely to advance even beyond the House Communications Subcommittee given the current political climate, and appear to be more designed to send a message. Committee Democrats filed the bills a day after the FCC voted 2-1 to stay data security aspects of the ISP privacy rules (see 1703010069). FCC reversal last month of several other cybersecurity-related proceedings and proposals promulgated under then-Chairman Tom Wheeler was seen as a sign of an agencywide shift on cybersecurity policy under new Chairman Ajit Pai (see 1702060059). Introduction of the bills came as former NSA Director Keith Alexander called for the federal government to shift away from its existing “stovepiped” cybersecurity apparatus (see 1703020074).

Looser regulation of industry is one of the keys to the Republican plan to get the country out of "stagnation," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told the NAB State Leadership Conference Tuesday. Getting rid of "the regulatory monster" is a key goal, McConnell said in a speech that included praise for FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. "We hope he'll soon be followed up by a majority" that will take the FCC in a "less heavy-handed and regulatory direction," McConnell said of Pai. NAB President Gordon Smith and Sen Dick Durbin, D-Ill., also spoke at the event about the importance of broadcast journalism.

The Virginia House passed local broadband restrictions and free-speech protections in floor votes Tuesday. The House voted 72-24 to pass HB-2108, a bill supported by telecom providers but condemned by local governments, big tech companies and community broadband advocates. Also, the House voted 74-23 to pass HB-1941, a bill to stop strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs). Both bills now move to the state Senate. Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D), who threatened to veto an earlier version of the muni-broadband bill, didn’t comment on the pared-back version passed by the House.

The Virginia House passed local broadband restrictions and free-speech protections in floor votes Tuesday. The House voted 72-24 to pass HB-2108, a bill supported by telecom providers but condemned by local governments, big tech companies and community broadband advocates. Also, the House voted 74-23 to pass HB-1941, a bill to stop strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs). Both bills now move to the state Senate. Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D), who threatened to veto an earlier version of the muni-broadband bill, didn’t comment on the pared-back version passed by the House.

Elevating Ajit Pai to chairman, as expected (see 1701200051), means the FCC can proceed directly into its new agenda under President Donald Trump, without complications of an interim chairmanship and a long waiting period for a new chairman to arrive. Pai’s positions are already well known -- he has been a commissioner since May 2012, a nearly five-year track record -- so there's relatively little uncertainty on where he stands on many issues. Before he was a commissioner, Pai worked for the FCC Office of General Counsel.

Elevating Ajit Pai to chairman, as expected (see 1701200051), means the FCC can proceed directly into its new agenda under President Donald Trump, without complications of an interim chairmanship and a long waiting period for a new chairman to arrive. Pai’s positions are already well known -- he has been a commissioner since May 2012, a nearly five-year track record -- so there's relatively little uncertainty on where he stands on many issues. Before he was a commissioner, Pai worked for the FCC Office of General Counsel.