Privacy advocates said a Washington state law sought by Microsoft and other tech companies provides too little protection to consumers. The House and Senate privacy bills lack teeth and cede too much control to companies, American Civil Liberties Union and Consumer Reports officials said in interviews. State Sen. Reuven Carlyle (D) responded that his bill is “the strongest, meaningful privacy measure that is on the table.” House Innovation Committee Chair Zack Hudgins (D) has appeared more open to making changes in response to concerns, telling us his chamber’s bill is a “work in progress.”

Reactions were mixed to an FCC draft that would find broadband deployment is meeting a Telecom Act Section 706 mandate. Broadband providers and others welcomed a positive finding and credited the commission with clearing deployment obstacles, while consumer advocates were skeptical and slammed agency leadership. Chairman Ajit Pai Tuesday circulated a draft report internally that broadband-like advanced telecom capability is being deployed in a "reasonable and timely" way (see 1902190057). The report was due out Feb. 5 but delayed by the government shutdown. It might be put on the tentative agenda for the March 15 commissioners' meeting, which Pai is expected to highlight Thursday.

Reactions were mixed to an FCC draft that would find broadband deployment is meeting a Telecom Act Section 706 mandate. Broadband providers and others welcomed a positive finding and credited the commission with clearing deployment obstacles, while consumer advocates were skeptical and slammed agency leadership. Chairman Ajit Pai Tuesday circulated a draft report internally that broadband-like advanced telecom capability is being deployed in a "reasonable and timely" way (see 1902190057). The report was due out Feb. 5 but delayed by the government shutdown. It might be put on the tentative agenda for the March 15 commissioners' meeting, which Pai is expected to highlight Thursday.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the latest to suggest legislation seeking a federal privacy law (see 1902130058), saying "that would protect consumers and eliminate a confusing patchwork of state laws." After working "with nearly 200 organizations" on this, it recommends the FTC enforce such a law. The agency could "impose civil penalties on businesses that violate transparency, opt-out, or data deletion provisions" under FTC Act Section 5, the Chamber said Wednesday. The group doesn't "discuss its members, but we worked with organizations of all sizes -- small, medium, and large businesses -- and from various sectors, such as retail, telecommunications, transportation, healthcare, financial services, and the insurance industry." So emailed a spokesperson when asked to identify those it worked with on the plan and say whether they back the proposal. Among others with proposals are BSA| The Software Alliance, the Center for Democracy & Technology, Cisco and Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. Software & Information Industry Association Senior Vice President-Public Policy Mark MacCarthy said the Chamber's plan "is a productive step forward as Congress considers new national privacy legislation." The proposal "has more holes than Swiss cheese. In fact, it's almost all hole and no cheese," tweeted Omer Tene, International Association of Privacy Professionals chief knowledge officer. "If this reflects industry/civil society negotiations, businesses should quickly pivot to prep for #CCPA. 10 months to go." The 2018 California Consumer Privacy Act will be enforced from Jan. 1 (see 1902010015).

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the latest to suggest legislation seeking a federal privacy law (see 1902130058), saying "that would protect consumers and eliminate a confusing patchwork of state laws." After working "with nearly 200 organizations" on this, it recommends the FTC enforce such a law. The agency could "impose civil penalties on businesses that violate transparency, opt-out, or data deletion provisions" under FTC Act Section 5, the Chamber said Wednesday. The group doesn't "discuss its members, but we worked with organizations of all sizes -- small, medium, and large businesses -- and from various sectors, such as retail, telecommunications, transportation, healthcare, financial services, and the insurance industry." So emailed a spokesperson when asked to identify those it worked with on the plan and say whether they back the proposal. Among others with proposals are BSA| The Software Alliance, the Center for Democracy & Technology, Cisco and Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. Software & Information Industry Association Senior Vice President-Public Policy Mark MacCarthy said the Chamber's plan "is a productive step forward as Congress considers new national privacy legislation." The proposal "has more holes than Swiss cheese. In fact, it's almost all hole and no cheese," tweeted Omer Tene, International Association of Privacy Professionals chief knowledge officer. "If this reflects industry/civil society negotiations, businesses should quickly pivot to prep for #CCPA. 10 months to go." The 2018 California Consumer Privacy Act will be enforced from Jan. 1 (see 1902010015).

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the latest to suggest legislation seeking a federal privacy law (see 1902130058), saying "that would protect consumers and eliminate a confusing patchwork of state laws." After working "with nearly 200 organizations" on this, it recommends the FTC enforce such a law. The agency could "impose civil penalties on businesses that violate transparency, opt-out, or data deletion provisions" under FTC Act Section 5, the Chamber said Wednesday. The group doesn't "discuss its members, but we worked with organizations of all sizes -- small, medium, and large businesses -- and from various sectors, such as retail, telecommunications, transportation, healthcare, financial services, and the insurance industry." So emailed a spokesperson when asked to identify those it worked with on the plan and say whether they back the proposal. Among others with proposals are BSA| The Software Alliance, the Center for Democracy & Technology, Cisco and Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. Software & Information Industry Association Senior Vice President-Public Policy Mark MacCarthy said the Chamber's plan "is a productive step forward as Congress considers new national privacy legislation." The proposal "has more holes than Swiss cheese. In fact, it's almost all hole and no cheese," tweeted Omer Tene, International Association of Privacy Professionals chief knowledge officer. "If this reflects industry/civil society negotiations, businesses should quickly pivot to prep for #CCPA. 10 months to go." The 2018 California Consumer Privacy Act will be enforced from Jan. 1 (see 1902010015).

Internal consolidation doesn’t trigger antitrust concerns, DOJ Antitrust Division Chief Makan Delrahim said Tuesday at the State of the Net conference. He was asked about Facebook’s plan to integrate messaging services for Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram (see 1901250046). However, if the consolidation allows anticompetitive behavior, that’s worth attention, he said. The division is “working as fast” as it can on reviewing T-Mobile's proposed buy of Sprint, Delrahim also said (see 1901290040).

Internal consolidation doesn’t trigger antitrust concerns, DOJ Antitrust Division Chief Makan Delrahim said Tuesday at the State of the Net conference. He was asked about Facebook’s plan to integrate messaging services for Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram (see 1901250046). However, if the consolidation allows anticompetitive behavior, that’s worth attention, he said. The division is “working as fast” as it can on reviewing T-Mobile's proposed buy of Sprint, Delrahim also said (see 1901290040).

The FCC asked a court to postpone Feb. 1 oral argument on the agency's net neutrality reversal, citing the partial government shutdown and the need of its attorneys to prepare. The commission said petitioners challenging the order oppose its Tuesday motion, its industry supporting intervenors don't oppose it, and others took no position (see 1901150057).

The FCC asked a court to postpone Feb. 1 oral argument on the agency's net neutrality reversal, citing the partial government shutdown and the need of its attorneys to prepare. The commission said petitioners challenging the order oppose its Tuesday motion, its industry supporting intervenors don't oppose it, and others took no position (see 1901150057).