Democrats are eager to leverage their newfound unified control of Congress to advance their preferred form of net neutrality legislation, after more than a decade in which conditions in one or both chambers inhibited their path. Some advocates believe lawmakers should move beyond simply codifying FCC-rescinded 2015 rules into statute. Opponents of bringing back those rules believe Democrats’ narrow margins in both chambers preclude them from enacting a measure during this Congress.
The Texas Public Utility Commission can't decline to fully fund state USF when it disagrees with state policy, rural telco groups argued at Monday's livestreamed argument at the 250th District Court in Travis County. The Texas Statewide Telephone Cooperative Inc. (TSTCI) and Texas Telephone Association (TTA) sued the PUC in January because members face reductions in Texas USF (TUSF) support due to the PUC refusing to raise the contribution rate (see 2101260046).
The Senate Commerce Committee plans a confirmation hearing in April for FTC nominee Lina Khan (see 2103220056), Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., told us, calling Khan a “strong nomination.” Meanwhile, Commissioner Christine Wilson and former FTC officials credited acting Chair Rebecca Kelly Slaughter for forming a new rulemaking group within the General Counsel’s Office (see 2103250056).
The Washington House broke with the Senate again on enforcement issues that stymied past state privacy legislation. Before voting 11-6 at a livestreamed meeting to clear SB-5062, the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee adopted by voice an amendment by Chair Drew Hansen (D) that included adding a private right of action and sunsetting a right-to-cure provision after one year. Municipal broadband and 988 bills advanced in later meetings Friday.
An FCC draft equal employment opportunity proposal seeks comment on reviving long-stalled collection of minority employment data from broadcasters, said agency and industry officials in interviews last week. It stems from proposals by Geoffrey Starks shortly after he became commissioner to refresh the record on collecting such data through Form 395-B. Such collection was part of a proceeding in 2004 that stalled over confidentiality issues, broadcast officials said. The draft Further NPRM now on circulation seeks comment to refresh that record and doesn’t contain specific proposals, FCC and industry officials said.
Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel is pressing to get the FCC’s first version of broadband maps ready in four months, which Commissioner Brendan Carr supports. Experts said in recent interviews that it's doable to get something out, but the kinds of maps the FCC needs will likely take much longer. The maps are considered critical to the 5G Fund auction and the next phase of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Those representing smaller carriers that are likely to contend for the 5G Fund were hopeful but uncertain that maps can be developed in a tight time frame.
Facebook, Google and Twitter support Communications Decency Act Section 230 proposals to increase content moderation transparency, their respective CEOs, Mark Zuckerberg, Sundar Pichai and Jack Dorsey, told House Commerce Committee members Thursday during a virtual hearing. Noting Zuckerberg’s support for “thoughtful changes” to 230 (see 2103240076), Communications Subcommittee ranking member Bob Latta, R-Ohio, asked the Facebook chief for specific proposals. Zuckerberg supported two specific changes, saying Congress should be careful about removing protections for smaller companies.
A California snag could keep Frontier Communications from emerging from bankruptcy until mid-April, though the carrier said it needed to close by the end of March. It got OK from the California Public Utilities Commission last week and is trying to resolve disagreement with the agency over an eleventh-hour revision to the telco’s settlement with public advocates and a union (see 2103190031). The commission’s “last minute change upset the settlement apple cart,” and the agency and parties must resolve differences “promptly given the looming bankruptcy deadlines,” said former CPUC and FCC Commissioner Rachelle Chong Thursday.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg backed lawmakers' concerns Thursday about the FCC’s November vote to reallocate 5.9 GHz for Wi-Fi and cellular vehicle-to-everything (see 2011180043). He pointed during a House Infrastructure Committee hearing to coming talks within President Joe Biden's administration about an equitable way to address the issue. Lobbyists we spoke with said they expect a formal interagency review soon.
More industry groups urged the Commerce Department in docket 210113-0009 to delay implementing an interim final rule on securing the information and communications technology and services (ICTS) supply chain. The Information Technology Industry Council previously sought a delay, while Microsoft proposed an alternative (see 2103230062).