Public TV received its largest government investment in 2020, and America’s Public Television Stations will press for “at least” $50 million increases in each of the next two budget cycles. That's the “most dramatic increase in history.” So said President Patrick Butler Monday at APTS’ virtual summit.
Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel circulated proposed rules for the $3.2 billion emergency broadband benefit program, she said Monday (see news bulletin here). EBB is “open to all types of broadband providers, not only those designated as eligible telecommunications carriers," emailed a spokesperson. Whether non-ETCs were allowed was a major point of interest, including in recent comments and replies (see 2102170028). One area generating heat now is that the draft doesn’t include a subsidy for smartphones.
Apple threatens online advertising through its anticipated policy requiring developers to gain consent for tracking users across platforms and sites, Facebook Chief Privacy Officer-Policy Erin Egan said Friday. Privacy claims shouldn’t be used to oppose ads, which is the basis for a free internet, she told a Media Institute virtual forum.
Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., is the new Senate Communications Subcommittee chairman, Commerce Committee leaders said Friday. Brian Schatz of Hawaii, the subcommittee’s lead Democrat in the last Congress, relinquished the seat in favor of other leadership roles, as expected (see 2101290049). Senate Minority Whip John Thune of South Dakota will remain the subcommittee’s lead Republican, also as expected (see 2011020048).
Virginia could soon become the second state with a comprehensive privacy law, after California. The Senate voted 32-7 Friday to send HB-2307 to Gov. Ralph Northam (D), who's expected to sign (see bulletin). Business privacy attorneys are watching New York and Washington as possible next states and monitoring bills in Connecticut, Florida, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Utah, they said in interviews last week. The Virginia and Washington bills are weaker than California’s mandate and would do more harm than good, privacy advocates told us.
An order establishing rules for a 3.45-3.55 GHz auction appears to be one spectrum item moving under acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. She's reluctant to plow into other bands while acting chief, but 3.5 GHz is teed up, and timing is an issue, with an auction having to take place this year, said FCC and industry officials. The big question is whether the FCC will approve a model based on the adjacent citizens broadband radio service or a more traditional licensed model.
Congressional committees will likely continue doing much work online until the conclusion of the COVID-19 pandemic, lawmakers and experts told us. It's less clear how Capitol Hill plans to return to normal, given concerns about security after the Jan. 6 insurrection (see 2101060057). House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said last week she plans to create an “outside, independent 9/11-type Commission” to study the insurrection’s causes and security lapses on Capitol grounds. The Senate Homeland Security and Rules committees are also doing oversight of Hill security.
Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel told the Disability Advisory Committee Thursday that communications for people with disabilities will be a priority for her. At the reconstituted DAC's first meeting, members said problems remain, a year into the pandemic.
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission won’t reconsider approving Frontier Communications’ bankruptcy reorganization. Though two commissioners promised continued investigation, the PUC voted 5-0 Thursday to deny petitions by the Minnesota Commerce Department and unions citing better promises to other states (see 2101070027). On the West Coast, consumer and local government advocates praised the California Public Utilities Commission’s proposed OK.
More stakeholders want acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel to begin moving forward on USF funding revisions (see 2102010059). The current mechanism is unsustainable, experts said in recent interviews. Many disagree on changes.