National telecom industry groups balked at a California plan to revive and require the FCC’s voluntary Keep Americans Connected pledge with no sunset. The California Public Utilities Commission lacks authority to stop disconnections for nonpayment and late fees amid the pandemic, said VoIP, wireless and wireline companies in Wednesday comments emailed to the service list for R.18-03-011. They said they still voluntarily help customers despite the FCC pledge having ended June 30.
The FCC voted 5-0 to approve an order on ATSC 3.0 datacasting, but Democratic Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks concurred over concerns about consumer costs. “There comes a point -- and I think we’re getting there fast -- where we can no longer afford to ignore this issue,” said Rosenworcel. “We need to do more to figure out how we can help viewers reach this next generation of television technology.”
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., withdrew his Section 230 legislation at Thursday’s markup, setting his sights on updating the tech industry’s liability shield in 2021. An amendment from Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., which would establish a private right of action for individuals to sue platforms, failed 5-16 with support from one Democrat, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island.
The FCC voted 5-0 Thursday, as expected (see 2012080070), to put in place a system to replace insecure equipment from Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE in U.S. networks. Commissioners agreed the FCC still has work to do. Congress hasn't funded a program to pay for the equipment removed. The Rural Wireless Association noted that the order doesn’t require carriers to replace equipment until replacement is funded.
The FCC Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council approved a report Wednesday with recommendations on optional security features that could make 5G non-stand-alone networks more secure. The report, by the Managing Security Risk in the Transition to 5G Working Group, was the only one approved during the virtual meeting. March is the final meeting for this iteration of CSRIC.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., is open to a U.S.-EU technology council effort to address the Privacy Shield and other tech issues, he told us Wednesday: “I am open to suggestions to a very tough, tough problem that may defy a solution.”
Facebook is the subject of antitrust lawsuits from the FTC and attorneys general of both parties from 46 states, Guam and Washington, D.C. The FTC and AGs alleged separately Wednesday in the U.S. District Court in Washington that Facebook committed illegal, anticompetitive behavior in the social media market (see 2012090042). Lawmakers from both parties praised the suits. Facebook said government shouldn’t get a “do-over” on approved acquisitions and the company will defend itself.
The upcoming shift to a 2-2 split FCC at the start of President-elect Joe Biden’s administration doesn’t necessarily have to mean total gridlock, as those opposed to Senate confirmation of Nathan Simington as commissioner are forecasting, officials and FCC observers told us. They do believe FCC Democrats’ ability to move on big-ticket policy priorities, like bringing back the rescinded 2015 net neutrality rules, will be hindered until the Senate confirms Biden’s to-be-named nominee for the seat held by Chairman Ajit Pai. The Senate confirmed Simington Tuesday with unanimous Republican support and similarly uniform Democratic opposition (see 2012080067).
AT&T’s decision last week to release Warner Pictures' full 2021 film slate on HBO Max in a one-month streaming exclusive simultaneously with the movies’ theatrical release (see 2012030054) was born of the realization that “we probably needed to try something different” as COVID-19 prevents consumers from returning to theaters, AT&T CEO John Stankey told a UBS investor conference Tuesday. “There is a win-win-win type of solution here” for consumers, AT&T and theater owners, he said. (Select "past" and then "12/8" presentation materials here.)
Verizon’s agreement to offer discovery+ free to subscribers on select plans (see 2012020049) won’t be its last partnership with a content company, but it will be selective, Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg told a virtual UBS investor conference Tuesday. “We’re not going to bring in 100 companies here.” His Q&A was postponed 24 hours due to unexplained “technical difficulties” with the UBS virtual platform.