The House Rules Committee will consider several telecom- and tech-focused amendments to the America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing, Pre-Eminence in Technology and Economic Strength Act (HR-4521) Tuesday, for a potential floor vote on the measure later this week. The measure mirrors some elements of the Senate-passed U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (S-1260), including $52 billion in subsidies to encourage U.S.-based semiconductor manufacturing (see 2201260062). Many proposed amendments aim to make changes to the chips language.
American Doreen Bogdan-Martin likely faces a tough election to become ITU secretary-general, facing a formidable challenger in Russian nominee Rashid Ismailov, a former Russian deputy telecommunications minister and former Huawei executive. ITU watchers told us Bogdan-Martin is in a strong position and has been consolidating support from around the world, but Ismailov is also mounting a robust campaign. Gerald Gross was the last American to hold that job, from 1960 to 1965. Bogdan-Martin would be first woman to be elected to the top spot at the ITU.
FCC Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction recipients will undergo more scrutiny in 2022 with increased audits and verifications as part of the agency's "rural broadband accountability plan," said a news release Friday. It's "part of an ongoing effort to increase accountability and to build upon existing audit and verification processes performed by the Universal Service Administrative Co.," said a fact sheet. The FCC also announced that more than $1.2 billion in RDOF support is ready to be authorized for 23 providers, as expected (see 2201270030).
A draft FCC Further NPRM would seek comment on revising the rural healthcare program's telecom program, funding cap rules, and "alternative rate determination mechanisms," if adopted during the commissioners' Feb. 18 meeting (see 2201270072). Changes aim to "improve the accuracy and fairness" of the program's support and "increase the efficiency of program administration," said the item.
Democratic FCC nominee Gigi Sohn’s proposal Thursday to temporarily recuse herself from some retransmission consent and broadcast copyright proceedings if confirmed (see 2201270073) is unlikely to satisfy her most vocal opponents but may be enough to solidify support from the Senate Democratic caucus, communications lobbyists and others told us. The Senate would be able to confirm Sohn if all 50 Democratic caucus members vote for her because of Vice President Kamala Harris’ tie-breaker role. The additional recusals aren’t likely to significantly affect Sohn’s role as a commissioner since neither retrans nor broadcast copyright items were matters the commission was expected to take up under Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.
California’s net neutrality law survived an appeal by ISP associations at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The panel’s Friday opinion that the FCC can’t preempt states after giving up its own broadband authority could affect ISP challenges of Vermont net neutrality and New York state affordable broadband laws, said legal experts.
With its Peacock streaming service growing faster than expected, Comcast plans to ramp up spending on content for it, executives told analysts during a quarterly call Thursday. CEO Brian Roberts said it will look at ways to expand its broadband footprint more aggressively, with government subsidies and new household and business formation potential growth opportunities.
Citing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare, the FCC will "bolster the commission's support for digital health solutions" by updating the rural healthcare program during the Feb. 18 commissioners' meeting, blogged Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel Thursday. They will vote on changes to "improve the efficiency of this program’s administration" and "make sure its investments are better targeted." The FCC awarded nearly $450 million through the COVID-19 telehealth program, with the final round Wednesday (see 2201260053). "Healthcare has changed permanently over the past two years," Rosenworcel wrote, and telemedicine "is here to stay."
Indiana’s Senate Commerce Committee unanimously approved privacy legislation Thursday modeled after Virginia’s new law. Several members said they need more information on a last-minute amendment before they can support the bill on the floor. The House hasn't introduced companion legislation. The law would take effect in January 2024.
Judges wrestled with whether to let state courts handle Altice’s challenge of New Jersey Board of Public Utilities cable prorating rules, at virtual oral argument Thursday in the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. On Cable Act preemption, judges were skeptical about Altice’s argument that the state can’t force it to prorate bills when customers end service early.