FCC commissioners approved an NPRM on making networks more resilient during disasters 4-0 Thursday, as expected (see 2109280051). Commissioners said more mandates could come as a result of the investigation. Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said the FCC plans a virtual field hearing as part of the Oct. 26 meeting on Hurricane Ida. Rosenworcel and Commissioner Brendan Carr traveled to Louisiana this week to tour areas hit by the latest storm. Commissioners also unanimously adopted an order on foreign ownership and an NPRM about closing two methods for scammers taking control of victims' mobile phones, SIM swapping and port-out fraud. Such actions were as expected (see 2109280009).
The possibility of the booming number of planned low earth orbit satellites causing interference for other LEO systems or geostationary orbit satellites "will come to a head in the next couple years" and needs to be addressed, said Jennifer Manner, EchoStar senior vice president-regulatory affairs. Speaking Wednesday at a Nebraska College of Law space law conference, she said an open proceeding at the U.K.'s Ofcom about non-geostationary orbit satellite systems interfering with other NGSOs indicates the growing need for regulatory solutions.
CTIA President Meredith Baker said wireless is being undervalued by policymakers in some cases as they look at broadband across the U.S. Industry deserves a “5G-focused public policy,” she told a CTIA 5G virtual event Wednesday. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said the federal government wants more network equipment to be made in the U.S.
The Senate Commerce Committee’s privacy hearing Wednesday showed there’s “more commonality than expected,” Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., told reporters. Federal preemption remains a hurdle, but ranking member Roger Wicker, R-Miss., told us he and Cantwell are going to “intensify” efforts to reach agreement over the next two months.
NAB's November FCC petition for clarification of ATSC 3.0 multicast rules is seen as making slow progress (see 2105280035), broadcast industry officials told us. A workaround developed by broadcasters and the Media Bureau requires some 3.0 stations to request special temporary authority every six months, and the bureau has granted 34 STA requests, said Media Bureau Legal Adviser Evan Morris on an FCBA webinar Tuesday.
House Science Oversight Subcommittee leaders debated Tuesday whether to institute mandates or offer legal protections to social media platforms in a bid to increase the amount of non-identifiable user data researchers can access as they examine ways to address the online spread of misinformation. There was disagreement over whether giving consumers more direct ownership of the data that platforms collect would help here. Data ownership, access and portability have been among thorny issues lawmakers eye via privacy legislation (see 2108170073).
The FCC 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference Advisory Committee (WAC) OK'd five more “preliminary views” Tuesday for the next WRC, during a virtual meeting, bringing to 24 the number OK’d so far. WAC is about “half-way through” and is ready to move beyond the preliminary proposals, to take up recommendations to the FCC, said Chair Tricia Paoletta of Harris Wiltshire. The first formal recommendations are likely at the next meeting in February, she said.
Ohio should be firm but fair with businesses on privacy, Republican sponsors of a comprehensive state bill said Tuesday. Ohio House Government Oversight Committee members questioned sponsors but didn’t vote at HB-376’s first hearing. Lt. Gov. Jon Husted (R) unveiled the bill in July that would apply to businesses with at least $25 million revenue in the state (see 2107130049). Consumer Reports (CR) raised concerns the bill won’t adequately protect users. Minnesota also weighed privacy legislation this week.
Few consumers' phone service will likely be affected if their provider hasn't filed in the FCC robocall mitigation database, experts said in recent interviews. Some had raised concerns that consumers may be unable to make calls if their provider failed to file in the database by the June 30 deadline (see 2104200042).
The House Judiciary Committee’s package of antitrust bills isn't ready for floor action, Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., and House Antitrust Subcommittee Chair David Cicilline, D-R.I., told us Tuesday. The committee hasn’t asked leadership for floor time, Nadler said after the subcommittee’s hearing.