A group of state attorneys general plans to announce a bipartisan, multistate antitrust investigation of Google and potentially other tech companies (see 1908200066) Monday, state officials told us Tuesday. Texas AG Ken Paxton (R) expects to lead the event, possibly at 2 p.m. outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., according to one state official. The group leading the broader investigation of the industry is nearing 40 state AGs, the official said.
NEW YORK -- One 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judge seemed to struggle Tuesday with the idea AT&T, as a contractor working on behalf of the U.S. government as it runs the FirstNet national public safety broadband network (NPSBN), has no obligation to follow mandates on federal agencies such as privacy impact assessments (PIA). In oral argument as VTDigger appeals a lower court's dismissal of its Commerce Department litigation (see 1807300058) on FirstNet responsiveness to Freedom of Information Act requests and its lack of PIA, the appellate court also questioned the reasoning federal agencies gave for not looking for information requested in the FOIAs.
The FCC is expected to seek further comment on proposals to relax rules requiring broadcasters advertise job applications in local newspapers as part of the agency’s Sept. 26 agenda, industry and agency officials told us Tuesday. The FCC sought comment in 2017 on rule changes that would allow broadcasters to replace the newspaper ads with on-air or online notices (see 1710240062). The media modernization proposal never progressed to an order. The agency will seek more-granular, specific comments this time, an industry official said.
One of four members left a group of satellite operators seeking to have its sector sell about 200 MHz that would be repurposed for 5G. Eutelsat dropped out of the C-Band alliance, it said in a brief FCC filing and release Tuesday. It cited disagreements with other CBA members, without being more specific. The company wishes to “take a direct active part on discussions on C-band clearing and repurposing,” it said. The departure stirred more speculation about what might happen to the swath of airwaves.
Broaden the definition of healthcare providers, allow funding for remote monitoring and medical body area network devices (MBAN), and make the program available in a wide geographic area. Those are among recommendations for the FCC pilot USF pilot to support connected care for the poor and veterans. Comments posted through Friday docket 18-213 for the three-year, $100 million program (see 1907100073).
The music industry strategy of targeting cable ISPs with contributory copyright infringement litigation won't stop with last week's federal lawsuit against RCN (see 1908280044), legal experts said. It's less clear what the entertainment companies' end goal is. Some see it about getting ISPs to crack down harder on infringing conduct by subscribers. Others wonder if the aim is motivating lawmakers to move for a legislative solution. The RIAA didn't comment.
Two top right-to-repair advocates immediately downplayed as lacking teeth Apple’s announcement Thursday it will supply “more independent repair shops” with the same “genuine parts, tools, training, repair manuals and diagnostics” for out-of-warranty iPhone repairs as its authorized service centers, at the same costs. There’s no cost to join, Apple said, but applicants need to be "an established business, with business verification documents available for review.”
State regulators found much to like in what little they know about coming FCC Lifeline changes, when we surveyed all NARUC Telecom Committee members this and last week. All respondents are happy their federal counterparts appear poised to clarify states can continue being the ones to decide whether telecom providers can be designated as eligible for the USF program for the poor. Many like the idea of the Universal Service Administrative Co. sharing more information. An FCC "backgrounder" given to news media said that would boost "transparency with states to improve oversight of the Lifeline program, including by directing USAC to share information regarding suspicious activity with state officials."
Sony definitively removed its hat from the ring of possible Filmmaker Mode TV-maker supporters the morning after the UHD Alliance debuted the TV movie-watching feature at a Los Angeles event with broad creator backing. UHDA Chairman Michael Zink introduced LG, Panasonic and Vizio at the event as the TV-brand “launch partners” for Filmmaker Mode, the easy-to-access picture setting free of the “motion-smoothing” image processing that creators disdain for how it renders their movies on living-room screens (see 1908270001).
The FCC hasn’t determined the exact method it will use to allocate repacking reimbursement funds to low-power TV stations, said Media Bureau Chief Engineer Jeff Neumann Wednesday during a webinar on the reimbursement process for LPTV, translator and FM stations affected by the repacking. Each station in the full-power and Class A TV station repacking process was initially allotted the same percentage of their estimated costs, but it’s not clear if that method will be used for LPTV, Neumann said. Media Bureau and Incentive Auction Task Force (IATF) officials didn’t provide specifics about when reimbursement funds will start going out. Neumann said it will be “well after” the Oct. 15 deadline for eligible stations to submit reimbursement forms and initial expenses.