Top House Commerce Committee Democrats said they're still deciding which direction they want to take on net neutrality as they settle into control of that chamber. Lobbyists told us one discussed option is legislation that would put into statute broad contours of FCC now-rescinded 2015 rules. The close last week of the previous Congress signaled the end of Democrats' preferred avenue, a Congressional Review Act resolution to undo the FCC's action (see 1901020046).
LAS VEGAS -- Federal privacy legislation appears increasingly likely, though Congress first needs to work through some hard issues, officials said at CES. Maureen Ohlhausen, former acting FTC chairman, said the agency is paying close attention to protecting data regardless of what Congress does. Much of the discussion at CES focused on the EU general data protection regulation and the new California privacy law. New House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., is interested in a bill (see 1901090038).
LAS VEGAS -- Samsung “wants to see the 8K market evolve and grow,” and its new brainchild, the 8K Association (see 1901080038), is “a special-interest group that’s just narrowly focused on 8K,” Dan Schinasi, Samsung director-product planning, told us Tuesday at CES. “The 8K ecosystem for all intents and purposes is virtually nonexistent, except in Japan, where there’s some distribution.”
LAS VEGAS -- CES speakers warned against “techlash,” a growing backlash against increasingly pervasive technology. Panelists said more scrutiny is inevitable as almost every company in the U.S. focuses on tech. Techlash is real, said Michael Petricone, CTA senior vice president-government and regulatory affairs. “Any new technology brings benefits, and it challenges,” he said.
LAS VEGAS -- Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg told CES 5G is just starting to deploy and will change how everyone communicates: “It will change everything.” Vestberg channeled one of the big themes here so far -- 2019 will be the year of 5G. How that will look is taking shape. “Last year, Verizon launched the first 5G network in the world,” Vestberg said Tuesday. “There’s so much more to come from 5G this year and in years to come.” The new technology is “just radically different” and “a quantum leap compared to 4G,” he said.
Judges for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit appeared skeptical of the FCC’s position on a 15-year-old defaulted debt by former C-block spectrum licensee GLH, during oral argument Wednesday. Courts are operating during the shutdown (see 1901080004) but FCC attorneys were able to proceed only because the hearing concerned a spectrum auction, and spectrum auction matters are funded independently of other commission operations, the agency said.
House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., told us Tuesday he’s more interested in drafting privacy legislation than having additional tech-focused hearings. Tech is absent from the agendas for the committee’s first three hearings under Pallone.
LAS VEGAS -- Chinese telecom companies have a lower profile this CES than past years, but China remains a big player at the show, CTA said. Industry officials said given concerns from the U.S. government, it’s no surprise some are keeping their heads down. China came under fire from NSA's general counsel Monday (see 1901070065).
The halt in regular FCC operations isn't having a large impact on communications law firms and most clients yet, said attorneys who continue to draft pleadings, provide advice, handle litigation and do other work. But if the shuttering lasts an extended period, it will cause delays and backlogs that increasingly have negative fallout on matters large and small, rippling through industry, they said this week.
LAS VEGAS -- Building smart cities, with their emphasis on sophisticated communications networks, is a major theme at CES. Panelists said Tuesday many challenges remain, though some cities have momentum. They warned every city is unique, with its own politics and challenges.