At the SEC's insistence, tech media and telecom (TMT) companies are increasingly warning investors and the public about cyberattack risks, as well as steps they're taking when incidents are discovered. The SEC began requiring that companies report on cybersecurity practices and incidents in 2023. And TMT companies’ cybersecurity disclosures in their 2024 10-K annual reports varied widely in depth and detail: TDS' totaled a little more than 300 words; Lumen's was more than 1,400.
A commercial in-space servicing industry -- long discussed -- is coming, but when remains a big question mark, Chris Blackerby, Astroscale chief operating officer, said Wednesday. Speaking at the annual Consortium for Execution of Rendezvous and Servicing Operations (CONFERS) conference in Arlington, Virginia, he said there's demand for such services in geostationary orbit but not to expect a market for in-space servicing in low earth orbit anytime soon. Blackerby said governments are the likely customers for in-space servicing in the near term, though eventually the bulk of the marketplace will be commercial operators contracting for services. Mark Quinn, head of insurance broker Willis Towers' space division, said some space insurers no longer provide coverage after a spate of huge claims during the past two years.
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- An executive from a phone number warehouse defended his company’s practices Tuesday during the NARUC conference. However, the executive, NumberBarn Chief Technology Officer Brian Scott, seemed to heighten concerns for state officials and telecom attorneys who attended the panel. North American Numbering Council Chair Karen Charles, also a Massachusetts commissioner, said she planned to mention warehouse issues at a future NANC meeting.
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The NARUC Telecom Committee on Monday cleared draft resolutions on phone number conservation, the Universal Service Fund and utility coordination on broadband deployment. A USF panel that day described how reform could happen with Republicans controlling the FCC and Congress next year. Also, the affordable connectivity program (ACP) could return in 2025 despite Washington’s partisan climate, said Sanford Williams, deputy chief of staff for FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, during a collocated National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA) meeting. State utility regulators are holding their annual meeting here this week.
The California Privacy Protection Agency will conduct an investigative sweep of data broker registration compliance under the state’s Delete Act, the CPPA said Wednesday. The law requires data brokers to register with the CPPA and pay an annual fee. Starting in 2026, data brokers must honor consumer requests to delete all their personal information.
The FCC will coordinate with the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) on privacy efforts, the federal agency said Tuesday. The FCC’s privacy and data protection task force signed a memorandum of understanding with the CPPA, which is charged with rulemaking and enforcement related to California privacy laws, including the California Consumer Privacy Act. Under the pact, the two agencies will “share close and common legal interests in working cooperatively to investigate and, where appropriate, prosecute or otherwise take enforcement action in relation to privacy, data protection, or cybersecurity issues.” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said, “Coordinated state and federal partnerships like this are essential to our privacy work.” CPPA Executive Director Ashkan Soltani said the partnership will “help increase trust and security in the digital marketplace.” CPPA Enforcement Head Michael Macko added, “collaboration is key to vigorous enforcement.” Also Tuesday, the CPPA released an agenda for its Nov. 8 board meeting. The agency may vote to advance draft rules, including on automated decision-making technology, risk assessments, and cybersecurity audits, to a formal rulemaking, it said. The board also has plans for considering possible changes to data broker registration requirements.
NARUC Telecom Committee Chair Tim Schram seeks better coordination and greater cost sharing related to digging amid an influx of government funding for broadband deployment, the Nebraska Republican said in an interview. NARUC circulated draft resolutions Tuesday for the state utility regulator association’s Nov. 10-13 meeting in Anaheim. In addition to a Schram proposal about coordination, the Telecom Committee plans to weigh drafts on optimizing phone number resources and defending the constitutionality of the federal universal service fund (USF) surcharge mechanism.
An order approving Audacy’s request for a temporary exemption from the foreign-ownership rules was adopted but isn’t expected to be released before next week, FCC officials told us. The waiver would allow Audacy to complete foreign-ownership review after it finishes a bankruptcy restructuring that involves control of the broadcaster passing to a fund affiliated with George Soros' family. FCC Republicans hadn’t submitted dissenting statements Wednesday afternoon but indicated they plan to do so, the agency officials said. Broadcast industry officials, attorneys and others told us the Audacy transaction wouldn’t attract as much attention without Soros’ name attached, and that radio broadcasters have long sought increased private equity investment in their industry. “They’re making it a political ax,” said Christopher Terry, University of Minnesota media law professor. “The radio industry has been cash-strapped for 20 years.”
Fewer than 1% of Californians exercised opt-out rights with the largest data brokers last year, a Consumer Watchdog report released Thursday found. The consumer group said it analyzed opt-out numbers for Experian, Acxiom and LiveRamp. People probably aren’t exercising their rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in higher numbers “because these rights aren’t user friendly, as opting out has to be done website by website, and that takes forever,” said Justin Kloczko, Consumer Watchdog tech and privacy advocate. That could soon change, he said. Under the 2023 Delete Act, Californians will be able to delete all data that a data broker collects in one step starting in 2026, said Kloczko. In addition, if Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signs AB-3048, which passed the legislature last month (see 2408290005), consumers will be able to opt out from the sale of and sharing data on all websites through a required option in web browsers, he said.
The California Privacy Protection Agency sought feedback on proposed data broker registration rules, the CPPA said Friday. Comments are due Aug. 20. The CPPA will also hold a virtual hearing that day at 1 p.m. PDT. California’s 2023 Delete Act authorized the agency to make registration rules. “The proposed regulations address common questions and obstacles that surfaced for data brokers in the initial registration period,” including about registration fees, statutory definitions and requirements for registration, registry updates and website disclosures, the CPPA said.