The Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council will take on the FCC over multilingual emergency alert system (EAS) messages in oral argument before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit Thursday, where the MMTC is seen as unlikely to prevail, several attorneys told us. It's the latest salvo in a 12-year effort (see 1604060068) to get the FCC to require broadcasters to issue multilingual emergency alerts, originally inspired by the dearth of emergency information in Spanish after Hurricane Katrina. In 2016, the FCC updated the EAS system and denied MMTC’s requests in an order that required broadcasters to report on their efforts to send out multilingual EAS messages but not actually make such efforts.
Now that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit won't hear en banc review of FCC net neutrality regulation (see 1705010038), focus shifts to the Supreme Court. Conventional wisdom is justices are unlikely to grant cert to hear an appeal, especially since the FCC is pursuing a do-over. Some opponents of the order think conventional wisdom could be wrong. Industry parties that sought en banc D.C. Circuit review didn't comment, including USTelecom, CTIA, AT&T, CenturyLink, NCTA, American Cable Association and Alamo Broadband.
Now that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit won't hear en banc review of FCC net neutrality regulation (see 1705010038), focus shifts to the Supreme Court. Conventional wisdom is justices are unlikely to grant cert to hear an appeal, especially since the FCC is pursuing a do-over. Some opponents of the order think conventional wisdom could be wrong. Industry parties that sought en banc D.C. Circuit review didn't comment, including USTelecom, CTIA, AT&T, CenturyLink, NCTA, American Cable Association and Alamo Broadband.
A court denial of further challenges to the FCC 2015 net neutrality order was decided 6-2 by the active judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (see 1705010013). The six judges voted Monday to deny petitions for en banc rehearing of a June ruling by a three-judge panel that upheld the FCC order, which also reclassified broadband to be under Title II of the Communications Act. Two judges dissented and three others didn't participate in the ruling in USTelecom v. FCC, No. 15-1063.
A court denial of further challenges to the FCC 2015 net neutrality order was decided 6-2 by the active judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (see 1705010013). The six judges voted Monday to deny petitions for en banc rehearing of a June ruling by a three-judge panel that upheld the FCC order, which also reclassified broadband to be under Title II of the Communications Act. Two judges dissented and three others didn't participate in the ruling in USTelecom v. FCC, No. 15-1063.
A massive public response, likely as big if not bigger than the tidal wave that hit the FCC last time around, is expected as it considers a do-over of the 2015 net neutrality rules. Senior officials already are saying they aren’t going to use the public responses as a kind of poll to help them make decisions (see 1704270044). Net neutrality advocates hope the response will be so overwhelming the Trump administration will start to view net neutrality as a liability and pressure the agency to moderate its approach. Already, the commission is getting comments in opposition filings (see 1704280047).
A massive public response, likely as big if not bigger than the tidal wave that hit the FCC last time around, is expected as it considers a do-over of the 2015 net neutrality rules. Senior officials already are saying they aren’t going to use the public responses as a kind of poll to help them make decisions (see 1704270044). Net neutrality advocates hope the response will be so overwhelming the Trump administration will start to view net neutrality as a liability and pressure the agency to moderate its approach. Already, the commission is getting comments in opposition filings (see 1704280047).
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's industry meetings on internet regulation issues sparked criticism in some quarters about the lack of more disclosure. One veteran public-interest advocate said it was "inconceivable" that certain parties didn't face commission filing duties and called the approach "hypocritical" for an agency touting its transparency. But Pai said he was simply soliciting input without discussing a pending proceeding, and his office said outside parties made filings when their presentations triggered requirements. Others defended the meetings as legal and laudable FCC outreach and Pai's overall approach as highly transparent. Pai unveiled his plan for a rulemaking notice on open internet and broadband reclassification issues in a speech Wednesday (see 1704260054).
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's industry meetings on internet regulation issues sparked criticism in some quarters about the lack of more disclosure. One veteran public-interest advocate said it was "inconceivable" that certain parties didn't face commission filing duties and called the approach "hypocritical" for an agency touting its transparency. But Pai said he was simply soliciting input without discussing a pending proceeding, and his office said outside parties made filings when their presentations triggered requirements. Others defended the meetings as legal and laudable FCC outreach and Pai's overall approach as highly transparent. Pai unveiled his plan for a rulemaking notice on open internet and broadband reclassification issues in a speech Wednesday (see 1704260054).
A torrent of statements on FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's proposed net neutrality rulemaking notice started even before Pai spoke Wednesday at the Newseum (see 1704260054). Both those for and against the proposal have had years to practice for what's widely expected to be a repeat of the massive fight that led to the FCC approving its last net neutrality rules 3-2 in 2015 under former Chairman Tom Wheeler.