broadband roundup
Proposed Merger Guidelines, Viasat Satellite Trouble, Fiber Association Partnership
The Federal Trade Commission wants stricter guidelines for mergers after losses in court.
Antitrust
Google CEO Promotes AI Regulation, GOP Urges TikTok Ban for Congress Members, States Join DOJ Antitrust Suit
Widespread AI applications could lead to a dramatic uptick in online disinformation, Pichai warned.
Expert Opinion
Kate Forscey: For the FTC to Rein in Big Tech, Slow and Steady Wins the Race
Going after Big Tech with marquee cases may make headlines, but those failures make big headlines too.
broadband roundup
Rosenworcel Robotext Proposal, Technology Strike Force, Sugar Land’s Fiber Deal
The commission will vote on the robotext proposal in March.
broadband roundup
Former FCC Chair Joins Company Board, Twitter to Pay $150 million in Privacy Case, Telehealth Prescriptions
Tom Wheeler is joining the board of a mobile network company.
Privacy
With Robocall Complaints Down, Who Can STIR Up Action to Restore Public’s SHAKEN Trust?
September 11, 2020 – Given the way that robocalls “implicate a wide jurisdiction,” Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai stressed the need for collaboration to end the crisis of unwanted calls and specifically lauded the so-called STIR/SHAKEN protocol for phone number verification. Iro
Section 230
Trump Justice Department Says Section 230 Changes Needed to Target ‘Bad Samaritans’ and Enforce Transparency
September 1, 2020 – Justice Department attorney Lauren Willard said that the Trump administration wanted to change Section 230 to incentivize big tech platforms to address criminal activity and to provide transparency when they take down lawful content. Speaking at an American Bar Association webina
broadband roundup
Amazon Regulation Doubts, Uber CEO Suggests Gig Worker Benefits, Google Competitor Meets With Justice Department
Amazon is essentially a private government and most Americans doubt it can be regulated, The Atlantic reported on Monday. In a much-publicized hearing in late July, CEOs from four of the world’s biggest technology companies testified about their allegedly anticompetitive practices. Among them was Am
Antitrust
Justice Department Settles with T-Mobile/Sprint, with Dish Market Entry; Siri Eavesdropping
The Department of Justice announced Friday that it and the Attorneys General for five states reached a settlement with T-Mobile and Sprint regarding their proposed merger. The settlement requires a substantial divestiture package in order to enable a viable facilities-based competitor to enter the m
Broadband News
In a Sunday Filing, Justice Department Takes Aim at California Net Neutrality Bill
BROADBAND BREAKFAST INSIGHT: California is merely the largest of the large number of states that have attempted to take a “federalist” approach to the “interstate commerce” of network neutrality. This sets up the first of many political flashpoints over the issue. Feds launch lawyers at California n
Antitrust
Jonathan Lee: Antitrust Division’s Flawed Case Against AT&T/Time Warner is Simply Too General
Telecom attorney Jonathan Lee takes down the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division’s specious case against the AT&T/Time Warner merger in this detailed blog post, excerpted below. (Click on the link at the bottom for the whole argument.) Here’s the money quote: “This alleged harm is simply t
Broadband's Impact
Bringing Big Tech Into the Cross-Hairs of the Federal Election Commission
BROADBAND BREAKFAST INSIGHT: Impossible task, meet unfortunate federal agency. | Federal Agency Drafts New Rules For Transparency In Political Social Media Ads, from NPR: The Federal Election Commission is moving to improve disclosure of the money behind Internet and digital ads, as the shadow of Ru
Universal Service
FCC Announces Universal Service Fund Strike Force in Effort to Combat Wasteful Spending
WASHINGTON, July 14, 2014 – In an effort to combat ongoing complaints of inefficiency within the Federal Communications Commission’s Universal Service Fund, Chairman Tom Wheeler on Monday announced a strike force dedicated to “rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse.” To be led by Loyaan Egal, a former
FCC
MetroPCS Withdraws Legal Claims Against Federal Communications Commission Net Neutrality Rules
WASHINGTON, May 23, 2013 — Wireless provider MetroPCS moved last Friday to dismiss its claims in the lawsuit challenging the Federal Communication Commission’s net neutrality laws. In the motion, MetroPCS, which recently merged with T-Mobile, noted that the FCC and the Department of Justice had alre
Asia
China Launches Sweeping New Intellectual Property Enforcement Campaign
The Chinese government on Tuesday unveiled a sweeping intellectual property enforcement initiative that appears designed to reverse the culture of piracy that has so far been the norm in the country. The initiative was unveiled by China’s Deputy Commerce Minister Jiang Zengwei at a Tuesday news con
Broadband's Impact
Hewlett-Packard to Pay $16.25 Million for Alleged E-Rate Fraud
WASHINGTON, November 11, 2010 – The Justice Department revealed Wednesday that it has reached a $16.25 million civil settlement with Hewlett-Packard for alleged E-rate fraud, following an investigation with the Federal Communications Commission. The program funds internet connections in schools and
