Reporting

NARUC Opposes FCC's Proposed Changes to Lifeline Program

Resolution to Ensure that the Federal Lifeline Program Continues to Provide Service to LowIncome Households

Whereas on Dec. 1, 2017, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) released a Fourth Report and Order, Order on Reconsideration, Memorandum Opinion and Order, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”), and Notice of Inquiry addressing the federal Lifeline program and “Bridging the Digital Divide for Low-Income Consumers;”

Russia used mainstream media to manipulate American voters

Russia’s disinformation campaign during the 2016 presidential election relied heavily on stories produced by major American news sources to shape the online political debate.  The analysis by Columbia University social media researcher Jonathan Albright of more than 36,000 tweets sent by Russian accounts showed that obscure or foreign news sources played a comparatively minor role, suggesting that the discussion of “fake news” during the campaign has been somewhat miscast.

Cybersecurity is not something; it is everything

[Commentary] Four years ago, the Obama Administration rolled out the Cybersecurity Framework from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). It has proven to be an essential and indispensable roadmap for companies to review their cybersecurity risk and preparedness. Recently, NIST updated the document to reflect supply chain risk and additional security insights. The anniversary of the NIST Framework should be a time to celebrate the federal government’s preparation for the cyber threats to the critical infrastructure of our communications networks.

Chairman Walden: President Trump Receptive on Broadband

During a House Commerce Committee markup, multiple Democrats harped on the lack of dedicated broadband money in the White House infrastructure proposal. “Will this committee take the lead?” asked Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT). Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR), who was among lawmakers meeting with President Donald Trump on infrastructure, reassured Rep Welch that he has “got this one” adding that he “made that very case” at the White House. "I was encouraged there is some money, at least allegedly put aside in the proposal,” Chairman Walden said.

New Street Research: In Wireless ‘Clash of the Titans,’ Cable Wins

New Street Research managing partner Jonathan Chaplin said the cable business is going to look vastly different in the next five years. “Today the wireless and cable industries have completely separate networks. In five years, those networks will be as one.

Net Neutrality Backers Want Rep Coffman on CRA

Rep. Mike Coffman’s position that using a Congressional Review Act resolution to restore Obama-era network neutrality rules is a “non-starter” because it defers to agency rulemaking is not sitting well with net neutrality advocates.

Television Broadcasters are Big Winners in FCC Reauthorization Approved by House Commerce Committee

The House Commerce Committee approved a bill that reauthorizes the Federal Communications Commission -- and includes a number of other bills, including an incentive auction fund increase.

What We Heard From Four FTC Nominees

The Senate Commerce Committee convened a hearing for the president’s nominees to serve as Federal Trade Commissioners:

FCC's Broadband Advisory Committee’s Needs More State and Local Representation

The Federal Communications Commission's Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee's (BDAC) membership -- and, therefore, the recommendations and discussion drafts currently under consideration -- do not reflect balanced viewpoints between industry and state and local interests. Previous efforts to meaningfully engage state and local members have been ignored or actively discouraged.

AT&T Takes on Verizon, Comcast with Gfast Deployment, Opening an Interesting Competitive Dynamic

AT&T is embarking on an interesting expansion strategy by launching AT&T Gfast based broadband service to multiple dwelling units (MDUs or apartment buildings to you and me) outside of their traditional service territory. The latest example is Boston, where AT&T announced the availability of Gfast delivered broadband services to select apartment complexes. AT&T Gfast can deliver up to 500 Mbps broadband, using existing building wiring, coax wiring in this case. AT&T is also bundling satellite-based Directv service, where available.

AT&T Is Said to Want Antitrust Official on Witness List for Trial

AT&T is seeking to put the head of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division on its witness list in a trial over the government’s decision to block the phone giant’s $85 billion merger with Time Warner. The company is requesting that the antitrust chief, Makan Delrahim, testify in the trial, which is scheduled to begin March 19. AT&T has also asked for internal communications between the Delrahim’s office and Attorney General Jeff Sessions, according to two people with knowledge about company’s demands.

Sinclair says asking news directors for PAC contributions isn't a conflict of interest

The vice president for news for Sinclair Broadcast Group, Scott Livingston, said that he understands why some people may be concerned that the company asked top managers to contribute to the company's Political Action Committee, but he says he does not believe it is a journalistic conflict of interest.  "I do understand the concern but I don’t believe this compromises our journalistic integrity. Our local stations don’t cover the ins and outs of the broadcast regulatory reform." And, Livingston said, the political action committee is "working to save local broadcasting."

President Trump’s infrastructure plan has no dedicated money for broadband

President Donald Trump's new 10-year plan for "rebuilding infrastructure in America" doesn't contain any funding specifically earmarked for improving Internet access. Instead, the plan sets aside a pool of funding for numerous types of infrastructure projects, and broadband is one of the eligible categories. Broadband would be eligible for funding from a proposed $20 billion Transformative Projects Program, along with transportation, clean water, drinking water, energy, and commercial space.

President Trump’s new infrastructure plan allocates $50B to rural area investments, eases small cell deployments

President Donald Trump issued a new $1.5 trillion infrastructure package that his administration claims will help drive rural broadband and ease permitting processes for wireless operators installing small cell infrastructure. Under the plan, $50 billion would be made available to the Rural Infrastructure Program for capital investments in rural infrastructure investments. Out of the $50 billion figure, 80 percent of the funds under the Rural Infrastructure Program would be provided to the governor of each State via formula distribution.

House Commerce Committee Democratic Reps press FCC for answers on net neutrality comments

On Feb 13, all 24 Democratic Reps on the House Commerce Committee sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commissioners over how it reviewed the docket of 24 million public comments submitted in response to the agency’s repeal of its network neutrality rules.

The nation’s top spies said Russia will attempt to undermine the 2018 midterm elections

The nation’s top intelligence chiefs testified Feb 13 that they fully expect Russia to seek to disrupt the 2018 midterm elections. Appearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats said that Russia will continue using propaganda, false personas and social media to undermine the upcoming elections.

FCC Seeks to Dismiss Petitions for Review of Restoring Internet Freedom Order

The Federal Communications Commission filed three motions with the District of Columbia, First, and Ninth Circuit Courts on February 9, 2018, seeking to dismiss petitions for review of the Restoring Internet Freedom Order filed by New America Foundation’s Open Technology Institute (and consolidated cases), the County of Santa Clara, et al. and Free Press. The FCC asserted the petitions are premature because the Order results from a rulemaking proceeding and a summary of the Order and the text of the amended rules have not yet been published in the Federal Register.

FCC: Expanded Basic Cable Price Increased 3.4% in 2015

The Federal Communications Commission reported that prices for expanded basic cable were up 3.4 percent in 2015 (the most recent figures available) to $71.37 per month, but the percentage increase over 2014 was down from an average annual increase of 4.4 percent over the previous five years. The average price of basic service was up 4.4% to $25.40 in 2015 over 2014, the FCC said.

Salon.com wants to fight ad-blockers by using your PC to mine cryptocurrency

Claiming that ad-blockers have cut "deeply" into its revenue, the media company Salon is asking some readers to bolster its bottom line — by helping the site generate cryptocurrency.

I Approved This Facebook Message — But You Don’t Know That

Hundreds of federal political ads — including those from major players such as the Democratic National Committee and the Donald Trump 2020 campaign — are running on Facebook without adequate disclaimer language, likely violating Federal Election Commission rules. An FEC opinion in December clarified that the requirement for political ads to say who paid for and approved them, which has long applied to print and broadcast outlets, extends to ads on Facebook.

GOP senators question 'unusual' message Susan Rice sent herself on Inauguration Day

Two top Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee are questioning former national security adviser Susan Rice about an "unusual" message she sent to herself on Jan 20, 2017 — President Donald Trump's Inauguration Day. Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) questioned Rice about why she sent a note detailing a conversation she observed on Jan. 5 between then-FBI Director James Comey and then-President Barack Obama.

Big tech red flags continue to be ignored

Researcher and technologist Aviv Ovadya, one of the first to identify the fake news catastrophe in early 2016, says he is worried about an “Information Apocalypse,” which could lead to “reality apathy,” or people just giving up on finding the truth because it is too indistinguishable from misinformation. Critics continue to explore the adverse impacts of automated content and platform abuse:

Wireless internet to the rescue? New tech could help close connectivity gap

Google stunned the internet world in 2016 by investing in wireless internet technology and scaling back on its plans to connect customers with fiber optic lines. Wireless advocates like Terry Nelson, Woodstock (MN) Communications' vice president and general manager, say Minnesota should do the same. "We see this as the solution," he said.