Politico

Fight to open up 12 GHz band heats up

The push to allow the 12 GHz band of spectrum to be used for 5G is taking on new significance, as broader infrastructure spending talks continue and SpaceX’s Starlink satellite broadband service prepares for a nationwide rollout. The 5G for 12 GHz Coalition, which represents more than 30 telecom companies, trade groups and public interest groups that want to open up the 12 GHz satellite airwaves for two-way 5G connections, told the FCC that it should move forward with a rulemaking to expand access to the band.

Where are all those tech and telecommunications staffers going?

Democratic aides have been fleeing the Hill for lobbying gigs with major tech and telecom companies — just as lawmakers are preparing to tighten regulations on those same companies. More than a dozen senior Democratic tech and telecom policy staffers have left the Hill this year, many of them heading to the likes of Facebook, Apple, Verizon and Charter Communications. Others have left for Biden administration posts. They’re taking with them specialized knowledge on issues like artificial intelligence, data privacy and broadband.

FTC expands its privacy options

Privacy advocates cheered the Federal Trade Commission’s decision to revive its rarely used “penalty offense authority” against for-profit colleges that make misleading or deceptive claims, a move that shows the agency is expanding its enforcement options after the Supreme Court gutted its authority to seek monetary damages from companies that engage in illegal conduct.

Lawmakers are frustrated with delayed FCC appointments

Lawmakers are getting frustrated with the Biden administration’s lack of urgency in appointing a fifth commissioner at the Federal Communications Commission. The five-member agency has been down a commissioner since former GOP Chair Ajit Pai vacated the position during the presidential transition. Democratic lawmakers and progressive groups expected President Joe Biden to move quickly on a nominee, since a fully staffed FCC would be crucial to achieving progressive goals like reinstating net neutrality rules and increasing transparency around internet billing.

So the Senate Skewered Facebook. Now What?

After the Senate’s session with Facebook global head of safety Antigone Davis on September 30, close observers think bipartisan outrage may finally be strong enough for Congress to crack down on Facebook and its peers. “Facebook has given lawmakers and regulators an invaluable political opening to begin restructuring how it can do business, in terms of research, advertising and data use,” said Jeff Chester, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Digital Democracy.

Federal Trade Commission Faces Impending Deadlock

The Senate has confirmed Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Commissioner Rohit Chopra to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. With Chopra leaving and President Biden’s replacement pick, Alvaro Bedoya, in limbo, FTC Chair Lina Khan will no longer have a Democratic majority.

Will lawmakers really pass $65B for broadband?

At stake is a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill that would devote $65 billion to broadband efforts and a Democrats-only $3.5 trillion social spending package with its own billions for broadband, privacy and other tech and telecommunications priorities. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) told her Democratic colleagues that the House would begin floor debate on the bipartisan infrastructure bill on September 27 and hold a vote on September 30, following 

FCC Escapes Hill Scrutiny as Pandemic Drags On

One unexpected casualty of the disruptions wrought by the long pandemic: Federal Communications Commission commissioners haven’t testified before Congress in more than a year.

Facebook paid billions extra to the FTC to spare Zuckerberg in data suit, shareholders allege

Facebook conditioned its $5 billion payment to the Federal Trade Commission to resolve the Cambridge Analytica data leak probe on the agency dropping plans to sue Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg individually, shareholders allege in a lawsuit. Two groups of shareholders claimed that members of Facebook’s board allowed the company to overpay on its fine in order to protect Zuckerberg, the company’s founder and largest shareholder.

Commerce Secretary Raimondo redoubles call for a national spectrum strategy

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo redoubles her call for the Biden administration to develop a national spectrum strategy in remarks before the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)'s annual Spectrum Symposium. Putting together such a strategy was a priority for former President Donald Trump, but one that was never fully developed.

Verizon Hires Senate Commerce Staffer Shawn Bone to Handle Broadband

Shawn Bone, a senior telecommunications counsel for Senate Commerce Chair Maria Cantwell (D-WA), is joining Verizon on October 11 as its director of federal regulatory public policy. Bone, who has worked for Senate Commerce Democrats for more than nine years, will focus on broadband at Verizon.

POLITICO holds inaugural tech summit, “At a Digital Crossroads: Washington and Silicon Valley”

Government officials, tech lobbyists, civil rights advocates and researchers participated in POLITICO’s inaugural tech summit: “At a Digital Crossroads: Washington and Silicon Valley.” Key takeaways include:

North Dakota Attorney General Frets Over Coming 3G Phaseout

Duane Stanley, an official with the North Dakota Attorney General’s Office, is the latest to sound the alarm about a wireless industry plan to sunset its legacy 3G network in the coming months.

FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel: Cutting Monthly Internet Subsidies 'Challenging'

Acting Federal Communications Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said she’s pleased that the Senate infrastructure deal would codify the pandemic relief program known as the Emergency Broadband Benefit — but she is wary about one provision that would slash the monthly internet subsidy by 40 percent. “I do think it would be challenging for the agency to reduce the support from $50 a month to $30 a month,” she said.

FCC is not ruling out steps to expand broadband access

The head of the Federal Communications Commission left the door open to taking further actions to ensure everyone has broadband access — including price regulation and combating digital redlining. Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said at Politico's Tech Summit that the FCC is “laser-like focused on getting this service to everyone, everywhere,” and that it is trying to take a broader approach to the issue than the agency had in the past.

Broadband Dollars in Demand

As another Covid-era school year begins, it’s not just local and state governments and internet providers that are desperate for broadband cash. A coalition representing schools and libraries is urging Congress to replenish funding for a Federal Communications Commission funding program aimed at boosting connectivity for students, school staff and library patrons.