Who owns, controls, or influences media and telecommunications outlets.
Ownership
Are social media companies motivated to be good corporate citizens?
This paper explores the connection between corporate social responsibility and social media safety. By examining the legal framework governing social platforms in the United States and case studies of online harms, we explore whether current US laws and company content moderation policies are effective in eliminating content (revenge porn and acts of terrorism) that is universally agreed to be harmful. Finally, the paper makes a number of suggestions for improvements in policy.
FCC Commences 2018 Quadrennial Review of Media Ownership Rules
The Federal Communications Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking commencing the 2018 Quadrennial Review of the Commission’s media ownership rules.
The FTC should match tech company innovation with oversight innovation
The Nov 27 Senate hearing on the activities of the Federal Trade Commission highlighted the shortcomings of applying industrial-era thinking to internet-era challenges. The new digital reality calls for both expansive regulatory oversight as well as legislative action. FTC Chairman Joseph Simons' constrained description of the FTC’s authority highlights the need for creative new responses the the ongoing collision between conservative dogma and the unconstrained activities of Big Tech.
Who makes the rules in the new Gilded Age?
The digital era has spurred tremendous advancements throughout human society, but it has also led to immense instability and inequality. Now, a handful of companies maintain unfettered dominance over key components of economic activity, with little signs of slowing. In this paper, Tom Wheeler sheds light on the issues of the information age by demonstarting its parallels with the Gilded Age, during which rapid industrial expansion led to centralized power and eventually gave way to massive reforms.
Google needs regulation. Republicans are too busy screaming about bias.
Members of the conservative majority on the House Judiciary Committee spent much of their time hammering [Google CEO Sundar] Pichai with baseless accusations that Google rigs its search results to censor conservative content. The bias obsession has distracted from the more important subjects that Congress has failed to address these past two years. That seems likely to change when Democrats take control of the House in January.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai Faces Privacy and Bias Questions in Congress
Google’s chief executive, in perhaps the most public display of lawmakers’ unease with his company’s influence, was grilled about everything from search result bias and the data Google collects about its users to plans for a censored service in China. Sundar Pichai, an engineer who rose through Google’s ranks to become its leader three years ago, faced more than three hours of questions from the House Judiciary Committee. Republicans expressed concerns about unfair treatment of conservatives, and lawmakers in both parties zeroed in on privacy issues.
For nearly half a century, leaders of the technology industry have been seen as visionary, passionate, and committed to building a better, smarter world. But public perceptions today are shifting—at least, elite opinion is—and the tech industry is suddenly on the defensive when it comes to issues ranging from data privacy to income equity, workplace diversity, antitrust enforcement, cultural biases, regulation, and more. To what extent are these criticisms fair or overblown? Is this just a passing phase, or a sign of a more fundamental shift?
Nexstar-Tribune Merger Threatens Our Public Discourse
Remember when Sinclair Broadcasting Group tried to buy Tribune Media? That merger would have allowed Sinclair to reach 72 percent of US households -- far, far above the Federal Communications Commission’s 39 percent audience cap. Fortunately for consumers, Tribune backed out of the deal after the FCC signaled it was unwilling to approve the transaction as structured. Now another giant broadcaster is trying to buy Tribune Media. It’s the second largest local television owner in the country (after Sinclair): Nexstar Media.
Verizon Separation Plan Sheds Almost 7 Percent of Employees as 5G Restructuring Begins to Take Hold
A Verizon separation plan will reduce the company’s payroll by 10,400 employees, almost 7 percent of its workforce. The plan was announced earlier in 2018 and the reductions are part of a voluntary program to reduce Verizon’s headcount as they embark on a 5G focused restructuring. Since recently taking over the CEO helm, Hans Vestberg has embarked on a restructuring of the company, with a focus on seizing the 5G opportunity and reducing Verizon’s emphasis on legacy services.
Chairman Pai's Response Regarding USTelecom Forbearance Petition
On Oct 23, 2018, Rep Jared Huffman (D-CA) wrote to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai regarding a forbearance petition filed on May 4 with the FCC by USTelecom. [USTelecom was seeking forbearance from the Communications Act's resale and unbundled network element requirements.] "The letters that my constituents submitted to the FCC regarding the petition illustrate the importance of alternative competitive providers in the telecommunications marketplace," Rep Huffman wrote. "I ask that their comments be carefully considered as you review the petition."