Bloomberg

Google, Facebook, Amazon, Apple Push Back on House Tech Concerns

Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple defended their business practices in responses to detailed questions by House Antitrust Subcommittee lawmakers. The four companies received the questions from Subcommittee Chairman David Cicilline (D-RI) in Sept. Separately, the whole committee issued requests for extensive records on the firms’ business practices, acquisitions, executive communications and other issues. The companies also are in the process of responding to those requests.

Facebook, Google Fund Nonprofits Shaping Federal Privacy Debate

Few companies have more riding on proposed privacy legislation than Google and Facebook.

Utilities, Responders Renew Critique of FCC’s Wi-Fi Sharing Plan

Power companies, first responders and railroads are intensifying criticism of the Federal Communications Commission’s plan to allow Wi-Fi traffic on the 6 GHz band of airwaves they currently use.

Dozens of Cities Sue FCC Over Get-Out-of-Fees Cable TV Order

Cities from Los Angeles (CA) to Boston (MA) are fighting a Federal Communications Commission decision they say will cost them millions by letting cable TV providers such as Comcast partly pay them with services like free air time instead of money. At least 46 cities are asking federal appeals courts to undo an FCC order they argue will force them to raise taxes or cut spending on local media services, including channels that schools, governments, and the general public can use for programming.

FCC Presses Wi-Fi Plan Despite Utility, First Responder Worries

The Federal Communications Commission remains intent on repurposing airwaves to handle surging Wi-Fi data traffic, despite opposition from power companies and first responders who say it could interfere with their communications systems. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai defended the agency’s plan to allocate more spectrum to meet exploding Wi-Fi demand at a recent Senate appropriations panel hearing. The agency may finalize its proposal later this year or early in 2020, commission watchers say. “I truly believe that American consumers can have the best of both worlds,” Chairman Pai told lawmakers.

T-Mobile-Sprint Merger Gets Majority Support at FCC

Apparently, T-Mobile's bid to acquire Spring has received a third “yes” vote at the Federal Communications Commission.  All three Republicans on the five-member agency have voted for the deal, setting in motion procedures that would require agency action by Oct. 9, or Oct. 16 if an extension is requested by a commissioner. Neither agency Democrat has cast a vote, and both have called for delay.

Amazon Probed by US Antitrust Officials Over Marketplace

A team of Federal Trade Commission investigators has begun interviewing small businesses that sell products on Amazon to determine whether the e-commerce giant is using its market power to hurt competition. Several attorneys and at least one economist have been conducting interviews that typically last about 90 minutes and cover a range of topics, according to three merchants.