1. Monthly archive
  2. April 2017

April 2017

DC appeals court poised to rule on whether police need warrants for cellphone tracking

Police and federal agents around the country have for years been quietly using cell site simulators in which a portable device intercepts signals from cellphones attempting to connect with cell towers and then captures their identifying numbers and precise locations. Defense lawyers and civil libertarians claim that the devices are the equivalent of a police search and therefore require a search warrant.

In 2016, a federal appeals court in Maryland agreed and ruled that Baltimore police could not use evidence collected by a StingRay in a murder case. On April 18, the District’s highest appeals court heard oral arguments and is now ready to be the second court in the nation to weigh in on whether capturing an individual’s cell signal is covered by the Fourth Amendment’s prohibition of governmental search and seizure.

Consumer groups blast DHS head for seeking travelers' social media passwords

A coalition of consumer advocacy groups is calling on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to oppose requiring foreign nationals to provide their social media passwords to enter the US.

In February, DHS Secretary John Kelly floated the idea of forcing citizens of certain countries to hand over their passwords as part of “enhanced vetting measures” supported by the Trump Administration. The groups, which include the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Daily Kos and Center for Media Justice are trying to solicit signatures for a letter to Kelly protesting collecting foreign nationals' passwords. Evan Greer, campaign director at Fight for the Future, another member organization of the coalition, argued that Kelly’s initiative wouldn’t get the results he wanted. "Asking people to hand over the passwords to their accounts will make all of us less safe, not more safe,” Greer said.

Remarks of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai Before the World Radiocommunication Conference 2019 Advisory Committee

I’m honored to be here and grateful to you for your participation on the Advisory Committee of the World Radiocommunication Conference 2019, or WRC-19. This Advisory Committee is a crucial element in the preparation of America’s positions at the WRC. Your efforts will ensure that the FCC represents effectively a broad spectrum of views during international negotiations and in the course of domestic decision-making. I encourage you to continue to work together and find consensus as you develop draft proposals for WRC-19. I know that finding consensus on these issues is challenging, even here at home. But working in good faith, I’m confident that we can find it. And find it we must, for it’s critical that we present a clear, consistent message beyond our shores.

FCC Chairman Pai Letter to Chris Henderson, Universal Service Administrative Company, Re: USAC's Performance as Schools and Libraries Program Administrator

Unfortunately, it has come to my attention that there are serious flaws in Universal Service Administrative Company’s (USAC) administration of the E-Rate program—flaws that relate to the process by which schools and libraries apply for E-Rate funding and that are in fact preventing many schools and libraries from getting that funding.

The specific problem involves USAC’s development and roll-out of the online E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC). EPC implementation issues have created major headaches for applicants requesting E-Rate funding. The current state of affairs is unacceptable. I seek your unqualified commitment that USAC will administer the E-Rate program in a manner that fully complies with Commission direction; works for applicants and participants; and promptly apprises the FCC of all relevant information concerning implementation.

Statement Of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai On $1.05 Billion Fiber-Purchase Agreement Between Verizon Communications And Corning

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai issued the following statement on the announcement that Verizon Communications has agreed to purchase at least $1.05 billion in optical fiber from Corning Incorporated.

“The FCC’s top priority is closing the digital divide that has persisted for far too long. And the key to meeting that priority is setting stable, market-friendly rules that will lead to investment in online infrastructure. The FCC has already taken significant actions to promote greater capital expenditure on broadband deployment, from reducing regulatory barriers to wiser spending of federal subsidies for buildout. Later this week, we will vote on several proposals that would unleash major capital expenditures on next-generation networks. Against this backdrop, I’m pleased to see that Verizon and Corning have reached a $1.05 billion agreement under which Corning will manufacture and Verizon will buy up to 12.4 million miles of optical fiber each year. This agreement heralds the construction of ‘densified’ 5G networks that will benefit American consumers. It will create thousands of high-quality jobs building and laying fiber. And it will go a long way toward closing the digital divide. Going forward, the FCC will continue to focus on creating a regulatory climate that favors greater investment and competition. A forward-thinking approach—one that relies on market incentives, rather than the tired ideology of heavy-handed Washington micromanagement—is the best way to deliver digital opportunity to all Americans.”

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