1. Monthly archive
  2. June 2018

June 2018

Not so fast: Wireless industry urges FCC to move carefully in restricting access to Chinese equipment

The Federal Communications Commission wants to prohibit US companies from using its Universal Service Fund (USF) to buy equipment that could pose "a national security threat to the integrity of communications networks or the communications supply chain." That's broadly understood to mean network infrastructure made by China's Huawei and ZTE, two companies that the largest American carriers stopped working with in the US almost six years ago due to pressure from Congress. Nonetheless, US carriers are pushing back against the FCC's latest proposal.

House Commerce Committee Leadership Wants FCC Oversight Hearing

House Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr.

Comcast drops bid for “gigabit” tax cut that was created for Google Fiber

Comcast has agreed to pay $155 million in back taxes to Oregon in order to settle a nine-year property tax dispute. Comcast will also drop its attempt to secure a tax break that OR created as part of a failed attempt to bring Google Fiber to the state. Gov Kate Brown (D-OR) announced the settlement with Comcast, noting that the legal battle "likely would have continued for many more years because several distinct and complex legal questions were in dispute." OR accepted the $155 million payment despite previously arguing that Comcast owed $200 million.

Senate Commerce Leaders Demand Answers from Facebook Amid New Reports of Privacy Concerns

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune (R-SD) and Ranking Member Bill Nelson (D-FL) pressed Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg for answers following a report in the New York Times that Facebook offered numerous mobile device manufacturers special access to private user information.

Edward Snowden Interview: "The people are still powerless, but now they're aware"

Edward Snowden has no regrets five years on from leaking the biggest cache of top-secret documents in history. He is wanted by the US. He is in exile in Russia. But he is satisfied with the way his revelations of mass surveillance have rocked governments, intelligence agencies and major internet companies.

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