1. Monthly archive
  2. July 2018

July 2018

House Communications Subcommittee Oversight Hearing of FCC

The House Communications Subcommittee held a long-delayed Federal Communications Commission oversight hearing July 25. Notably, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai stood by the FCC's decision to designate the Sinclair-Tribune deal for hearing. Full House Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ) took the lead in pressing Chairman Pai on President Donald Trump's tweet criticizing the FCC for not approving the Sinclair-Tribune deal and his suggestion there was a need for a conservative voice like Sinclair's.

Time to break up Google and Facebook, says New York attorney general candidate Zephyr Teachout

New York attorney general candidate Zephyr Teachout promised to “explore breaking up” Facebook and Google if she is elected, using state and federal antitrust laws. Standing in front of the Manhattan offices of the New York Daily News, Teachout said tech companies are to blame for dominating the online advertising market — drawing revenue from newspapers and publishers. Teachout’s remarks came a day after the Daily News in New York announced layoffs that reduced the size of its newsroom by half.

House passes tech-focused skills training legislation

Lawmakers in the House passed a bill aimed at bolstering skills training for technical jobs in various industries. The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act unanimously passed the House after passing the Senate on July 23. It is now headed to President Donald Trump’s desk. The bill, introduced by Reps GT Thompson (R-PA) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), increases federal funding for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Program by up to $1.3 billion annually.

Facebook Stock Tumbles 24 Percent As User and Sales Growth Slows After Scandals

For months, Facebook has weathered a series of scandals — including Russian misuse of the platform to interfere in the 2016 American presidential campaign and the harvesting of its users’ data through the political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica — with hardly any effect to its business. Facebook has continued to post healthy double-digit increases in revenue and profit every quarter. But on July 25 it showed some of the first signs of wear and tear from the months of scrutiny.

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