Broadcasting&Cable

Journalists Press for Shield Law

The National Association of Broadcasters has joined with other groups in the News Media for Open Government (NMOG) coalition to press the new Congress to better protect journalists, including the long-sought federal shield law that has been introduced in numerous Congresses over the past couple of decades.

Witness at AG Nominee Barr Confirmation Hearing: Independent FCC, FTC Would be Unconstitutional Under Barr Theory

In day two of Attorney General Nominee William Barr's confrimation hearing, Georgia State law professor Nail Kinkopf told the Senate Judiciary Committee that the independence of federal agencies including the Federal Communications Commission are at risk under Barr's theory of executive power. Kinkopf did not sugar coat his criticism of a lengthy 2018 memo on that legal issue that Barr penned, a memo Democratic lawmakers have pointed to as troubling since it argued the President's "interactions" with FBI director James Comey did not constitute obstruction of Justice.

Rep Latta (R-OH) Named Ranking Member of Communications Subcommittee

House Commerce Committee Ranking Member Greg Walden (R-OR) announced the subcommittee Ranking Members for the 116th Congress. As expected, Rep Bob Latta (R-OH) has been named Ranking Member of the Communications Subcommittee. “I’d like to thank Congressman Walden for the opportunity to serve as Republican Leader on the Communications and Technology Subcommittee,” said Rep Latta. “The way we communicate and use technology plays a significant role in our daily lives. In this capacity, I’ll be able to advocate for policies that will help consumers, grow our economy, and spur innovation.

Competitive Enterprise Institute Fires Opening Appeals Court Shot at FCC Charter-TWC Conditions

The Competitive Enterprise Institute has filed the opening brief in its challenge to the Federal Communications Commission's conditions on the 2016 Charter-Time Warner Cable (Bright House) merger.

Court Signals Green Light for Net Neutrality Arguments

The US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit said that oral arguments scheduled for January and now February will take place, partial government shutdown or not. That means the court will hear arguments in the Mozilla et al.

FCC 28 GHz Spectrum Auction Moves to Stage Three

The Federal Communications Commission will move the 28 GHz auction to stage three beginning Jan 14. It will stay with the same number of six rounds per day, and the same half-horu duration, but instead of bidders having to bid on 95% of the licenses for which it is eligible, they must now bid on 100% of those licenses.

Mignon Clyburn Named to Artificial Intelligence Commission

Former Federal Communications Commission Commissioner Mignon Clyburn has been tapped to join tech execs, academics, national security officials and others on a new National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence. Clyburn joins representatives from Amazon, Google, Oracle and Microsoft on the committee, which was created by the National Defense Authorization Act and charged with reviewing the impact on national security on advances in AI, artificial learning and related fields. The commission is tasked with producing a report to the White House by August 2019.

Commissioner Carr Praises Court Decision Not to Block 5G Order

Federal Communications Commissioner Brendan Carr praised a US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit decision not to stay the FCC's Sept 2018 5G order. That was the order, motormanned by Commissioner Carr, that took various steps to speed wireless infrastructure deployment. “Yesterday’s court decision is more good news for U.S. leadership on 5G," said Commissioner Carr, issuing his own press release since staffers have been furloughed during the shutdown.

Attorney General Nominee William Barr Will Recuse Himself from AT&T-Time Warner Challenge

Attorney General nominee William Barr, a former board member of Time Warner, has agreed to recuse himself from the Justice Department's challenge to the AT&T-Time Warner merger. Currently, the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit is considering DOJ's appeal of a district court decision that the merger did not violate antitrust laws. Barr made the promise to Seante Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).

Senate Confirms New Director of the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy

Dr. Kelvin Droegemeier has been confirmed as the new director of the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). “The Senate has confirmed a highly respected scientist and academic to help further our nation’s economic competitiveness and national security,” said Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune (R-SD). “I’m looking forward to working with Dr. Droegemeier and expect his leadership will benefit the scientific community and our nation." The director acts as the President’s chief adviser on science.

Senate Confirms Geoffrey Starks and Brendan Carr to FCC

The Senate has confirmed Commissioner Brendan Carr to a full, five-year term and has confirmed Geoffrey Starks to the open seat on the Federal Communications Commission. Both had already been approved by the Senate Commerce Committee -- Starks in June and Carr in Jan 2017 for his current role filling out the unexpired term of former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler. The House does not have to follow suit, so once they are sworn in, which could happen soon, the FCC will be at full strength with three Republicans and two Democrats.

Judges Picked to Hear Net Neutrality Challenge

The three-judge panel has been picked to hear the appeal of Mozilla et al. to the Federal Communications Commission's network neutrality deregulation. According to the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, the Feb 1 oral argument in the Mozilla appeal will be heard by Judges Judith Rogers, Patricia Millett, and Stephen Williams.

NBC/Telemundo Pays $495,000 to Settle FCC Investigation Over Children's TV Programming Obligations

NBC/Telemundo has agreed to pay $495,000 to settle an Federal Communications Commission investigation into whether it fulfilled its children's TV programming obligation--in several instances, it didn't.