Senate Commerce Committee
Sen. Cruz Seeks Answers on FTC’s Lawless Attempt at Regulating AI (Senate Commerce Committee)
Submitted by dclay@benton.org on Wed, 09/13/2023 - 11:30Smart Devices, Appliances with Hidden Microphones, Cameras Must Be Disclosed to Consumers
As part of the National Defense Authorization Act, the Senate passed bipartisan consumer protection legislation co-sponsored by Commerce Committee Chair Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-TX) to require pre-purchase disclosures for smart devices and appliances that have built-in microphones or cameras capable of recording or transmitting data.
Senate Commerce Committee Approves Bills
During an Executive Session, the Senate Committee on Commerce approved 11 bipartisan bills, including legislation aimed at protecting children’s online privacy: the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) and the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). Other important bills approved included the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, the ORBITS Act, the TICKET Act, the COOL Online Act and several manufacturing bills. These bills now head to the Senate floor.
Approved:
Senate Commerce Committee Approves FCC Nominations and Sends them to the Senate Floor
The US Senate Commerce Committee approved the following nominations for three Federal Communications Commission Commissioners, and the FCC Inspector General:
- Anna Gomez to be a Commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission;
- Geoffrey Starks to be a Commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission;
- Brendan Carr to be a Commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission; and
- Fara Damelin to be Inspector General of the Federal Communications Commission.
At Nominations Hearing, Sen. Cruz Calls Out Fraud-Risk in Affordable Connectivity Program
The [Federal Communications Commission] exercises tremendous power not only over the media, but also over consumers’ pocketbooks. Through the Universal Service Fund (USF) the agency has imposed burdensome taxes on American consumers to fund inefficient, ever-expanding programs. Nominees must be good stewards of funding and stand up for taxpayers’ interests. Despite being repeatedly excoriated by the [Government Accountability Office] and economists for failing to track where USF money was going, the current FCC leadership failed to learn from past mistakes in setting up the Affordable Conne
Chairman Luján announces Upcoming Hearing on the State of Universal Service (Senate Commerce Committee)
Submitted by benton on Fri, 05/05/2023 - 06:31Sen. Cruz Wants Big Tech Giants to Give Answers on Coordination with Government Officials (Senate Commerce Committee)
Submitted by benton on Thu, 03/30/2023 - 06:18Chair Cantwell: “The Starting Gun Has Sounded” in Race to Restore U.S. as Global Leader in Semiconductor Manufacturing (Senate Commerce Committee)
Submitted by dclay@benton.org on Tue, 02/28/2023 - 14:08Commerce Committee Announces Subcommittee Memberships
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation announced Democratic and Republican subcommittee assignments for the 118th Congress. Members of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband include: Sens.