Policymakers

The Federal Communications Commission has expanded the membership of the Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC) from 15 members to 30 members. By this Public Notice, the FCC seeks applications for membership to the IAC from local, state and Tribal government officials to fill the 15 new positions and also announces three additional vacancies in the existing IAC membership. 

The rest of the world may know Rep Darrell Issa (R-CA) best as a vocal and spirited antagonist of Hillary Clinton over the Benghazi situation, but, for some, Issa’s long tenure in Congress evokes some different memories. For one thing, it was Rep Issa who, back in the winter of 2011, first issued the call to stop the Stop Online Piracy Act, on the grounds that it would break the internet’s basic functioning; fans of the internet came running, and stop SOPA they did. For another, Issa’s also been a key congressional proponent for modernizing the US patent system.

U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that he will be joining the Senate Commerce Committee. "I'm honored to serve the people of Montana on this important Committee," said Sen Tester. "Our state's economy will be front and center as we work together to strengthen our transportation infrastructure, boost broadband and broadcasting, and fight for higher paying jobs. I look forward to partnering with Montana businesses to ensure our state's Main Streets are thriving."

Walking through the display floor aisles at the Las Vegas Convention Center and the surrounding hotels and casinos, it's easy to get swept up in the sheer number of companies that have made the pilgrimage to Sin City to provide attendees of the Consumer Electronics Show a glimpse into the future.

Stephen K. Bannon is stepping down from his post as executive chairman of Breitbart News. Bannon’s departure, which was forced by a onetime financial patron, Rebekah Mercer, comes as Bannon remained unable to quell the furor over remarks attributed to him in a new book in which he questions President Donald Trump’s mental fitness and disparages his elder son, Donald Trump Jr. Bannon and Breitbart will work together on a smooth transition, a statement from the company’s chief executive, Larry Solov, said.

[Commentary]  If you care about preserving network neutrality, the most important thing you could possibly do would be to run for political office on a platform that promises to protect the free and open internet and to roll back regulatory capture by big telecom.

On Jan 9, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr was Renominated for a full five-year term by President Donald Trump.

FCC Commissioner Carr: "I want to thank President Trump for renominating me to a second term as a Commissioner of the FCC. Serving on the Commission is a tremendous honor and privilege, and I am proud of the work we have already accomplished. If reconfirmed, I look forward to many more years of working with my colleagues at the FCC on policies that will create jobs, spur investment, and grow the economy for the benefit of all Americans."

Commissioner Mignon Clyburn of the Federal Communications Commission appears to have put the kibosh on a rumor she was considering exiting the commission. Commissioner Clyburn's term was up at the end of June 2017. She has not been renominated, but she can continue to serve, and has. Asked about that rumor, her office cited a recent interview in which she said: "My term was up in June, and with appointments like mine, we can technically serve until this particular Congress adjourns, which is December 2018.

Apparently, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai canceled his scheduled appearance at a major upcoming tech industry trade show after receiving death threats. It’s the second known incident in which Chairman Pai’s safety may have been at risk, after a bomb threat abruptly forced the chairman to halt his controversial vote to scrap net neutrality rules in December 2017.

Michael Allman is running for Congress as a Republican. But if his constituents lean left of him on a particular issue before Congress, that’s how Allman will vote. That’s because Allman is running on a direct democracy platform: For every issue, voters in his district will be able to use a blockchain-enabled website to securely log their opinions, and Allman will follow the will of the people.