Policymakers

The Media Democracy Agenda: The Strategy and Legacy of FCC Commissioner Michael J. Copps

This report, part history, and part strategy playbook, examines the tactics and policy priorities of former-Commissioner Michael J. Copps during his 10 years at the FCC. An analysis of Commissioner Copps’s tenure, his political strategies, and his legacy is a timely endeavor, both for its historical importance and for its contemporary relevance. As a commissioner in the minority during the George W.

Commissioner Maureen K. Ohlhausen Announces Departure from the FTC

Commissioner Maureen K. Ohlhausen announced her departure from the Federal Trade Commission upon the expiration of her term Sept 25. Ohlhausen was sworn in as a Commissioner on April 4, 2012, and served as Acting Chairman of the agency from January 25, 2017 to May 1, 2018. Commissioner Ohlhausen previously served the FTC in various capacities, including four years as the Director of the Office of Policy Planning.  During her time leading the agency, the FTC was highly active in efforts to protect consumer privacy and promote data security.

Rep Blackburn Fought to End Net Neutrality, But Will It Matter to Voters?

In March of 2017, Congress had just voted to allow internet service providers to sell the browser histories of consumers, a move that was greeted by an overwhelming backlash online. At the time, it seemed the browser history vote was politically poisonous for the Republican Reps who pushed it through. Yet House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), who became more identified than most lawmakers with the rollback, has not only survived politically, but is reaching higher.

Commissioner Rosenworcel Launches New Podcast Focused On Women In Technology

Federal Communications Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel launched “Broadband Conversations,” a podcast dedicated to highlighting women who are making an impact on our digital lives. Each episode, Commissioner Rosenworcel will talk to women who are breaking new ground and forging new paths in technology, media, and innovation about what they’re working on, what’s on their minds, what they think is the next for the future. The first episode, featuring Sen Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), was released Sept 19.

The House is Shuttling Through Tech and Cyber Bills but the Senate's Behind

The House passed a slew of tech and cyber bills the week of Sept 3, ranging from imposing automatic sanctions on foreign hackers to creating a new chief data officer position at the Homeland Security Department. With a tight legislative calendar before this Congress turns into a pumpkin in January, however, the Senate will have to work fast if any of those bills are going to become law.

FCC Seeks Nominees to Oversee $10 Billion Universal Service Fund

The Federal Communications Commission seeks nominations for the following positions on the Board of Directors of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) for a three-year term.

NTIA, FirstNet Authority Announce Leadership Changes

Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross has reappointed Edward Horowitz to the FirstNet Board and named him Chair of the Board for a two-year term. There are six seats to fill on the FirstNet Board. To ensure continuity and a quorum for the Board, three members whose terms expired last month – Neil E. Cox, Kevin McGinnis and Annise D. Parker – have agreed to extend their terms. Additional announcements on the Board’s open seats will be forthcoming.

Chairman Pai Hails Guilty Plea Over Threats to His Family

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai thanked law enforcement for its work in securing a guilty plea from a man who threatened his family. Markara Man plead guilty Aug 31 in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, saying he was angry over the rollback of net neutrality rules. Man, 33, of Norwalk (CA), allegedly sent three emails to Chairman Pai Dec.

Google, Facebook, Twitter, Apple ‘censored’ conservative content, $1 billion lawsuit claims

As President Donald Trump goes to war against Silicon Valley technology firms over what he believes is a left-wing bias against conservatives, a right-wing group has launched a lawsuit targeting this region’s tech giants and accusing them of a conspiracy.

FCC Commissioner O'Rielly Announces Arielle Roth as Wireline Advisor

Federal Communications Commissioner Michael O’Rielly announced that he has hired Arielle Roth as wireline advisor in his office. Roth intends to begin work on Sept 4, 2018. Roth is currently employed as legal advisor in the Wireline Competition Bureau where she provides counsel on universal service and pricing matters. Prior to this position, she served as a legal fellow for the Hudson Institute’s Center for the Economics of the Internet. She will be replacing Amy Bender, who will depart the Commission on August 31, 2018.

Net Neutrality Activists Hammer Judge Kavanaugh

Network neutrality activists have gotten together to fight the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, saying he would put the wishes of big cable and big telecom over the interests of the public. Free Press, Public Knowledge, Fight for the Future, Demand Progress and 20 others have sent a letter to the Senate in opposition. His Senate nomination hearings--in the Judiciary Committee--are scheduled to begin Sept 4, although Democrats are trying to delay them, partly in hopes of regaining the Senate and blocking the nomination themselves. 

Department of Commerce Announces Selection of ZTE Special Compliance Coordinator

Secretary of Commerce Wilbur L. Ross, Jr. announced the selection of Roscoe Howard, Jr. to be the Special Compliance Coordinator (SCC) for Zhongxing Telecommunications Equipment Corporation, of Shenzhen, China and ZTE Kangxun Telecommunications Ltd. of Hi-New Shenzhen, China (collectively, ZTE). The Special Compliance Coordinator was selected after a rigorous search by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS).

MMTC Names Maurita Coley Flippin President and CEO

The Multicultural Cultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council (MMTC)’s Board of Directors has named Maurita Coley Flippin President and CEO of the organization. Coley previously has served as Acting President and CEO of MMTC, as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, and as Member of the MMTC Board of Directors. A former network executive, law partner, and nonprofit executive, she brings over 30 years of experience in law, business, and nonprofit management to the organization.

Sponsor: 

Senate Commerce Committee

Date: 
Wed, 09/05/2018 - 15:00

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will hold an executive session to consider legislative measures and nominations including:

  • Nomination of Kelvin Droegemeier, of Oklahoma, to be Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy
  • Nomination of James Morhard, of Virginia, to be Deputy Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration


The Stark Limbo of Geoffrey Starks

It's been about two months of stall on the Senate floor for the nomination of Geoffrey Starks, the preferred choice of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to fill the vacant seat at the Federal Communications Commission. But the Senate is still spinning its wheels on the nominee, despite bipartisan support for moving Starks alongside fellow-Commissioner Brendan Carr’s nomination for a second term. The delay comes as Republicans have sought to assemble a bigger package of Trump administration nominees that could advance by unanimous consent.

The reluctant regulator: The Rural Utilities Service and American broadband policy

Drawing on the increasing body of literature on policy stakeholders and the ever-growing acknowledgement that communication policy is crafted by more than just parliamentarians and formal communication regulators this paper examines the role that another set of regulators plays in communication policy: agriculture regulators. Based on a study of the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS), this paper explores alternative agents of communication policy.

FCC Announces Anticipated Disability Advisory Committee Renewal and Membership Solicitiation

By this Public Notice, the Federal Communications Commission announces the anticipated renewal of its Disability Advisory Committee (Committee) and solicits applications for membership on the Committee, subject to renewal of the Committee’s charter. Applications for membership are due by 11:59 P.M. EST on September 21, 2018. The mission of the Committee is to make recommendations to the Commission regarding disability issues specified by the Commission.

Chairman Pai to attend Portland (ME) Sept fundraising event for Maine Heritage Policy Center

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai will deliver the keynote address for the Maine Heritage Policy Center, a conservative research organization, at a fundraising luncheon in September. The center noted Chairman Pai's controversial role in ending the FCC’s net neutrality regulations and touted his efforts to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. Chairman Pai will attend the center’s 2018 Freedom & Opportunity Luncheon. “The FCC Chairman’s regulatory philosophy is informed by a few simple principles, competition paramount among them,” the center stated.

BSA and Industry Leaders Urge Nomination of Under Secretary to Serve as Ombudsperson for the Privacy Shield

Tech industry leaders sent a letter to Secretary of State Michael Pompeo urging him to put forward a qualified candidate to serve as the Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment. In addition to advocating for open markets and fair trade policies, the Under Secretary plays a critical role as Ombudsperson for the US-EU Privacy Shield Framework, which facilities trans-Atlantic data transfers and is essential to almost every US industry. 

FirstNet Board Leaders Announce Plans to Retire

FirstNet Board Chair Sue Swenson and Vice Chair Jeffrey Johnson notified Assistant Secretary of Commerce David Redl of their resignation from the FirstNet board. Formal letters of resignation have been submitted to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross.

Judge Brett Kavanaugh Chose Corporations Over the Public in a Major Net Neutrality Fight

An exacting look at Judge Brett Kavanaugh's judicial record is crucial to understand where he stands on issues of critical importance to the American people. In one such case, United States Telecom Association. v. FCC, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals was called upon to review the constitutionality of the Federal Communications Commission’s net neutrality regulations from 2015.

Sponsor: 

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Date: 
Thu, 08/23/2018 - 15:15

A hearing to consider three presidential nominees. 

Witnesses:

  • Dr. Kelvin Droegemeier, of Oklahoma, to be the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy
  • Mr. James “Jim” Morhard, of Virginia, to be Deputy Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  • Mr. Joel Szabat, of Maryland, to be Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs at the Department of Transportation


FCC Seeks Applicants for BDAC Disaster Response and Recovery Group

The Federal Communications Commission solicits nominations for membership on a new Disaster Response and Recovery Working Group of the Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (BDAC). This new working group will assist the BDAC in providing advice and recommendations to the FCC on steps that can be taken to improve disaster preparation, response, and recovery for broadband infrastructure.

Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board Nominations

President Donald Trump has two nominees to join the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board for the remainder of six-year terms expiring January 29, 2020: