NTIA filed the eagerly awaited petition to the FCC to clarify Communications Decency Act Section 230, as instructed by President Donald Trump's executive order. The changes would say when certain industry actions such as by social media platforms wouldn't be exempted under the liability safe harbor. The administration now also asked "to impose disclosure requirements similar those imposed on other internet companies, such as major broadband service providers, to promote free and open debate on the internet."
The FCC delayed until September 2020 plans to move to new headquarters near Union Station after concerns arose about employees possibly being infected during the packing process. That's according to our interviews with staff, a spokesperson and Friday's internal memo that said workers can telework until at least June 2021. The spokesperson confirmed that the memo was sent. That followed our news bulletin earlier Friday. It's now in front of the pay wall here.
The FCC will allow staffers who are teleworking to continue doing so until at least June, regardless of location, said a Friday emailed memo to staff from Chairman Ajit Pai’s Chief of Staff Matthew Berry “We want to provide those with concerns ranging from childcare to their own health with the peace of mind that they will have the flexibility they need over the coming months.” The decision was made “in light of recent announcements by school districts as well as the ongoing nature of the pandemic.”
NARUC and FCC leaders are in agreement that inmate calling service rates need to be examined. NARUC President Brandon Presley agreed with FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, Presley wrote Thursday. Pai had written the organization earlier this week.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai asked NARUC and state regulators to act against high inmate calling service rates for calls within states. His letter Monday comes as the federal agency is poised to vote Aug. 6 on lowering some interstate inmate calling service rates and amid a focus by communications stakeholders and others on racial justice and diversity.
The tech industry wants a transition to a new data sharing regime between the U.S. and Europe, after a European court rejected Privacy Shield. Early Thursday EDT, the European Court of Justice ruled against aspects of PS. The case involves Max Schrems, who has been challenging PS for some time.
Bidding on using the C band for things like 5G, necessitating moving satellite operators, is one FCC auction that won't be delayed due to COVID-19 and its fallout. Chairman Ajit Pai made the announcement Wednesday as he disclosed items for the Aug. 6 commissioners' meeting.
The Senate Commerce Committee plans a July 22 vote on advancing FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly’s renomination to a term ending in 2024, as expected.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai wants commissioners to vote at the FCC's Aug. 6 meeting on prison phone rates, an issue attracting additional scrutiny during COVID-19 and amid protests over policing, criminal justice and racial diversity. Inmate calling services providers would "generally be subject to the FCC’s rules when it comes to ancillary service charges -- including our fee caps and our limits on the types of charges allowed," Pai blogged Wednesday.
SES filed a $1.8 billion claim Tuesday in Intelsat's bankruptcy, claiming the rival C-band operator committed breach of contract and of fiduciary duties plus unjust enrichment stemming from Intelsat's alleged violation of the C-Band Alliance agreement terms. Intelsat didn't comment. The claim, filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Richmond, said the CBA agreement set up SES and Intelsat as the lead members, splitting both control and the vast majority of the alliance's proceeds. SES said even after FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said the agency would pursue a public auction, the two still continued to partner until the draft C-band order, which laid out incentive payment terms for the satellite operators, with Intelsat getting a bigger share.