Trump Signs Continuing Resolution, Ending Federal Shutdown

President Donald Trump signed a continuing resolution to fund the federal government through Feb. 8, as expected (see 1801220038). The House passed the measure 266-150 after an 81-18 Senate vote Monday. The federal government fully reopened Tuesday morning, which is "good news," FCC Chairman Ajit Pai told the Broadband Development Advisory Committee (see 1801230043). Another government closure would hurt device makers and tech companies, Hogan Lovells lawyers blogged. Michele Farquhar, Trey Hanbury and Ryan Thompson questioned what a “protracted shutdown” would mean for the technology, media and telecom industries and the billions of dollars of investment that depend on action by regulators. “How soon before Samsung and Apple face launch delays for products that need FCC approval to enter the market?” they asked Tuesday. “When will GoPro, Nintendo, Tile, Roku and other consumer electronics makers start to see product delays? ... Will a shutdown affect the nation’s bid in the global race for leadership in the deployment of advanced, fifth-generation wireless networks?” Device makers would likely feel the pinch first, they wrote. In the U.S., “virtually all electronic devices must receive FCC equipment certification prior to sale,” they noted.