Senate-Passed 'Minibus' Funding Bill Includes Privacy, Drone Amendments

The Senate-passed FY 2019 “minibus” appropriations bill (HR-6147), which includes FCC and FTC funding, includes two tech-centric amendments. One would bar the Department of Transportation from spending its FY 2019 funding to administer requirements on use of electronic logging devices by operators of commercial motor vehicles. Another allocates $6 million in matching funds to “qualified commercial entities seeking to demonstrate or validate” FAA-designated drone technologies at agency-designated test sites. The Senate passed HR-6147 Wednesday on a 92-6 vote with an amendment that would clarify rules for the $600 million Rural Utilities Service-administered pilot distance learning, telemedicine and broadband program (see 1808010064).