LAS VEGAS -- Broadcasters have made great progress toward realizing the promise of ATSC 3.0, but for the transition to succeed long term they need the FCC to sunset the requirement that 3.0 broadcasts be "substantially similar" to ATSC 1.0 content, said several broadcast executives on multiple weekend panels at the NAB Show 2022.
The FTC appears to be taking too broad of an approach to its potential privacy rulemaking (see 2204180049), Commissioner Noah Phillips told us Monday. He spoke at a George Mason University event the day after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., announced the Senate plans to confirm Alvaro Bedoya as fifth commissioner this week.
Elon Musk will buy Twitter for $44 billion and take it private (see 2204210038), the company announced Monday to Republican cheers and Democratic concerns. Unanimously approved by Twitter’s board, the deal is expected to close this year, the company said. Stockholders will receive $54.20 cash for each share of Twitter common stock, a 38% premium to Twitter's closing stock price April 1, the company said. Musk disclosed his 9% stake in Twitter on March 31. Stock dropped 5.66% Monday, closing at $51.70.
Consumer hours spent streaming will continue to swell, but consumers' approach to subscription VOD services is becoming more “discriminating,” Parks Associates Research Director Paul Erickson told us Friday.
An eleventh-hour amendment won’t help Florida overcome constitutional problems with its law making it illegal for social media sites to deplatform political candidates and requiring them to be transparent about policing, and could even help tech industry challengers' case, opponents of the law said Monday.
State engagement in antitrust cases has “significantly increased because of Big Tech,” Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson (R) said at a Nebraska Governance and Technology Center conference livestreamed Friday. With increasing interest in tech litigation and legislation, states should seek to avoid unintended consequences, warned academics and industry officials.
Three community colleges in Maricopa County, Arizona, are working with industry to soon launch a “quick start” program aimed at seeding “first-generation college-goers” for careers in semiconductor fabs, Leah Palmer, executive director of the Arizona Advanced Manufacturing Institute at Mesa Community College in Tempe, told a Semiconductor Industry Association webinar Thursday on the challenges and opportunities of attracting skilled talent to the U.S. semiconductor workforce. Intel, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and 15 other chipmakers and their suppliers are involved.
The FTC and DOJ are relying on faulty antitrust theories to single out digital platforms, tech industry groups told the agencies in comments on enforcers’ review of merger guidelines (see 2204080056). Sector-specific antitrust laws are appropriate due to the unprecedented control companies like Amazon, Facebook and Google have over digital markets, consumer groups told the agencies.
Verizon’s stock closed Friday at $51.91, down 5.64%, after management lowered guidance slightly for full-year 2022 as the company released Q1 results. CEO Hans Vestberg said the company’s 5G build is going well, as is its deployment using C-band spectrum. Verizon predicted adjusted earnings will be at the low end of prior guidance of 2% to 3% growth, and revenue will grow at the lower end of its 9% to 10% forecast.
The FCC approved 4-0 a notice of inquiry asking questions about standards for receivers. As expected (see 2204190053), the main change from what Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel circulated were questions on encouraging innovation for both receivers and transmitters, added at Commissioner Geoffrey Starks' request. Commissioner Nathan Simington has made the issue one of his top focuses since he joined the FCC.