The Senate Commerce Committee is eyeing March 27 as the date for a media marketplace hearing, several lobbyists told us Friday. The hearing is expected to be a likely precursor to Senate Commerce's debate on reauthorizing the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act, lobbyists said. The House Communications Subcommittee held a similar hearing in September (see 1809270062). Senate Commerce Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said in February he views STELA renewal as a "must-pass" measure despite lobbying by broadcasters against such action (see 1902270018). The committee is lining up witnesses for the potential hearing, lobbyists said. Senate Commerce didn't comment.
The House Consumer Protection Subcommittee plans a Thursday hearing on improving technology to prevent drunken driving. The hearing begins at 10 a.m. in 2123 Rayburn. "Every year, over 10,000 Americans die in what should be completely preventable drunk driving accidents,” said House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and House Consumer Protection Chair Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill. “At next week’s hearing, we want to discuss ways Congress can encourage the enhancement of vehicle technology to prevent these tragic deaths.”
President Donald Trump signed the package of FY 2019 federal spending bills Friday that Congress passed Thursday via House Joint Resolution 31, the White House said. There's no longer potential for another government shutdown affecting the FCC until at least after the fiscal year ends Sept. 30. The House cleared the measures 300-128 hours after the Senate approved (see 1902140046). The funding bills included a combined $339 million for the FCC and its Office of Inspector General, almost $310 million for the FTC and $39.5 million for NTIA. It includes additional funding to the FAA for unmanned aircraft systems integration activities and language that would clarify rules for the U.S. Department of Agriculture ReConnect pilot distance learning, telemedicine and broadband program. The FCC had said before the measure's passage it would have to close if a lapse in funding had occurred (see 1902130046).
Congress appeared on the way Thursday to enacting the seven remaining FY 2019 federal spending bills and avoiding a new partial government hiatus that would automatically shutter the FCC (see 1902130046). The current continuing resolution to temporarily fund agencies previously affected during the recent 35-day shutdown (see 1901280044) is to expire Friday night. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said President Donald Trump will sign the legislation but also intends to declare a national emergency to reallocate funds for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. The Senate voted 83-16 Thursday to adopt an appropriators' conference report that would enact the remaining spending bills, which include appropriations for the FCC, FTC and NTIA. The House was to vote Thursday night. The legislation provides a combined $339 million to the FCC and its Office of Inspector General, almost $310 million to the FTC and $39.5 million to NTIA. It would clarify rules for the Department of Agriculture's $600 million ReConnect pilot distance learning, telemedicine and broadband program. Congress allocated the ReConnect pilot funding in March as part of the FY 2018 omnibus spending bill (see 1803220048).
Congress should develop a law that recognizes privacy as a “fundamental human right,” Cisco said Thursday. CEO Chuck Robbins called for a global standard that allows “ethical movement” of data among countries. U.S. law should ensure customers that “enforcement of privacy rights will be robust without costly and unnecessary litigation,” Cisco said.
The House Communications and Judiciary Antitrust subcommittees decided to hold separate hearings next week on T-Mobile's proposed purchase of Sprint instead of a previous plan for a joint Feb. 13 panel (see 1901280051). Both committees cited scheduling conflicts. Communications said it will still hold its hearing at 10 a.m. Feb. 13 in 2123 Rayburn. The Antitrust panel will begin at 10 a.m. Feb. 14 in 2141 Rayburn. Sprint Executive Chairman Marcelo Claure and T-Mobile CEO John Legere are set to testify at both hearings, aides told us. Democrats are divided over the transaction, with Rep. Anna Eshoo of California emerging as a prominent backer and Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan as an opponent (see 1901300044 and 1902050050).
Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., seeks House colleagues' support for a forthcoming letter to the FCC and DOJ Antitrust Division opposing T-Mobile's proposed purchase of Sprint. An earlier letter from Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., and others endorses the deal (see 1901300044). The House Communications Subcommittee is to probe T-Mobile/Sprint during a hearing next week (see 1901280051). "While it may make business sense to executives, this is a bad deal for the American people," Tlaib says in the draft for FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and DOJ Antitrust head Makan Delrahim. "The proposed merger would kill American jobs, reduce competition in the already highly concentrated wireless market, and raise prices for consumers -- with particular harm to low- and moderate- income consumers and people of color." Sprint doesn't "own the low-band spectrum which is ideal for rural areas," so the combination won't improve rural coverage, it says.
Sens. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., Mark Warner, D-Va., Roy Blunt, R-Mo., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., reintroduced the Startup Act Thursday. The bill carves out visa exemptions for immigrant entrepreneurs and advanced degree holders and provides taxpayer-funded research and regional innovation programs “to spur economic growth and promote innovation,” the lawmakers said. Engine and Tech:NYC back it.
CTIA President Meredith Baker and Competitive Carriers Association President Steve Berry are among those set to testify at an expected Feb. 6 Senate Commerce Committee hearing on 5G deployment issues, the committee said Wednesday. Intelligent Transportation Society of America President Shailen Bhatt, U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission member Michael Wessel and Urbanova CEO Kim Zentz will also testify. The hearing is to begin immediately after a 10 a.m. Senate Commerce executive session in G50 Dirksen. The hearing, a priority for committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss. (see 1901090055), will “focus on key steps to maintain U.S. global leadership in next-generation communications technology, spectrum needs to accelerate deployment, and new applications and services consumers can expect with 5G deployments,” the committee said. “The hearing will also examine current efforts to modernize infrastructure siting policies and the security of 5G networks.” There may be interest in discussing the Streamlining the Rapid Evolution and Modernization of Leading-Edge Infrastructure Necessary to Enhance Small Cell Deployment Act during the hearing, lobbyists said. The bill, filed last Congress, aims to implement a “reasonable process and timeframe guidelines” for state and local small-cell consideration (see 1806290063). It faced opposition from state and local governments (see 1810040055).
Reports that Facebook manipulated kids into spending their parents’ money on in-app purchases without permission signals the platform puts profit ahead of user well-being, Sens. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., wrote the company Tuesday. The Center for Investigative Reporting found “users requested refunds for over 9% of the money Facebook made from children,” they wrote. The company voluntarily unsealed documents on a 2012 case about refund policies when contacted by the center in 2018, a spokesperson emailed: “We routinely examine our own practices, and in 2016 agreed to update our terms and provide dedicated resources for refund requests related to purchases made by minors.”