The Innovation Agenda 2.0 initiative under development by House Democrats hopefully will include the introduction of legislation this year, said Communications Subcommittee ranking member Anna Eshoo, D-Calif. She joined Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., for a private roundtable of officials at Stanford University Tuesday. Pelosi and Eshoo announced the initiative’s revival in January (see 1601260060). “Ten years ago, I convened a group of our nation’s thought leaders at Stanford University to take on the bold challenge of developing an Innovation Agenda for our country to keep America number one in key fields,” Eshoo said in a statement circulated to local California media this week in an advisory provided by an Eshoo aide. “What eventually followed was enactment of policies that have propelled progress. From the establishment of ARPA-E [Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy], our foremost R&D body for energy technology, to expanding capital investment, STEM [science, technology, engineering and math] education and broadband deployment, we’ve made tremendous strides. The Innovation Agenda 2.0 will identify bold new initiatives to build on previous accomplishments and help shape a robust, competitive economy for our collective future.” A Stanford official included many details about the event on the university website, including Eshoo’s promise of legislation this year. The Democrats also plan roundtables around the country over the next three months to develop this agenda, as expected. Stanford University said two dozen participants were invited to the private roundtable, including Stanford President John Hennessy, Regis Management Chairman John Freidenrich, Santa Clara University President Michael Engh, Intuit CEO Brad Smith, Paradigm CEO Joelle Emerson, Gilead CEO John Milligan and Stanford Technology Ventures Program Director Tom Byers. Rep. Mike Honda, D-Calif., also joined them, he tweeted this week, showing several photos of his visit with the lawmakers. Two big topics discussed Tuesday were said to have been immigration and education, both likely part of the new agenda. Pelosi’s office released a three-page analysis this month, prepared by her office and that of Eshoo, of what they now call Innovation Agenda 1.0 and its 22 planks and the legislation enacted from them. One section was devoted to broadband. Pelosi touted the broadband progress in another one-page sheet on agenda accomplishments. “Now, House Democrats are crafting an Innovation Agenda 2.0 that builds on the initiatives that were launched nine years ago,” Pelosi said in a section of her website devoted to the initiative.

Technology groups hailed Senate passage of the Judicial Redress Act (HR-1428) Tuesday, saying it's integral to both the newly negotiated EU-U.S. Privacy Shield and the "umbrella agreement," which is a data-exchange pact between law enforcement agencies on both sides of the Atlantic (see 1601270067). The Senate-amended HR-1428, which must now go back to the House for another vote (see 1601280024), would give European citizens legal recourse to challenge and correct data used by some federal agencies (see 1601290021). Computer & Communications Industry Association CEO Ed Black said in a Wednesday statement that unanimous Senate passage sends a "strong message that the U.S. is taking steps to improve privacy protections. Adding these safeguards will help rebuild Europeans’ trust with the U.S. post-Snowden -- and it was the right thing to do.” He was referring to NSA document leaker Edward Snowden. CTA, the Information Technology Industry Council and BSA|The Software Alliance made similar supportive statements. EU officials have said the Judicial Redress Act is an important element in getting the newly updated safe harbor framework approved in Europe (see 1602080008).

One House Democrat attempted “setting the record straight about set-top boxes,” said the title of a fact sheet from the office of Communications Subcommittee ranking member Anna Eshoo, D-Calif. The one-page fact sheet, not released publicly but confirmed as authentic by a Democratic aide, is dated Wednesday and includes four sections about the recent set-top box proposals from FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler. The first section argues for the importance of the proposal: “Because of the lack of competition in the set-top box space, consumers today are paying on average a whopping $231 per year on rental fees alone.” The sheet also quotes praise from newspaper editorial boards and blasts what it says are four fictions. Wheeler’s proposal would not affect copyright and does nothing “to eliminate protections for privacy, emergency alerts, and children’s advertising,” the Eshoo fact sheet said. It “will enhance independent and minority programming, giving consumers the ability to choose set-top boxes or apps with improved search functionality and user interfaces” and “is technology neutral, meaning any company will be able to manufacture a set-top box or design an app and sell it to consumers,” it said. Much of the cable and telecom industry has resisted Wheeler’s proposal, forming a group known as the Future of TV Coalition (see 1601290060). Eshoo lauded Wheeler’s set-top box plans last month (see 1601270064).

Multiple pieces of House legislation introduced this week involve drones and the spectrum they require. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., introduced legislation that would require the Federal Aviation Administration to appoint a deputy associate administrator for unmanned aircraft to “develop strategies” for drone spectrum issues. This Commercial Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Modernization Act (HR-4432) has no co-sponsors and is referred to the House Transportation and Science committees. It’s similar to legislation introduced by Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., last year. “Broadcasters believe UAS can help improve newsgathering, especially during times of emergency, and support regulations that enable their responsible use,” an NAB spokesman said of the proposal, which he said “contributes to a sensible framework for the commercial operation of unmanned aircraft systems.” Drone issues are expected to receive substantial attention this year in the bicameral FAA reauthorization effort, likely to start within the House Transportation Committee and continue through the Senate Commerce Committee. Chief Republicans on the House Transportation Committee introduced a six-year FAA reauthorization bill Wednesday that included spectrum language. The bill would spin off air traffic control from the FAA, to operate under a federally chartered air traffic control corporation. “Beginning on the date of transfer, the Secretary [of Transportation] shall provide the Corporation with such access to the spectrum systems used by the FAA before the date of transfer to provide air traffic services, and any successor spectrum systems, and to the data from such systems, as is necessary to enable the Corporation to provide air traffic services under this subtitle,” said the text of the Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act (HR-4441). Senior Transportation Committee Democrats opposed that proposal, they said in a statement Wednesday. It will be subject to a hearing and markup next week.

Marking up the Email Privacy Act, which would update the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), is planned for March, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., said Wednesday. But no exact date was set. "Over the past several years, the Committee has conducted robust oversight of this decades-old law and has worked with stakeholders to identify reform priorities," Goodlatte said in a statement. "It’s clear that the law needs to be modernized and updated to ensure it keeps pace with ever-changing technologies so that we protect Americans’ constitutional rights and provide law enforcement with the tools they need for criminal investigations in the digital age." HR-699 would require law enforcement and civilian agencies such as the SEC to get a search warrant in all instances if they want access to people's electronic communications (see 1512010054). ECPA allows agencies to access electronic information older than 180 days with a subpoena, which is easier to get than a warrant. The bill was introduced almost exactly a year ago and is arguably one of the most popular bipartisan bills, with more than 300 co-sponsors, but it didn't get a hearing until December. Privacy groups and the private sector widely support the bill, but civilian government agencies oppose parts -- mainly the requirement to get a warrant in all instances. Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Pat Leahy, D-Vt., sponsored the Senate version, called the ECPA Amendments Act (S-356). A hearing on that bill was held in September, but there has been no action on it since.

Industry officials told us partisan frustrations may have flared up because of how the Consumer Video Choice Coalition did outreach for Friday's set-top box demonstration for Capitol Hill staffers at Google’s Washington office (see 1601290060). But the coalition told us it has always been ready to offer bipartisan demonstrations and expects more to come, with congressional interest rising last week due to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler’s announcement on set-top issues. Invitations initially went only to certain Democratic Hill offices, but word spread to GOP offices and caused some discontent, prompting invitations to be sent to a wider array of offices Thursday after 5 p.m., one media industry official told us. Some Democratic offices -- including that of House Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J. -- also didn’t receive invitations, at least initially, according to officials. “I wasn’t involved with invites, but I heard that both Republicans and Democrats were present,” Public Knowledge Senior Staff Attorney John Bergmayer said Monday of the demonstration. A Google spokeswoman confirmed the demonstration took place but wouldn’t comment on its critiques or on the Hill invitations, instead referring us to a spokesman for Incompas. Google, Public Knowledge and Incompas are members of the CVCC. “We’ve had multiple bipartisan demonstrations of the competitive solution and are planning more,” Incompas CEO Chip Pickering told us in a statement Monday. “Interest level in the competitive demonstrations has spiked following Chairman Wheeler's announcement that he would seek to unlock the box and end cable's set-top box monopoly. We are thrilled several Hill offices have expressed new interest.” The CVCC also issued a statement Monday defending the demo from cable and telecom industry attacks and highlighting the public nature of such a demonstration going back to last year in the relevant FCC proceeding.

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., tied what he hopes is a pending Senate vote on the conference version of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act (HR-644) to congressional approval of the Obama administration’s Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. “I hope we get that voted on in this work period,” said Thune, third-ranking Republican in leadership and chairman of the Commerce Committee, of the customs trade bill, speaking to reporters Thursday. “Right now, I think it’s just a function of making sure the votes are there on both sides.” He said “both sides are kind of working it” in recent weeks. This work period concludes with the Presidents Day recess, the week of Feb. 16. The customs conference report includes the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act language, a priority for Thune, who said earlier in January that he expected ITFA backers to override any point of order raised in an attempt to strip the ITFA provision from the trade bill and that he expected a vote soon on the measure (see 1601120070). Some in the Senate would prefer to see the ITFA language advance with the Marketplace Fairness Act rather than alone with the customs trade bill. “On ITFA, the Democrats here are trying to hold that up over MFA, but I think, you know, those are two very separate issues,” Thune said. "I’ve had conversations with Democrats in the Senate, obviously had some conversations with the White House, too, about getting them more engaged, but I think the message is we need customs in order to get TPP moving.” If there will be “any kind of vote on TPP,” the customs bill must move, because without its enforcement pieces in place, “the pro-trade Democrats won’t vote for it," Thune predicted.

Talk of wireless spectrum reallocation from GOP presidential contender Marco Rubio to the editorial board of the Des Moines Register earlier this month (see 1601070029) translated into the editorial board's mention of such spectrum policy when endorsing Rubio for the GOP nomination this week. “Rubio would prime that new economy by embracing innovation,” the editorial board said in its endorsement. “He would auction off portions of the wireless spectrum controlled by government, allowing freer flow of online traffic. He’d remove barriers to enable the next Uber to take off. He’d require a cost-benefit analysis of federal regulations.” Rubio, a Florida Republican senator on the Commerce Committee, had brought up his spectrum overhaul plans of his own volition when meeting with the board, which didn't follow up on the topic. The newspaper’s endorsement for the Democratic nomination -- former secretary of state Hillary Clinton -- didn’t mention telecom policy. The Iowa caucus, which kicks off the presidential primary season, is Monday.

The FCC isn't considering the AllVid video proposal, Chairman Tom Wheeler reassured members of the Congressional Black Caucus in a response dated Jan. 15 and released Monday. He criticized “misinformation” about what the FCC is considering and currently doing under Section 629 of the Communications Act. “The issue before the Commission is how to obey Section 629 in a world of evolving technology,” Wheeler said. “A monopoly-provided set top box would appear to be the opposite of the choice inherent in an ‘app TV’ future and contrary to the statutory mandate.” He also reassured caucus members that any alternative considered by the FCC “will include the critical capabilities to receive emergency alerts, protect privacy and abide by copyright rules.”

NCTA is repeating its request for Congress to permanently extend the Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA). "Congress has a chance to stop the cycle of temporary reprieves and act to make ITFA permanent," NCTA said in a blog post Thursday. "We hope they do so." The group cited a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., signed by such organizations as the Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council, Competitive Enterprise Institute, Digital Liberty, Media Freedom and TechFreedom calling a permanent ITFA extension "critical to all Americans and the future of our overall economy." NCTA, CTIA and USTelecom wrote a similar letter to senators in December (see 1512140054).