When a public figure makes a statement violating Twitter rules, the platform doesn’t remove the post in order to allow public discussion and scrutiny, which was the case with President Donald Trump’s recent comments about looting (see 2006160059), Director-Global Public Policy Strategy and Development Nick Pickles told House Intelligence Committee Democrats Thursday.
Country of origin cases
The FCC won’t extend the June 29 deadline for initial comments on the Further NPRM on 6 GHz rules, as requested by the Ultra Wide Band Alliance (see 2006120019). “The window originally provided for comments and reply comments is adequate to develop complete, fully supported comments and reply comments,” the Office of Engineering and Technology said in Tuesday's order in docket 18-295. OET noted many areas are returning to normal, “which should provide the ability to conduct most, if not all, tests that parties plan.”
NTIA officials warned Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee leaders that the Trump administration’s long-awaited spectrum strategy (see 1907310033) won’t be ready before the group meets in July, CSMAC members confirmed Tuesday. The delay complicated the work of CSMAC’s Spectrum Strategy Governance Subcommittee, which is developing a report on potential major changes to federal oversight of spectrum, expected to be presented at the meeting (see [Ref:2004220059). The subcommittee was originally charged with working from the strategy to develop the report, CSMAC members said. NTIA didn’t comment. The exact date of the meeting hasn’t been set, but it’s expected to be virtual, CSMAC members said. The strategy has been in the works since October 2018. Last July was the original deadline for completing the document.
Microsoft, public interest groups and some broadcasters disagree with NAB, America’s Public Television Stations, larger broadcasters such as Meredith and Tegna, and both the BitPath (formerly SpectrumCo) and PearlTV ATSC 3.0 consortiums on whether proposed changes to the rules on TV distributed transmission systems would lead to stations with vastly expanded reach. “The intent of the proposed rule change is not to have broadcasters reach viewers beyond their authorized service area,” said Pearl TV in comments filed by Friday’s deadline in docket 20-74, urging the FCC to “stay focused.” The FCC shouldn’t be “spawning monstrous megastations that are largely divorced from any real connection to the ‘communities’ that they are licensed to serve,” said TV broadcaster PMCM.
Sonos CEO Patrick Spence slammed Google's alleging his company is stealing “substantial volumes” of Google’s patented technology in search, audio processing and streaming (see 2006110024). Google’s complaint (in Pacer) against Sonos Thursday in U.S. District Court in San Francisco came five months after Sonos alleged Google stole the technologies in five of its multiroom audio patents. Instead of addressing the “merits” of the Sonos allegations against Google, “and paying us what we're owed, Google has chosen to use their size and breadth to try and find areas in which they can retaliate,” said Spence in a statement Thursday: “We look forward to winning our original case, and this newly filed case as well.” Google “seems to have no shame in copying the innovations of smaller American companies in their attempts to extend their search and advertising monopolies into new categories,” said Spence. “We're mostly sad to see a once innovative company with the mission of ‘Do No Evil’ avoid addressing the fact they've infringed on our inventions, and have turned to strong arm tactics the robber barons of old would have applauded." A Google spokesperson declined comment Friday. We’re told Google for now won’t take its allegations to the International Trade Commission, as Sonos did against Google in January. The ITC’s Tariff Act Section 337 investigation into the Sonos complaint is in the discovery phase, where it reached an impasse over the remote review of source code evidence because in-person meetings aren't possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The FCC Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council approved a report Wednesday that warned vulnerabilities in 4G networks could carry over into a 5G world. The report was developed by the Managing Security Risk in the Transition to 5G Working Group and is expected to be posted by the FCC Thursday, officials said. CSRIC also got an additional charge from the FCC to look at duplicative weather alerts. The group met virtually for the second time because of COVID-19.
The Senate Homeland Security Investigations Subcommittee said Tuesday it believes further action from Congress is needed to define the role of the “Team Telecom” federal agencies to strengthen their ability to assist the FCC in reviewing foreign takeovers of U.S. communications assets. The committee believes more action is warranted because Team Telecom’s limited authority allowed the departments to do only “minimal oversight” of the potential national security risks a trio of Chinese telecom companies posed to U.S. networks. The team is DOD, the Department of Homeland Security and DOJ.
USTelecom and its members urged the FCC to launch an order soon on a February consensus proposal on toll-free access rates. Rural and competitive LECs want to make sure they don't lose revenue in the process or face added costs. Activity in docket 18-156 heated up in recent weeks as stakeholders lobby Wireline Bureau staff and commissioner offices. The commission issued a Further NPRM two years ago (see 1807020040). At issue is who pays to move toll-free traffic and who gets revenue for it.
A draft FCC NPRM seeking comment on the future use of the 70, 80 and 90 GHz bands is expected to be approved Tuesday with unanimous support of commissioners, FCC officials said. Two satellite companies weighed in on protecting satellite operations. The NPRM contemplates using the spectrum for wireless backhaul for 5G and to provide broadband to aircraft and ships. Satellite industry officials said they haven’t heard anything definitive but hope for tweaks to the NPRM.
Fifteen percent of U.S. broadband households said they used more telehealth or remote doctor services due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a Parks Associates survey fielded March 8-April 3 found. Parks’ Connected Health Summit, originally scheduled for Sept. 1-3 in San Diego, will now be a virtual event.