Spoofing remains a particularly acute problem for U.S. residents already besieged by run-of-the-mill robocalls, with close to one in four robocall complaints to the FCC involving some form of spoofing, per our analysis of those complaints. The agency often says robocalls are the biggest source of public complaints it receives. Via a Freedom of Information Act request, we obtained and then reviewed the 446 complaints the agency received on one day, July 1. Per data from the agency's Consumer Complaints Center, it received just shy of 161,000 robocall complaints last year.
Country of origin cases
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 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.
Sidus Space, a space-as-a-service satellite company, says John Curry, ex-NASA and Blue Origin, was appointed chief mission operations officer … Online learning network Noodle hires OppFi’s Catie Starr as chief marketing officer ... LendingPoint, financing platform for e-commerce merchants, taps Liberty Lending’s Ryan Scully, also ex-Discover, as CMO ... Digital assets platform Bakkt adds De’Ana Dow, Capitol Counsel partner-general counsel, and Jill Simeone, Etsy chief legal officer-corporate secretary, to its board, expanding it to 10 members ... My Telescope, Swedish audience measurement startup, adds Steve Farella, from MDC Media Partners, to its board.
The Florida House voted 70-38 to remove an exemption for theme park owners from its social media law. Many Democrats voted no while loudly demonstrating against redistricting bills passed earlier that day. SB-6 “is the bill repealing the carveout that every Democrat voted to oppose last year,” said Rep. Alex Andrade (R) before the webcast vote. The Senate passed it Wednesday, a day after Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) asked legislators to remove special districts and privileges for Disney in Florida in response to the company’s opposition to HB-1557, what opponents call the “Don’t Say Gay” law (see 2204200047). The governor’s office didn’t comment on when DeSantis would sign. Oral argument is scheduled for next Thursday on the underlying social media law at the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. With Congress not passing any “meaningful” online content regulations, “state governments have begun experimenting with ways to regulate online expression,” said a University of North Carolina Center on Technology Policy report released Thursday. “On the right, legislators have introduced dozens of bills addressing what they see as problematic online censorship. On the left, legislators have introduced a series of bills addressing what they see as harmful online content. Yet, state legislation from both Democrats and Republicans faces significant legal and practical challenges, limiting the efficacy of state government reform efforts to date.” Asked Thursday about his support for the amended bill, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr disputed that the removal of the theme park exemption was a response to Disney’s political speech. The proclamation calling for a special session to amend the bill frames the change as a response to the courts criticizing the original legislation for giving Disney special status, Carr said on a press call. “Eliminating that legal vulnerability made sense,” he said.
YouTube’s announcement last week that it renewed its partnership with Major League Baseball to stream 15 games live and for free this season is part of a race to claim exclusive sports streaming rights that led some sports leagues to become “increasingly fractured across services,” blogged eMarketer Monday. Under the deal, viewers in 182 countries will have access to the games.
Letters of intent from entities interested in heading the industry-led efforts to trace the origin of suspected unlawful calls are due by May 20, said an FCC Enforcement Bureau public notice Wednesday in docket 20-22. USTelecom, the current registered consortium, isn't required to file an LOI (see 2108250081). Comments are due by June 3, replies June 10, on the letters and whether to redesignate USTelecom.
NAB completed construction on a new media production facility at its Washington, D.C., headquarters, it said in a news release Monday. The studio was built with donations of “critical equipment and studio design services” from numerous companies, including Vitec, Magis Media and Planar, the release said. The association “has a critical need for advanced audio and video production capabilities,” said NAB Executive Vice President-Industry Affairs April Carty-Sipp. The studio includes a 15-foot, curved, interactive video wall to be a backdrop for recordings, robotic cameras and an edit suite capable of 8K post-production. “NAB will use the studio to create national spots and branded educational content for its members,” the release said. “External organizations may rent the studio and its staff for original productions as well.”
As NTIA and the states work through the details of the more than $48 billion in connectivity money that will be awarded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the wireless industry is making a concerted push to make sure wireless remains part of the equation. Some state officials remain skeptical of how big of a role wireless will play, and remain focused on fiber. Industry officials are watching closely for NTIA rules due out in May.
Embratel is seeking U.S. market access for its Brazil-licensed Star One D2 satellite, which launched in July. In an FCC International Bureau application Tuesday, it said D2 -- which would operate at 70 degrees west -- and its Ku-band service would supplement the Star One C2 satellite. It said D2 would provide service it originally anticipated would be provided by its C4 satellite, though Embratel declined the FCC's C4 authorization.