Epidemic Still Forcing Industry Cancellations, Accommodations

• NARUC is “taking the pandemic seriously” and is canceling or postponing all scheduled events through May, said President Brandon Presley Wednesday. To help minimize the internet “disruption” and better enable access to online services “via mobile rather than fixed broadband,” Presley asked the FCC “to require wireless carriers to lift data caps and drop data overage charges on wireless plans. I urge telecommunications companies to work proactively with communities to ensure that students left out of school are not left behind academically.”

• The FCC Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment (ACDDE) will host a “wholly telephonic and electronic” meeting April 28, said a public notice Wednesday. The meeting will include reports from the Access to Capital, Digital Empowerment and Inclusion, and Diversity in the Tech Sector working groups, the PN said. The meeting is moving to a virtual format "in light of travel restrictions and other concerns affecting members of the ACDDE and FCC staff" from the increasing number of COVID-19 cases, it said.

• Fletcher Heald transitioned all staff to telework Wednesday, emailed the law firm. Attorneys and staff are reachable by email and their office phone numbers, it said. “We are closely monitoring the FCC and will let you know of any changes to deadlines or operating requirements as soon as they become available.”

• The 23rd Cable Hall of Fame event April 30 in New York is postponed to a date in the fall soon to be determined, said the Cable Center Wednesday. "The health and safety of our Cable Hall of Fame attendees, honorees, and community is always our highest priority," it said.

• The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals won't change its oral argument schedule, but parties with COVID-19 concerns can file motions asking to appear by audio conference, said the court Wednesday. Most staffers in the clerk's office are working remotely, it said. The D.C. Circuit said Tuesday that in-person oral arguments were being suspended, with decisions about oral argument via teleconference, postponements or other issues to be handled case by case.

• Nokia postponed its April 8 “annual general meeting” to a “later stage” in keeping with the Finnish government’s ban on public gatherings of more than 10 people, said the company Wednesday. The event will be rescheduled “as soon as it is practically possible,” it said. “Nokia strongly advocates for measures to allow fully virtual general meetings to enable efficient shareholder participation.”

• MGM Resorts completed the rolling closure of hotels and casinos nationally with Tuesday’s shutdown of all Las Vegas properties, emailed the company Wednesday. “We regret the dire choices we have had to make,” it said. An attendee of the Women in Power Summit March 5-8 at the Mirage in Las Vegas tested positive for the coronavirus after returning home to New York, MGM announced last week. The Southern Nevada Health District in Clark County, which includes Las Vegas, reported 42 confirmed cases of COVID-19 through Tuesday, including one death. Only four confirmed cases were in the area March 11 when NAB announced the cancellation of its April 18-22 event at the Las Vegas Convention Center (see 2003110036).

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services suspended in-person visits at its field offices and support centers “at least” until April 1 “to help slow the spread” of COVID-19, said the agency Wednesday, when the ban took effect. It will automatically reschedule appointments when it “again resumes normal operations,” it said.

• The National Association of State Chief Information Officers canceled its May 3-5 midyear conference in National Harbor, Maryland, to comply with government mandates against large public gatherings. “The safety and health of our members is of the utmost importance to NASCIO and, although the cancellation is disappointing, it is absolutely necessary,” it said Tuesday.