Despite doomsday scenarios about artificial intelligence, useful data doesn’t exist to determine if the technology would harm U.S. jobs, GAO Chief Scientist Tim Persons told us Friday. “We’re worried about it taking over the world and still can’t answer some basic questions about it,” Persons said after speaking at a Software & Information Industry Association event.
Cooley expands global cyber-data-privacy and telecom practice with partner Travis LeBlanc, ex-Boies Schiller ... Womble Bond announces new partner and head of telecom team David Carter, ex-Innovista; also joining team from Innovista associates Ernesto Mendieta and John Nelson; senior counsel Howard Shapiro retiring; Erin Fitzgerald hired by FCC as Wireless Bureau attorney-adviser ... Computer & Communications Industry Association hires Keir Lamont, ex-Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, as counsel-privacy, security and emerging technology ... Harris Wiltshire promotes Shiva Goel to partner ... Wilkinson Barker adds Chris Bair, ex-FCC International Bureau, as associate-international and satellite communications.
Spectrum sharing and the gravity of the spectrum crunch generated disagreement Tuesday at the annual Americas Spectrum Management Conference. Federal officials touted spectrum sharing as “the new normal” while T-Mobile Senior Director-Technology Policy John Hunter called sharing policies “draconian.” “It's incredibly difficult to measure scarcity,” said FCC Wireless Bureau Assistant Chief Matthew Pearl.
FCC Commissioners Mike O'Rielly and Jessica Rosenworcel and Congressional Spectrum Caucus co-chairs Reps. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., and Doris Matsui, D-Calif., urged the commission Wednesday to "do more" on unlicensed spectrum by "moving forward" on an NPRM on unlicensed use of the 6 GHz band or C-band uplink, which would open it "to more uses." An vote on the NPRM is expected at commissioners' Oct. 23 meeting (see 1808310026). "The nature of unlicensed spectrum is opportunistic and innovation-friendly," the officials said in a commentary on The Hill's website. Wi-Fi hot spots and other technologies "have been deployed in unlicensed spectrum and have varied applications, but each has generated significant economic growth. And an ever-growing amount of cellular traffic that will travel over Wi-Fi at higher-capacity networks, including 5G, are coming to market." Existing users "in the 6 GHz band must be sufficiently protected," the officials said. "These users provide critical services ranging from public safety to the control and coordination of railroad operations, pipelines, and electric grids, satellite distribution, and broadcast and cable relay services."
Public Knowledge appoints Charlotte Slaiman, ex-FTC Anticompetitive Practices Division, policy counsel ... Lauren Dart, ex-office of Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., joins office of Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., as communications director ... National Electrical Manufacturers Association names Philip Squair, ex-National Propane Gas Association, head-advocacy and lobbying initiatives ... ExteNet appoints Jim Hyde CEO, succeeding Ross Manire, retiring ... Open-IX taps Robert DeVita, ex-Mejeticks, as executive director.
The FCC is committed to getting a better picture of who's using the C-band, Chairman Ajit Pai said in a letter to Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif. Commissioners approved 4-0 an order and NPRM in July (see 1807120037). “I agree with you that our ability to intensify the use of this band is closely linked to gathering an accurate picture of how this spectrum is currently being used by incumbent earth stations,” Pai said. “That is exactly why Commission staff established a filing freeze on new applications for earth stations on April 19, 2018, and why stations have a 180-day window to register with the Commission and provide certain needed information (such as their locations) for us to proceed with this rulemaking.” Pai sent the same letter to Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky. The FCC also understands the importance of the 5 GHz band to unlicensed, Pai said in a second set of letters to the two members. “The most important way that the FCC facilitates innovation is by freeing up spectrum for wireless services and making it available for flexible use, and I appreciate your support for this concept," he said. Pai repeated in letters to Reps. Leonard Lance, R-N.J., and Billy Long, R-Mo., that the FCC is likely to address rules for the 3.5 GHz citizens broadband radio service band in coming months (see 1807250055). All the letters were posted Tuesday.
Lawmakers following Google's appeal of the EU’s recent $5 billion fine alleging anti-competitive behavior linked to the Android mobile operating system's market dominance (see 1807180003) are considering next steps. “The EU just has a different regulatory environment, but … it potentially has impact on how we think about these issues here in America, too,” Senate Commerce Committee member Ron Johnson, R-Wis., told us.
Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., plans legislative efforts to set a national definition for blockchain technology. Her draft bill would direct the Department of Commerce to establish a consensus definition, Matsui said at a House Digital Commerce Subcommittee hearing Wednesday (see 1807180051). “A common definition of blockchain could greatly assist in the development and deployment.”
Expect the House Digital Commerce Subcommittee's Wednesday hearing to focus on whether the FTC has proper authority to protect consumers’ digital privacy (see 1807110060), members told us. “I want to see more authority given to the Federal Trade Commission,” said ranking member Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill. “Unfortunately, they don’t have the authorities that are needed in order to provide the kind of data security that we need. I think it’s the appropriate agency to do it, but presently they don’t have the capacity.”
Congressional Spectrum Caucus co-chairs Reps. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., and Doris Matsui, D-Calif., urged the FCC Wednesday to proceed “expeditiously” to a planned NPRM on opening the 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi and other unlicensed uses. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said last month the FCC will act on a 6 GHz NPRM in the fall (see 1806200058). “Importantly, the NPRM process will allow all stakeholders to provide valuable input on the ex ante requirements necessary to protect incumbents, and give opportunity to evaluate proposals for interference protection, technical coexistence between users, and how to reliably resolve potential interference should it occur,” Guthrie and Matsui said in a letter to Pai. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., similarly urged the FCC last week to act on the 6 GHz band as part of its implementation of the Making Opportunities for Broadband Investment and Limiting Excessive and Needless Obstacles to Wireless (Mobile Now) Act (S-19) (see 1807020055). S-19 requires the FCC and NTIA to identify at least 100 MHz of spectrum for unlicensed use below the 8 GHz band. S-19's language was included in the $1.3 trillion FY 2018 omnibus spending bill (HR-1625), which President Donald Trump signed in March (see 1803230038).