Jessica Campbell, FCC's deputy division chief-Wireline Bureau’s Telecommunications Access Policy Division, announces she's leaving Friday to join DOJ's National Security Division, working in the Foreign Investment Review Section ... Browser security company Conceal appoints Eric Cornelius, ex-Ghost Security, as CEO ... McAfee appoints Joe Manna, ex-Experian, as chief product and engineering officer ... Telecom and technology services provider Fortress Solutions promotes Dan Lakey to chief revenue officer ... Valens Semiconductor appoints Gili Friedman, ex-Sony, as senior vice president-head-cross industry business, effective Feb. 16.

Competition is a better guarantor of good customer service than FCC rules, multiple industry groups said as they pushed back against proposals floated in the FCC's customer service NOI. The NOI was adopted 3-2 in October along party lines (see 2410230036). In comments in docket 24-472, which were due Friday, some industry groups also argued that the agency lacks legal standing on customer service rules. "Careful consideration will confirm that the Commission lacks anything like the plenary authority" to adopt a single set of customer service rules, CTIA said. Disability advocacy organizations, meanwhile, made suggestions for customer service requirements.

Industry groups widely opposed an FCC notice of inquiry seeking comment about the impact of broadband data caps on consumers and potential regulatory steps the agency could take. In comments posted Friday in docket 23-199 (see 2410150069), many warned the proceeding was a step toward rate regulation and potential consumer harm should the FCC limit the use of data caps. Some public interest groups urged the commission to proceed, however.

Several industry groups continued calling on the FCC to permanently eliminate the requirement that a certified professional engineer (PE) verify and certify a company's broadband data before it's submitted through the broadband data collection (BDC). The groups made the remarks in comments posted through Wednesday in docket 19-195 (see 2408300036). Others raised concerns with a proposal for adopting additional reporting requirements for satellite and fixed wireless providers.

Although the regulatory status of broadband is “in flux,” the U.S. Supreme Court shouldn’t further delay New York state’s enforcement of a 2021 affordable broadband law, the state’s Attorney General Letitia James (D) said Tuesday. James submitted briefs in case 24-161 opposing ISP groups’ petition for a writ of certiorari and application seeking a stay of the New York Affordable Broadband Act (ABA). “The equities and the public interest weigh heavily in favor of allowing the ABA -- duly enacted consumer-protection legislation that aids the State’s most vulnerable residents -- to take effect without further delay,” wrote James.

Industry groups and ISPs sought several adjustments in FCC requirements on broadband data collection (BDC). Some asked the FCC to permanently remove the rule requiring that a professional engineer (PE) certify availability data. Others sought clarification on the process for providers seeking to restore locations on their availability maps after a challenge process removed such locations. Comments were posted through Tuesday in docket 19-195 (see 2408300036)

ACA Connects promotes Zamir Ahmed to senior vice president-external affairs and Bill Tortoriello to vice president-technology and policy ... Cerence AI appoints Brian Krzanich, former CDK Global, as CEO-board member, succeeding the departing Stefan Ortmanns … Blue Mantis, provider of digital strategy and services including cybersecurity, advances Jay Martin to chief information security officer … Cybersecurity provider Intel 471 appoints Mark Huebeler, previously with MercuryGate International, as COO and CFO ... Data center solutions provider EdgeConneX names Masahiko Inoue, ex-Aquila Clean Energy, head-Japan ... IT services provider NinjaOne names Joel Carusone, previously Zeno Technologies, as senior vice president-data and AI ... Digital accessibility solutions Level Access appoints Mark Zablan, ex-Emplifi, as CEO, succeeding Tim Springer, remaining on board.

Broadband deployment continues in a timely manner and adoption rates are rising, ISPs said in comments about the FCC's annual Section 706 report on the state of competition in the broadband marketplace (see 2409060058). In addition, some urged that the commission refrain from including metrics on pricing and adoption rates in its final analysis. Others said the FCC should refine the broadband data collection (BDC) process and national broadband map.

The FCC's reclassification of broadband as a Title II telecom service under the Communications Act is a "straightforward" violation of the major-questions doctrine, ISPs told the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a reply brief filed Wednesday (docket 24-7000). USTelecom, NCTA, CTIA, ACA Connects, the Wireless ISP Association, and several state telecom groups argued the provision of internet access has "always been the core driver of the information-service classification and that function remains unchanged today" (see 2409120032). The FCC "offers little more than its say-so to support its contrary view," the coalition said, adding that its "forced forbearance and strained reclassification of mobile broadband" underscores "how poorly broadband fits into the Title II scheme." The groups argued that the FCC "lacks any good explanation from departing from its prior view" that the costs of reclassification outweigh any benefits and hasn't addressed the major questions doctrine's "obvious political salience." Congress didn't clearly authorize the FCC to classify broadband as a telecom service, the groups noted, adding it should remain a Title I information service because it includes domain name systems and caching, which are "integral information-processing components." The coalition also argued the FCC lacked statutory authority to classify mobile broadband as a commercial mobile service under Title II because it's not part of the public switched network, or the ten-digit telephone network, which is "distinct" from the public internet.

Title I or Title II of the Communications Act would bar the New York Affordable Broadband Act (ABA), said amici supporting ISP groups in briefs Friday at the U.S. Supreme Court. NCTA, a cable industry group that didn’t join the original May 2021 challenge that several national telecom associations filed in a district court, said the ABA “would impose unprecedented and unlawful rate regulation on broadband services.” The Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council (MMTC) also condemned the state law. “If the ABA becomes effective, it will achieve the opposite of what it purports to accomplish, making it harder for communities of color to subscribe to broadband.”