The FCC's net neutrality deregulation ruling and orders closely track expectations, while clarifying the agency's view on the timetable for looming court challenges, according to our initial review of the 539-page item released Thursday evening (see 1801040059). The final "internet freedom" declaratory ruling, report and order, and order text appears mostly the same as a draft (see 1711220026). Several changes -- on transparency decisions and the item's effective date -- were announced when commissioners voted 3-2 along party lines Dec. 14 to scrap Communications Act Title II broadband classification and net neutrality rules (see 1712140039). Tech heavyweights said they will join the inevitable court challenge to the regulations.
The FCC's net neutrality deregulation ruling and orders closely track expectations, while clarifying the agency's view on the timetable for looming court challenges, according to our initial review of the 539-page item released Thursday evening (see 1801040059). The final "internet freedom" declaratory ruling, report and order, and order text appears mostly the same as a draft (see 1711220026). Several changes -- on transparency decisions and the item's effective date -- were announced when commissioners voted 3-2 along party lines Dec. 14 to scrap Communications Act Title II broadband classification and net neutrality rules (see 1712140039). Tech heavyweights said they will join the inevitable court challenge to the regulations.
Many questions remain about the rules for the future of the 3.5 GHz band, but industry officials said a compromise appears to be in the works that could leave census tracts in place as the primary license size for the priority access licenses (PALs), the licensed component of the shared band. Industry officials said the path to approval will be much smoother if FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly agrees to leave the license sizes as they are in the original rules, rather than pressing for larger license geographies that wireless ISPs and others say would be too big for everyone but the carriers. The FCC didn’t comment.
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for 2017 in case they were missed.
Many questions remain about the rules for the future of the 3.5 GHz band, but industry officials said a compromise appears to be in the works that could leave census tracts in place as the primary license size for the priority access licenses (PALs), the licensed component of the shared band. Industry officials said the path to approval will be much smoother if FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly agrees to leave the license sizes as they are in the original rules, rather than pressing for larger license geographies that wireless ISPs and others say would be too big for everyone but the carriers. The FCC didn’t comment.
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the weeks of Dec. 18-31:
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for Dec. 18-22 in case they were missed.
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of Dec. 11-17:
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for Dec. 11-15 in case they were missed.
The FCC draft "restoring internet freedom" order cites studies to show the 2015 net neutrality order hurt the economy. Such arguments have been disputed, but court watchers agree for the most part that when legal challenges are filed, judges are likely to give the analysis little scrutiny. NCTA CEO Michael Powell told reporters Wednesday consumers will see no change due to the order. The National Hispanic Media Coalition said it expects to take the regulator to court, and states may as well.