ChatGPT creator OpenAI supports deploying a new federal agency to regulate artificial intelligence and other disruptive technologies, OpenAI CEO Samuel Altman told Senate Judiciary Committee members Tuesday.
Industry groups welcomed a draft FCC order, NPRM, and notice of inquiry that would expand call blocking requirements and seek comment on additional ways the commission could curb illegal or unwanted robocalls. Commissioners will consider the item during their meeting Thursday (see 2304270077). Some sought additional questions and clarification about the proposed rules.
The Public Safety Spectrum Alliance (PSSA) urged the FCC to change course on the 4.9 GHz band and issue a single national license, in reply comments in docket 07-100. PSSA had some support, but most commenters who commented on that want the band to remain independent of FirstNet. Comments were due Monday in docket 07-100.
House Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Ted Cruz, R-Texas, asked the FCC’s Office of Inspector General Tuesday to “investigate Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s unprecedented actions against” the proposed Standard General/Tegna deal, including the Media Bureau’s February hearing designation order seen as a de facto denial of the transaction (see 2302240068). Standard, Tegna and many advocates for their deal again asked for an FCC vote on the matter, holding ex parte meetings with Republican Commissioners Brendan Carr and Nathan Simington (see 2305120056).
There are wireless/satellite schisms as the FCC tries to put together a framework for supplemental coverage from space (SCS) service. The divisions are over whether a preexisting arrangement with a terrestrial mobile operator should be a prerequisite, per docket 23-65 comments that were due Friday. The wireless industry is pushing for SCS applications to be handled by waivers, calling a rules regime premature. Multiple commenters called for streamlining the blanket earth station licensing framework. The SCS NPRM was adopted 4-0 in March (see 2303160009).
Expect more cable providers, particularly smaller ones, to follow Wideopenwest's model and drop linear video service in the near future, cable executives and observers told us. WOW said Monday it will begin transitioning its residential video subscribers to YouTube TV subscriptions starting this summer.
The California Privacy Protection Agency is bracing for the imminent introduction of an “even less privacy-protective” U.S. privacy bill than the version it opposed last year, said Maureen Mahoney, deputy director-policy and legislation, at a CPPA board virtual meeting Monday. The board also received updates on advancing California bills, an agency strategic plan and next steps for its 2020 California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) rulemaking.
Industry and consumer advocates sought additional guidance and clarity on the FCC's proposed requirements to implement the Safe Connections Act, in reply comments posted Monday in docket 22-238 (see 2304140057). Commenters also showed widespread support for sufficient time to comply with the commission's final rules and additional guidance on potential privacy concerns. The act requires availability of safe access to communications services for survivors of domestic violence.
Companies face a complicated landscape in dealing with FCC outage reporting rules, speakers said during an FCBA webinar Monday. Last year, FCC commissioners approved rules to improve the delivery of outage information to public safety answering points, but speakers said that’s just part of what the FCC is doing on outage reporting (see 2211170051). More recently, the FCC has looked at 988 outage reporting obligations, the subject of a January NPRM (see 2301040056).
Tennessee is the eighth state with a consumer privacy law. Gov. Bill Lee (R) signed the comprehensive bill HB-1181/SB-73 Thursday. The state House and Senate passed it unanimously last month (see 2304210060). The Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA) praised the bill Friday. Consumer Reports sees room for improvement.