Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., told us Wednesday she’s willing to support federal preemption in a privacy bill with ranking member Roger Wicker, R-Miss. But a consumer’s right to sue remains a sticking point, she added. The development follows a May 16 meeting between Wicker and Cantwell, which was an effort to renew privacy negotiations, ongoing since 2018 (see 2205130058).
The Senate Commerce Committee pulled the Improving Spectrum Coordination Act (S-1472) Tuesday night from the agenda for a Wednesday executive session amid objections to some proposed amendments to the measure, lawmakers and lobbyists said in interviews. S-1472 would require the FCC and NTIA to update their spectrum memorandum of understanding, including to add language on a process for addressing interagency policy differences and instituting a resolution process. Senate Commerce leaders said they hope further revisions won’t significantly delay bringing the bill up again.
NTIA has a “keen interest in making sure that there's strong oversight” on how the $42.5 billion broadband, equity, access and deployment program is spent, said Administrator Alan Davidson Tuesday during a Mountain Connect conference in Colorado (see 2205130054). The agency “left flexibility” in its notice of funding opportunity, Davidson said, but included “basic requirements” on accountability, subgrantees and affordability to ensure that “federal money is being spent wisely,” he said: “We tried to take the principle of if it didn’t need to be in the notice, it’s not there.”
House Communications Subcommittee members voiced strong support during a Tuesday hearing for the Extending America’s Spectrum Auction Leadership Act (HR-7783) and two NTIA-focused spectrum bills, echoing expected backing from Wiley’s Anna Gomez and CommScope Business Development and Spectrum Policy Director Mark Gibson (see 2205230061). Lawmakers broadly supported elements of the Safe Connections Act (HR-7132), but opinions on the Ensuring Phone and Internet Access for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Recipients Act (HR-4275) divided along party lines.
The Department of Homeland Security should permanently shutter its disinformation board, Republicans told us last week after the director resigned (see 2205180051). Democrats also had critical comments about the board’s rollout, following free speech objections from Republicans (see 2205050048).
The Supreme Court could be more likely to review laws regulating social media after the 11th U.S. Court of Appeals ruled Monday that Florida may not restrict content moderation by social media platforms. The 11th Circuit decided in a 3-0 opinion to keep a temporary ban on moderation limits but lift injunction on most disclosure rules in Florida’s law that makes it illegal for social media sites to deplatform political candidates and requires them to be transparent about policing.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s $65 billion broadband investment presents an opportunity to bridge the digital divide for students and improve workforce development across the country, industry experts and officials said Monday during a Software & Information Industry Association webinar. Panelists said the FCC, NTIA and other agencies should ensure their programs are sustainable and promote digital equity.
Wiley’s Anna Gomez, former acting NTIA administrator, backed the Extending America’s Spectrum Auction Leadership Act (HR-7783) and two NTIA-focused spectrum bills in written testimony ahead of a Tuesday House Communications Subcommittee hearing (see 2205170081). HR-7783 is one of five wireless-focused bills House Communications will examine during the Tuesday hearing. The others are: the Ensuring Phone and Internet Access for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Recipients Act (HR-4275), the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences Codification Act (HR-4990), the Simplifying Management, Reallocation and Transfer of Spectrum Act (HR-5486), and the Safe Connections Act (HR-7132). The partly virtual hearing will begin at 11 a.m. in 2123 Rayburn.
Security issues with open radio access networks (ORAN) will be overcome, mobile operators said in response to a critical report from the European Commission and European Union Agency for Cybersecurity earlier this month. It found several cybersecurity challenges associated with such 5G networks but also opportunities to boost ORAN security if certain conditions are met. Mobile network operators told us they recognize how crucial security is to ORAN's success and are addressing the risks. One telecom consultant urged the FCC and NTIA to pay attention to the findings. The O-RAN Alliance didn't comment.
Rural areas mustn’t take a “back seat” when Pennsylvania receives a large influx of federal dollars for high-speed internet, said state Sen. Gene Yaw (R) at a Center for Rural Pennsylvania broadband hearing livestreamed Friday. Preparing to distribute possibly more than $1 billion, the new Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority is “combing through” NTIA notices of funding opportunity released earlier this month, said Executive Director Brandon Carson. State legislators appeared interested in pursuing a state broadband map after a panel of data experts said it could help maximize the state’s funding.