By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 6-15-21 The National Association of Broadcasters and the network affiliate broadcaster associations are giving the FCC a lot to think about when it comes to whether to extend emergency alert requirements to over-the-top video services. In comments filed last month, NAB said for a number of reasons streamers weren't [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 6-14-21 Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and Mark Warner (D-Va.), have reintroduced a bill that would require more transparency about edge providers' use of secret algorithms to frame users’ online experiences. The Filter Bubble Transparency Act, which was [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 6-11-21 The Democrat-controlled House Judiciary Committee has reportedly introduced a package of bills meant to rein in Big Tech by, among other things, requiring interoperability and nondiscrimination against rivals. Both Democrats and Republicans have called for tighter antitrust oversight of the biggest of Big Tech – Amazon, Apple, Facebook, [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 6-11-21 The Consumer Technology Association, which represents the major tech suppliers, has joined the Computer and Communications Industry Association and NetChoice in asking a court to strike down Florida's Big Tech-targeted law, the Transparency in Technology Act. CCIA and NetChoice, which together represent all the big players – Amazon, [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 6-10-21 Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), ranking member of the House Communications Subcommittee, has introduced the Promoting Rights and Online Speech Protections to Ensure Every Consumer is Heard (PRO-SPEECH) Act. He said it will provide "baseline protections to prohibit Big Tech from engaging in unfair, deceptive, or anti-competitive practices that [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 6-9-21 President Joe Biden has rescinded executive orders of former President Donald Trump that prohibit transactions with TikTok, WeChat and eight others software apps, pointing out that two of those orders are the subject of lawsuits, for one thing. In its place President Biden, via his own executive order, [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 6-8-21 The Senate has passed the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) (formerly the Endless Frontier Act), which, among many other things, attempts to diversify and better secure the 5G supply chain by backing alternatives to Chinese tech suppliers Huawei and ZTE. It now heads to the House. Among [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 6-5-21 The Department of Justice said Saturday (June 5) that, going forward, it will not be issuing subpoenas for reporters' records in leak investigations. That came after the New York Times reported that not only was the Biden White House continuing the pursuit of such records from its reporters, a [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 6-4-21 Edge players have launched the latest legal salvo in their attempt to block a Florida law they say unconstitutionally restricts free speech, equal protection, and due process. The Computer & Communications Industry Association and NetChoice, which together represent all the big players – Amazon, Google, Twitter, Mozilla, plus [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 6-4-21 Facebook will extend its ban of former President Donald Trump past the midterm elections, coming up with a two-year penalty but with the threat of a permanent ban still on the table. The company's oversight board had already upheld the suspension of Trump accounts on Facebook and co-owned [...]
