By Randolph May and Seth Cooper, Multichannel News, 3-30-21 With the war on the pandemic still not won, California’s veterans are at risk of losing access to a mobile internet app, called VA Video Connect, that enables veterans to receive telehealth services without incurring data usage charges. This is a consequence of California’s newly effective [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 3-30-21 In a follow-up to last week's hearing with Big Tech CEOs, top Republicans on the House Energy & Commerce Committee have called on those execs to provide them with information on internal or external research on their sites' effect on children's health. They also want any internal communications [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 3-30-21 Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee, has called on Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) to hold an FCC oversight hearing with the FCC commissioners and acting chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel within the next month focused on broadband mapping. Wicker is looking for a timeline [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 3-30-21 FCC Commissioner Brenda Carr says it is time to close a "glaring loophole" in rules adopted under former FCC chairman Ajit Pai to weed out suspect tech from U.S. networks, rules under which he said thousands of insecure applications continue to be approved because the tech is bought [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 3-26-21 It may be a new, Democratic-led FCC, but broadcasters and cable operators are fighting the same retrans and media ownership battles. On March 16, representatives of the American Television Alliance met with a top FCC staffer to argue that the current media ownership rules allow broadcasters to skirt [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 3-26-21 The FCC is seeking comment on a report it has just issued with preliminary eligible expenses and costs for securing the nation's critical communications network infrastructure. The report, the Supply Chain Reimbursement Program Study, is part of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program mandated by Congress. [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 3-25-21 The Federal Trade Commission, which has historically worked its will through lawsuits and settlements, is flexing its rulemaking muscle. That is because acting FTC chair Rebecca Kelly Slaughter has created a rulemaking group within the Office of General Counsel. Historically, the FTC has used its rulemaking authority primarily [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 3-25-21 While Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said his company is already a leader in countering misinformation online, he is calling on Congress to condition online platforms' Sec. 230 immunity from civil liability for third party content moderation on demonstrable systems to identify and remove harmful content. That is according [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 3-25-21 Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) said Thursday (March 25) that she will be introducing her bill next week to protect marginalized communities from harmful advertising practices. The Civil Rights Marginalization Act of 2021 would amend Sec. 230, which provides online platforms immunity from civil liability for third-party content, to ensure [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 3-25-21 CEOs from Facebook, Google, and Twitter took their licks Thursday (March 25) from both sides of the aisle in a Hill hearing entitled "Disinformation Nation: Social Media's Role in Promoting Extremism and Misinformation." Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), chair of the Consumer Protection Subcommittee, said that the one thing that [...]