By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 6-22-21 The association representing tech giants including Amazon, Facebook and Google, is calling on Congress to delay consideration of antitrust bills aimed squarely at its members. The bill package was introduced less than two weeks ago. The House Judiciary Committee has scheduled a markup for Wednesday, June 23, at [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 6-18-21 Cable broadband operators said the FCC should not extend emergency alert system (EAS) warning requirements to Internet service providers or streaming services, arguing that the combination of already required broadcast, cable, and wireless alerts “are more than sufficient to convey timely and relevant emergency and public safety information [...]
Participated in an amicus brief (with the Reporters Committee and other amici) filed with the New York Appellate Division, First Department, in Gottwald v. Sebert (Dr. Luke v. Kesha) in support of Kesha’s motion for leave to appeal to the New York Court of Appeals. Music producer Dr. Luke filed a defamation lawsuit against artist Kesha over several statements regarding Kesha’s [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 6-17-21 The FCC has proposed revising its equipment authorization and competitive bidding rules to better keep untrustworthy entities out of U.S. networks. The Commission voted unanimously at its June 17 public meeting to approve a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) and notice of inquiry (NOI) to better protect U.S. [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 6-16-21 House Republicans have added a third "pillar “to their Big Tech Accountability Platform, this one dealing with China. The other parts of the platform, announced earlier this year, deal with responsibility and power. House Energy & Commerce Committee ranking member Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) informed her fellow House [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 6-16-21 A bipartisan bill has been introduced that would prevent the use of private, as well as public, funds to purchase suspect tech for U.S. networks. The FCC, under the direction of Congress, published a list of tech suppliers deemed national security threats and prohibited the use of federal [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 6-16-21 Senate Commerce Committee members Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) have re-introduced a bill that would standardize the definition of high-speed fixed broadband in government subsidy programs. The Broadband Parity Act, which the pair introduced in the last Congress, would tell the FCC to get together [...]
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, [...]