Generative-AI content shouldn’t be protected by Communications Decency Act Section 230, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., told a New America event Tuesday.

The FCC’s administration of its affordable connectivity program and other broadband initiatives won’t be the sole focus of a Wednesday House Communications Subcommittee hearing with commission Chair Jessica Rosenworcel and other commissioners, but it’s likely to be the item with the most bearing on future policymaking, observers said in interviews. The panel is happening a day before two of the commissioners -- Republican Brendan Carr and Democrat Geoffrey Starks -- appear before the Senate Commerce Committee for a joint confirmation hearing with new FCC nominee Anna Gomez (see 2306150068). The House Communications hearing will begin at 10:30 a.m. in 2123 Rayburn.

California local governments removed opposition to a bill meant to streamline broadband infrastructure deployment, they said at a California Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee meeting livestreamed Tuesday. The panel cleared AB-965 and three other broadband bills passed last month by the Assembly. One senator pushed back on AB-1065, which would explicitly authorize wireless broadband providers to get support from the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) broadband infrastructure grant and federal funding accounts.

The FCC's proposed "all-in" video pricing rules for cable and direct broadcast satellite (DBS) operators' bills and promotional materials wouldn't cover other MVPDs, though the agency in the NPRM adopted last week and released Tuesday seeks comment on whether such rules should also cover them, and whether it has the authority to do so. Consumer advocates expected the item on circulation to pass (see 2303270043). NCTA, ACA Connects, DirecTV and Dish Network didn't comment.

Lawmakers must hold companies liable when their artificial intelligence systems cause harm and should consider major updates to Section 230, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., told NTIA in comments released last week.

Expect sizable DOCSIS 4.0 technology rollouts among cable ISPs starting in 2024 as they look to set the stage for multi-gig fixed broadband speeds, cable companies and experts said. It will likely be mid- to late next year when rollouts of scale start, and widespread deployment will take years, said Dan Whalen, CEO of broadband access technology company ATX Networks.

The Biden administration announced $930 million in grants Friday to expand middle-mile high-speed internet infrastructure as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (see 2111120050). NTIA said 260 applicants submitted funding requests of more than $7.47 billion.

The FCC is getting more aggressive on data and cybersecurity, with Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel on Friday announcing a July 31 hearing on improving the security of the border gateway protocol (BGP). Rosenworcel also said she circulated a notice of inquiry for a commissioner vote about how broadband providers use data caps as part of subscriber plans. Earlier in the week, Rosenworcel said the FCC was taking a closer look at data privacy, launching a Privacy and Data Protection Task Force (see 230615004).

Ohio senators passed a state budget bill 24-7 Thursday despite industry opposition to provisions requiring age verification for social media and limiting wireless eligibility for broadband grants. A New Jersey Assembly panel later that day approved a bill to set children’s privacy rules. Earlier this week, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed a kids’ social media measure, plus bills to ban TikTok and require a council to study artificial intelligence. The Arizona legislature passed a broader bill to regulate social media.

The Senate Judiciary Committee passed legislation for a second time Thursday that would allow news outlets to negotiate with the tech industry for compensation when platforms host news content (see 2306140042). Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., told us a potential floor vote is a “long way” off, and ranking member Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said during the hearing he expects the bill will ultimately “go nowhere.”