A Delaware House panel advanced a privacy bill based on Connecticut’s comprehensive law. The Technology and Telecommunications Committee at Tuesday's livestreamed hearing voted 6-0, with two members absent, to send HB-154 by Chair Krista Griffith (D) to the Appropriations Committee. While supporting parts of the bill, industry and consumer groups recommended some changes.
The ATSC 3.0-focused public-private partnership announced by FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel will likely hold its first meetings in mid to late June, said ATSC President Madeleine Noland at a Media Institute Luncheon Tuesday (see 2304170056). NAB expects similar timing, a spokesperson told us. The Future of TV Initiative will consider possible solutions for ATSC 3.0 backward compatibility and what the eventual sunset of ATSC 1.0 will look like, Noland said. “A renewed focus by the FCC is very good news,” Noland said. “We need to chart a path forward together.”
ChatGPT creator OpenAI supports deploying a new federal agency to regulate artificial intelligence and other disruptive technologies, OpenAI CEO Samuel Altman told Senate Judiciary Committee members Tuesday.
Industry groups welcomed a draft FCC order, NPRM, and notice of inquiry that would expand call blocking requirements and seek comment on additional ways the commission could curb illegal or unwanted robocalls. Commissioners will consider the item during their meeting Thursday (see 2304270077). Some sought additional questions and clarification about the proposed rules.
The Public Safety Spectrum Alliance (PSSA) urged the FCC to change course on the 4.9 GHz band and issue a single national license, in reply comments in docket 07-100. PSSA had some support, but most commenters who commented on that want the band to remain independent of FirstNet. Comments were due Monday in docket 07-100.
House Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Ted Cruz, R-Texas, asked the FCC’s Office of Inspector General Tuesday to “investigate Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s unprecedented actions against” the proposed Standard General/Tegna deal, including the Media Bureau’s February hearing designation order seen as a de facto denial of the transaction (see 2302240068). Standard, Tegna and many advocates for their deal again asked for an FCC vote on the matter, holding ex parte meetings with Republican Commissioners Brendan Carr and Nathan Simington (see 2305120056).
There are wireless/satellite schisms as the FCC tries to put together a framework for supplemental coverage from space (SCS) service. The divisions are over whether a preexisting arrangement with a terrestrial mobile operator should be a prerequisite, per docket 23-65 comments that were due Friday. The wireless industry is pushing for SCS applications to be handled by waivers, calling a rules regime premature. Multiple commenters called for streamlining the blanket earth station licensing framework. The SCS NPRM was adopted 4-0 in March (see 2303160009).
Expect more cable providers, particularly smaller ones, to follow Wideopenwest's model and drop linear video service in the near future, cable executives and observers told us. WOW said Monday it will begin transitioning its residential video subscribers to YouTube TV subscriptions starting this summer.
The California Privacy Protection Agency is bracing for the imminent introduction of an “even less privacy-protective” U.S. privacy bill than the version it opposed last year, said Maureen Mahoney, deputy director-policy and legislation, at a CPPA board virtual meeting Monday. The board also received updates on advancing California bills, an agency strategic plan and next steps for its 2020 California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) rulemaking.
Industry and consumer advocates sought additional guidance and clarity on the FCC's proposed requirements to implement the Safe Connections Act, in reply comments posted Monday in docket 22-238 (see 2304140057). Commenters also showed widespread support for sufficient time to comply with the commission's final rules and additional guidance on potential privacy concerns. The act requires availability of safe access to communications services for survivors of domestic violence.