President Barack Obama’s announcement Friday that a panel will review “big data and privacy” (CD Jan 21 p1) disappointed both privacy advocates and industry associations, albeit for different reasons, according to statements. On Friday, Obama said a group of government officials -- led by Counselor to the President John Podesta -- “will reach out to privacy experts, technologists and business leaders, and look [at] how the challenges inherent in big data are being confronted by both the public and private sectors; whether we can forge international norms on how to manage this data; and how we can continue to promote the free flow of information in ways that are consistent with both privacy and security.” The Direct Marketing Association said in a Friday statement it’s “disappointed to see the responsible use of consumer data for marketing purposes conflated with ‘government surveillance.'” Data-driven marketing -- which includes data brokers (CD Dec 20 p6) -- is not related to “issues around government surveillance,” the association said, pointing to its “Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice” (http://bit.ly/1juOeqi), which “ensure that consumers have robust transparency and meaningful choices about how data is used for marketing purposes,” said the statement. Software and Information Industry Association President Ken Wasch called Obama’s remarks “thoughtful,” but said in a statement, “we are disappointed he did not go further in the area of increased transparency.” Data-driven “innovation is an economic driver for the U.S. and global economies, providing enormous benefits for individuals, businesses and society,” Wasch said. Jeff Chester, executive director for digital privacy advocate Center for Digital Democracy, said the establishment of the big data and privacy research group does not go far enough. Obama’s big data review group “isn’t the same as real safeguards limiting the collection and use of our commercial data -- and which can be accessed by the NSA and others,” he said in a statement. “Meanwhile, companies such as Google and Facebook are getting a free pass to our data."

The FCC said it can’t determine whether it will act on requests by LightSquared about the company’s spectrum. The FCC “is not in a position to confirm whether it will [be] able to complete the work required to act on each of the conditions specified in the FCC Exit Condition” before Dec. 31, it said in a statement filed in the company’s bankruptcy proceeding (http://bit.ly/1moYuzN). LightSquared’s preferred plan out of bankruptcy involves $4 billion in financing backed by investors, including Fortress Investment Group and JPMorgan Chase (CD Dec 31 p1). “Effectiveness of the plan is conditioned on the FCC’s approval of LightSquared’s license modification applications and grant of additional relief,” on or before Dec. 31, LightSquared said in a revised second amended joint plan in the bankruptcy court docket. Spectrum management issues will need to be resolved with the federal stakeholders pursuant to a 2003 memorandum of understanding between the FCC and NTIA, the FCC filing said. The consultation process is ongoing and the FCC will give due consideration to the NTIA’s recommendations before ruling on debtors’ license modification proposals to use this spectrum, it said, referring to LightSquared’s condition to hold terrestrial-based spectrum rights in 20 MHz of L-band uplink spectrum. “Consequently, the timing of any FCC action is not solely within the FCC’s control.” The commission said it will need to do a rulemaking on approval to use the 10 MHz of downlink spectrum at 1670-1675 and 1675-1680. “At this time, it is not possible to provide any assurances that the processes outlined herein will be completed by December 31, 2014.” The FCC’s document is routine and typically seen in bankruptcy proceedings, and usually includes FCC conditions, said a satellite industry professional who’s closely monitoring the process. That the FCC would reference the end of the year gives LightSquared a bit of runway to work through the regulatory hurdles, the professional said. The filing “potentially throws the LightSquared bankruptcy into chaos,” and could leave Judge Shelley Chapman of U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York in “a near impossible position,” said independent analyst Tim Farrar. Commitments on LightSquared’s exit financing were due Friday, “and the FCC’s intervention could make the status of that financing even more uncertain,” he said in a blog post (http://bit.ly/1dMPULZ). Given the time it will take the FCC to get through the NPRM process, “we don’t see how Fortress goes through with its latest proposal,” said Wells Fargo analyst Marci Ryvicker. There’s no guarantee that the FCC will agree to the other five conditions, she said in a research note. Dish Network Chairman Charlie Ergen will likely end up with the LightSquared assets, she said. Regarding the conditions that aren’t addressed, the statement’s silence on them “should not be construed as an indication that the FCC could or would issue an approval required under the FCC Exit Condition, or that the FCC would issue a required approval” by the end of the year, the FCC filing said.

Consumer groups, competitive carriers and their trade associations met with FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler Tuesday to discuss the IP transition and transition proposal on the agenda for FCC’s Jan. 30 meeting, said an ex parte filing. AARP, the Broadband Coalition, Competitive Carriers Association, Comptel, EarthLink, Free Press, tw telecom and XO Communications were among those represented at the meeting. Officials with several of the groups declined to comment Friday beyond the statement made in the filing (http://bit.ly/1dYQgtK). “The participants generally expressed their strong support for the Commission’s recent focus on ‘Protecting Network Values,’ as the forthcoming open meeting item’s caption connotes,” the filing said. “We articulated the need for the Commission to focus on those values and -- as always -- on its statutory mandate. No matter the technology used, the Commission is charged with making the network work for everyone. To that end, the Commission must fulfill its duty to promote competition and interconnection among service providers. That is the best way to promote advanced technologies, robust networks and functioning markets.” “CCA was at the table because interconnection is an important issue for our members,” said Steve Berry, president of CCA. “Consumers expect seamless connectivity on their wireless devices, and we will continue work to ensure that competitive connectivity remains a fundamental principle throughout the transition to an all-IP world."

The American Hotel & Lodging Association will launch an internal task force to address issues regarding 911 calls from hotels, it said Friday. FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai earlier in the week sent letters to CEOs of major hotel chains, following a December incident in which a child tried to dial 911 when her mother was being strangled by her estranged husband. The child had not first dialed 9 for an outside line so that call did not go through, Pai said. “The hotel industry understands the seriousness and importance of the issues raised,” said AH&LA President Katherine Lugar. “Since this issue impacts other businesses as well, we are reaching out to organizations to work together to ensure it’s addressed in a meaningful way across the board.” AH&LA said the problem isn’t simple to solve: “Some hotel telephone systems allow direct access to an outside line for 911 calls, some are set to dial both 9 and 911, and similar to other businesses, some require guests to dial 9 to obtain an outside line. Hotels must take into consideration a variety of factors, both internal, including operational challenges, and external, including municipal, county, and state requirements.” Pai said he was pleased AH&LA was studying the issue: “Nothing can undo the tragic death this past December of Kari Hunt Dunn in Marshall, Texas, which brought this issue to the nation’s attention. But resolving this problem would be a fitting tribute to Kari’s memory."

This week’s net neutrality court decision is an “an open invitation to the FCC to clarify the importance of telecommunications networks to future economic growth and opportunity for all Americans,” said Computer & Communications Industry Association Vice President-Government Relations Cathy Sloan, writing in an op-ed for The Hill (http://bit.ly/1mczUoD). She said broadband access is now “the equivalent of basic telephone service for most Americans” when discussing the context of the case, which rests on the FCC classifying broadband as an information service rather than a Title II telecom service. The agency has kept regulations to a minimum where there’s sufficient competition, she said. “Where choices are few and market failure occurs, end users will look to the FCC for some basic protections that are only possible if the agency restores its own dormant statutory authority over access to critical underlying telecommunications networks,” Sloan said. “Otherwise Internet access providers will be free to block and discriminate at will, prioritizing only those information services that are both willing and able to pay for special connectivity."

The American Civil Liberties Union balked at initial reports that President Barack Obama may not overhaul government surveillance practices to a degree it deems sufficient. Obama is scheduled to talk Friday about what changes he’s going to make. The speech “will not only determine the direction of national security policies and programs, but also define his civil liberties legacy,” said ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero in a statement Wednesday (http://bit.ly/1eDXAMR). “If the speech is anything like what is being reported, the president will go down in history for having retained and defended George W. Bush’s surveillance programs rather than reformed them. Keeping the storage of all Americans’ data in government hands and asking ‘lawmakers to weigh in,’ as reported, is passing the buck -- when the buck should stop with the president.”

The FCC shouldn’t push the panic button and reactively reclassify broadband as a Title II service, said Fred Campbell, executive director of the new Center for Boundless Innovation, on the group’s blog Wednesday. Reaction continued to flow Wednesday after Tuesday’s decision by a federal appeals court overturning the commission’s net neutrality rules (CD Jan 15 p1). “The largest ISPs have already committed to maintaining an open Internet despite the court’s ruling, and there is no reason to believe that will change any time soon,” Campbell said (http://bit.ly/1d7t6Ab). “The Internet is not -- I repeat, is not -- in imminent danger. It is safe to leave the bomb shelter. Don’t believe the doomsayers who claim the ruling leaves consumers with no protection from ISPs. They are wrong. In the unlikely event that Internet openness is seriously threatened, the government retains authority to intervene.” Grant Seiffert, president of the Telecommunications Industry Association, said net neutrality remains important. “We have long-advocated for consumers’ right to connect devices and access content over the Internet,” he said. “In light of the Court’s decision, we rely on all interested parties to maintain an ecosystem where industry can continue to innovate and consumers are protected. Internet service providers have already expressed continued commitment to maintaining an open Internet. As manufacturers and suppliers of network equipment and broadband-enabled devices, we are encouraged by the certainty this commitment provides in and of itself.”

The FCC would receive $339.84 million for its salaries and expenses under a consolidated 2014 appropriations deal, lawmakers said this week as details of the legislation were unveiled. The FCC had requested a budget of $359.3 million for FY2014 (http://fcc.us/1aC0J0L). The $1.012-trillion spending package’s details were released in several documents covering how different government branches and agencies are funded by 12 appropriations bills. The continuing resolution and sequestration had left the FCC with $322 million for FY2013, despite a request for $346.8 million for that year (http://fcc.us/1alfuos). “The bill provides that $339,844,000 be derived from offsetting collections, resulting in no net appropriation,” said the explanatory document covering the FCC (http://1.usa.gov/1a4fY4A). It said the total includes $300,000 for “consultation with federally recognized Indian tribes, Alaskan Native villages, and entities related to Hawaiian Home Lands, and $11,090,000 for the FCC Office of Inspector General.” It also included provisions on in-flight mobile services emphasizing that the FCC can determine its rulemaking only from a technical perspective and cannot determine the “social or security implications,” the text said. “The FCC is directed to consult with the Secretaries of Transportation and Homeland Security, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation prior to a final rulemaking,” it said. “The Chairman of the FCC shall keep the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations apprised of any developments in this rulemaking.” There are also administrative provisions for the FCC in sections 510 and 511. The first extends an exemption for the USF and the second prevents the agency from “changing rules governing the Universal Service Fund regarding single connection or primary line restrictions,” it said. The same statement mentions the FTC, which would receive $298 million for salaries and expenses, under the act. NTIA would receive $46 million and the National Institute of Standards and Technology $850 million, according to a different explanatory statement (http://1.usa.gov/1hTJ2xY). “This appropriation is partially offset by premerger filing fees estimated at $103,300,000 and $15,000,000 from fees to implement the Telemarketing Sales Rule,” it said of the FTC appropriations.

A high-level policy group will recommend how to use the 470-790 MHz UHF spectrum band most effectively in coming years, the European Commission said Monday. The panel, whose members include broadcasters, network operators, mobile providers and tech associations, will help the EC and EU governments develop long-term strategies and regulatory policy on future use of the band, including the possibility of sharing some parts of the spectrum, it said. The group’s report will look at how Europe will access and use audiovisual content and data in the medium to long term and respond to four challenges, it said: (1) What next-generation terrestrial provision and reception of audiovisual content will look like. (2) How to secure the public interest and consumer benefits while allowing for market transformation. (3) What the strategic elements of spectrum use in the UHF band are in light of the first challenge, and what regulatory role the EU should play in coordinating developments. (4) What the financial implications are for a next-generation terrestrial platform for broadcasting and Internet use.

Charter Communications sent a letter to Time Warner Cable proposing a transaction, said the potential acquirer in a news release Monday (http://bit.ly/1dqJ3b1). The letter and deal proposal are an attempt to “bring the matter to shareholders directly” after six months of overtures from Charter that Time Warner Cable’s management and board “chose not to engage on,” said Charter. Time Warner Cable rejected Charter proposals in June and October, and responded to a December offer with a verbal offer that was “unrealistic,” said Charter CEO Tom Rutledge in the letter to his counterpart at the potential acquiree, Robert Marcus. “The information provided to date has been exclusively one-way, which further reinforces the point that there is no genuine interest from Time Warner Cable management and Board of Directors to engage on this opportunity,” said Charter CEO Tom Rutledge in the letter to Marcus. The proposed transaction would be “based on combining shareholder groups and allowing Time Warner Cable shareholders to participate at a substantial premium to Time Warner Cable’s unaffected stock price as well as meaningful upside following completion,” the letter said. Charter is prepared to offer a “cash/stock election mechanism” that would let Time Warner Cable shareholders in favor of a deal participate, and shareholders who don’t to cash out “at a meaningful premium,” the letter said. The deal’s financing is complete, and Charter “can be in a position to sign commitment letters in a matter of days,” Rutledge said. “We believe that time is of the essence to prepare our companies to meet the challenges of the industry, which is why we have decided to announce the status of our discussions to date to both sets of shareholders.” The newly created company would create value by reducing cost and increasing growth, and generate higher returns for the cable industry by rationalizing “the geographic holdings of the industry into more efficient entities,” Rutledge said. Time Warner Cable had no immediate comment.