A new bill could open an application window for new Class A TV stations, said authors Sens. Roy Blunt, R-Miss., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore. The Low Power Protection Act would require the FCC to open a new filing window during which LPTV stations could be upgraded to Class As, which are treated as a primary service and are less likely to be bumped from their channels over interference. Preventing bumping helps increase the amount of local coverage and makes LPTV a better investment, Monday's release said. It included endorsements from unlikely bedfellows: NAB, Public Knowledge, the National Hispanic Media Coalition and the LPTV Broadcasters Association.

House Commerce Committee members requested briefings Monday on how a website is “able to continue encouraging suicide.” They cited New York Times reporting about a site, which the lawmakers didn’t identify, “that may have played a role in the deaths of 45 individuals by suicide.” Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and ranking member Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., joined subcommittee leaders from both parties in requesting briefings from search engines, web hosting companies, content delivery networks and social media platforms, plus the Department of Health and Human Services. “We are deeply concerned by recent reporting on a website that provides advice on methods of suicide and facilitates discussions encouraging people to take their lives," they wrote. The committee is “committed to taking further action to address the role of online content in the nation’s mental health emergency."

Americans for Tax Reform included Democratic FCC nominee Gigi Sohn on its 2021 “naughty" list Friday. It said if confirmed she “would use the position to silence her opponents by revoking broadcast licenses of conservative news outlets for their editorial decisions and increase broadband costs through” reclassifying the technology as a Communications Act Title II service. President Joe Biden will likely need to renominate Sohn in January since the Senate Commerce Committee didn't vote on her earlier this month (see 2112150069). One of the two remaining holdouts, Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., was to have met with Sohn Friday. Rosen’s office didn’t comment.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., acknowledged Friday that the Senate won’t be able to act on the House-passed Build Back Better Act budget reconciliation package (HR-5376) this year while talks with centrist Democrats remain at an impasse. The measure includes $500 million for NTIA connected device vouchers, $490 million for next-generation 911 tech upgrades and $300 million for the FCC Emergency Connectivity Fund (see 2111190042). The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and some 85 other groups are urging the Senate to remove the FTC privacy bureau funding (see 2112160038), and the National Emergency Number Association wants the chamber to restore the full $10 billion for NG-911 lawmakers originally proposed. Schumer acknowledged the delay after President Joe Biden said Thursday his talks with Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, will “continue next week.”

The Senate Judiciary Committee delayed the vote Thursday on the nomination of Katherine Vidal to be Patent and Trademark Office director (see 2110290071). Nominees are traditionally held over at least one week after being included on the agenda for the first time. Republicans requested the hold, Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said Thursday.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the Inform Act, which requires sellers over a certain threshold to be verified by e-commerce platforms (HR-5502), and the Shop Safe Act, which would ask platforms to make reasonable efforts to screen for sellers that are likely to sell counterfeit goods (HR-3429), both belong in the China package. The Retail Industry Leaders Association asked for legislation that could tackle organized shoplifters selling stolen products online, she told reporters in the Capitol Wednesday. Inform has been accepted by all major stakeholders, but Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., told us Shop Safe has some business opposition. The bills (here and here) aren't part of the Senate China package that passed with 68 votes.

The Internet Association will close at year-end, the board announced Wednesday. “Our industry has undergone tremendous growth and change since the Internet Association was formed almost 10 years ago, and in line with this evolution, the Board has made the difficult decision to close the organization at the end of this year,” it said. “IA has made great progress on its mission to foster innovation, promote economic growth, and empower people through a free and open internet.” IA members “remain committed to advancing public policy in support of this mission and will continue to work with stakeholders,” it said. Microsoft and Uber announced in November they were leaving the association, raising questions about IA's waning influence. A Microsoft spokesperson Wednesday referenced the company's previous statement when it decided to quit IA. "We advocate for public policies that support our business goals," said the spokesperson. "As our business needs evolve, we periodically review trade association memberships to ensure alignment with our policy agenda."

Southwest Airlines CEO Scott Kelly cited FAA concerns about flights being diverted or grounded because of 5G C-band wireless broadband signals (see 2112070047) as “our No. 1 concern … in the near term” during a Wednesday Senate Commerce Committee hearing on aviation safety. FAA opposition to FCC work toward allowing Verizon and AT&T to start using their C-band spectrum for 5G, including a recent airworthiness directive, “would significantly impact” Southwest operations, Kelly responded to a question from Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn. Delta Air Lines Chief of Operations John Laughter told Blackburn the “safety concerns” for the aviation industry are “very real,” but he believes a “combination of power adjustments and location” would allow the U.S. to “absolutely solve this and live in a world where there is 5G available” on the C band. Blackburn noted 39 other countries allow 5G use on the frequency and believes FAA opposition “undermines America’s efforts to remain a leader in 5G.” Lawmakers “are quite concerned about this,” especially because of China’s bid to win out over the U.S. as 5G leader, she said.

The Senate confirmed Lucy Koh to sit on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals (see 2112100008). The party-line vote was 50-45 Monday.

The Senate voted 86-13 Tuesday to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the compromise FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (S-1605). A final vote is expected Wednesday. The conference NDAA, which the House passed last week, jettisoned some previously included telecom language but retains text directing DOD to brief the National Security Council on “potential harmful interference” to GPS posed by Ligado’s planned L-band operations (see 2112080070). Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Gary Peters, D-Mich., and other lawmakers are eyeing other vehicles for advancing cybersecurity proposals also excised from S-1605 (see 2112130062).