FCC's Weak Merger Enforcement Meets NATE's Build America Push
The @FCC enforcement of merger conditions is not exactly stellar. But @BrendanCarrFCC has courted NATE as a major constituency in the "Build America" agenda, so we'll see what happens.
States Still Have Teeth Despite Recent Court Losses
The lesson from today's LiveNation verdict combined with the Nxstr/Tgna TRO -- states have teeth. People seem to think that since the states lost TMO/Sprint that Fed support was sufficient. Think again.
FTC Mandates AI Disclosures Like Influencer Ads
The same FTC law (Section 5) that requires search engines, influencers and others to disclose sponsored content applies to AI. The disclosure these guys do doesn't happen out of the goodness of their hearts.
Track Prison Drones, Not Just Jam Cellphones
I actually think giving prisons authority to track and down drones entering prison airspace is a better idea than jamming cellphones. For one thing, drones smuggle in a lot more than cell phones. (BTW, this is not the FCC Carr....
Nexstar TRO Questions DOJ’s Presumption of Regularity
In light of the #Nexstar TRO it is worth asking how much the death of the "presumption of regularity" is hitting DoJ generally -- including antitrust. If NXSTR banked on DoJ seal of approval, is that going to backfire?
Cox V. Sony Undermines Original Intent of Section 512
I like the Cox v. Sony result, but it does seem contrary to what the intent of the drafters of Sec. 512 actually intended in 1998. Mind you, this confusion is in part a measure of the effed-up process by...
FCC Call Center Rule May Violate EEO National Origin Ban
Anyone else look at the @FCC call center item? Am I the only one who sees a conflict with the EEO Act prohibition on national origin discrimination? Also some serious problems with our free trade agreements. /1
Eight States Sue Nexstar, Tegna Over Local News Antitrust
8 states file antitrust complaint against NXST/TGNA. https://t.co/ezHdcMNmdr Interesting complaint in that it goes after retrans and degredation of local news coverage as a consumer welfare/loss of competing product issue. /1
License Revocations Under 47 USC 312(a)(4) Are Uphill Battles
I assume that when @BrendanCarrFCC refers to license revocations, he means via 47 USC 312(a)(4). This is, to put it mildly, a very uphill fight and the broadcaster keeps the license until final resolution. /1
1984 Federal Preemption Turned Cable Rights-of-Way Into Monopolies
This. Folks might want to go back and see how localities leveraged access to ROWs for cable to get franchise fees and PEG (and how fed preemption in '84 created cable monopolies with crap service.)
Sovereign Wealth Funds and Broadcast Licenses: 310(a) Implications?
Looking for the collective wisdom of the platform. Has there ever been a case where a sovereign wealth fund has taken an interest (passive or active) in a bcast license? And did it trigger 310(a)?
30 Years Later: Telecomm Act's Enduring Impact
Join @publicknowledge & @HowardUCOMM tomorrow (2/24)to celebrate 30th anniversary of the Telecommunications Act of 1996! @RepMcClellan, policy advocates & academics explore the lasting legacy of this cornerstone of communication policy. RSVP https://t.co/to98DpEh9L
Data Centers Anchor Community Fiber Deployments
The idea of data centers as anchor tenants for fiber in communities is a good one.