Overnight Tech: Big names defend net neutrality

LEDE: Big name defenders of the government’s net neutrality regulation made their case to the Appeals Court for the D.C. Circuit.

About 30 Democratic lawmakers submitted arguments that a plain reading of communications law grants the Federal Communications Commission the authority to adopt the rules. Other defenders included The Internet Association, Engine, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Tim Wu, who coined the term “net neutrality,” the American Library Association, the Association of College and Research Libraries and others.

{mosads}”In sum, the FCC has done precisely what Congress intended the Commission to do – classify broadband Internet access service according to its best understanding of the technology of the day, and how consumers use that technology,” the lawmakers argue in the brief, led by Democrats, Sen. Ed Markey (Conn.) and Rep. Anna Eshoo (Calif.).

Monday was the deadline for supporters of the Federal Communications Commission’s Internet rules to file their friend of the court briefs, defending the regulations from a lawsuit brought by Internet service providers. Oral arguments are scheduled for December.

SANDERS JOINS INTERNET DEBATE: Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, the Vermont senator, was one of the nearly 30 lawmakers who signed onto an amicus brief in support of the FCC’s new net neutrality rules.

WYDEN PRAISES REMOVAL OF SOCIAL MEDIA PROVISION FROM INTEL BILL: Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) praised the decision to remove a section of an Intelligence Authorization law that would have required social media platforms to report information about “terrorist activity.” “Going after terrorist recruitment and activity online is a serious mission that demands a serious response from our law enforcement and intelligence agencies,” Wyden said in a statement. “Social media companies aren’t qualified to judge which posts amount to ‘terrorist activity,’ and they shouldn’t be forced against their will to create a Facebook Bureau of Investigations to police their users’ speech.” Julian Hattem has more here.

FCC CHIEF CALLS TO LIMIT UNIVERSAL SERVICE WASTE: FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler on Monday told the Rural Broadband Association that the commission needs to ensure that Universal Service funds — aimed at increasing phone and broadband deployment through subsidies — are being used efficiently. He circulated a public notice Monday to remind commissioners of that fact as they attempt to revamp the broadband subsidy program for small, rural providers.

“We’ve seen examples in recent news of bad apples who abuse the fund for their own personal gain, and it is important that we take steps to ensure that those bad apples do not distract from the important work that you are doing to serve your communities,” he said during a speech in Boston.

WHEELER CRITICIZES ‘CHICKEN LITTLE’ ARGUMENTS ON NET NEUTRALITY: Wheeler also made a familiar point in the net neutrality debate, combating critics who allege the new rules are harming investment. Critics have been increasingly vocal that Internet service provider investment is down after the rules were passed in February.

“This last point is critical: while some parties turned into Chicken Little and spoke of the end of investment in broadband if we chose the Title II path, others, including NTCA, described reality – that a modernized Title II made sense, and would not harm broadband investment,” he said.

BROADCASTERS HAVE A MESSAGE FOR THE MUSIC INDUSTRY: The National Association of Broadcasters took out an ad in Tuesday’s Nashville Tennessean saying that radio and the music industry should keep their “partnership strong.” “Through airplay, interviews with performers, concert promotion and giveaways, radio delivers $2.4 billion in promotional value to artists and labels each year,” the ad says. It comes as Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and the House Judiciary Committee hold a roundtable on copyright policy in the city.

GOOGLE TO FACE CLASS ACTION OVER ADS IN CALIFORNIA: The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said Monday a group of Internet advertisers can go ahead with their lawsuit against Google, alleging that the search giant failed to disclose all the places their ads might show up. The court did not rule on the merits of the case, which alleges the deception violated California law. Instead, the court found the advertisers could organize the lawsuit as a class action, and the court sent it back to the district court.

FUNDRAISER FOR WHITE HOUSE STAFFER’S CHILDREN TOPS GOAL: A GoFundMe page for the family of Jake Brewer, the White House tech policy adviser killed in an accident over the weekend, has raised more than its $200,000 goal. The president said in a statement Sunday that Brewer “was one of the best.” The fundraising page says that the money will go to help pay for his children’s education and may be used “to advance ideas about which Jake was passionate.”

WIRELESS CARRIERS SPEND BIG FOR FRANCIS VISIT: Wireless carriers have spent millions preparing for Pope Francis’ visit to the U.S. this week, according to Fortune. Verizon has spent $24 million, and AT&T has spent $23 million, to increase capacity around the Mass the pontiff will hold in Philadelphia. They will also reportedly deploy mobile equipment to boost signals. Comcast, based in Philadelphia, is also boosting its network.

ON TAP:

At 8:55 a.m., FTC Commissioner Maureen Ohlhausen speaks about the Internet of Things at the Chamber of Commerce. Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) speaks at 2:30 p.m.

At 2 p.m., the LGBT Technology Partnership and Institute hosts its annual policy forum.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

The Obama administration on Monday declared broadband Internet a “core utility,” while announcing three-dozen steps federal agencies are taking to get more people online.

Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker will speak Wednesday at a Chinese-organized technology forum in Seattle.

Apple is aiming to reach a major milestone in the development of its car by 2019, The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

Major tech companies and other supporters of the Federal Communications Commission’s new Internet rules are expected to flood the U.S. Appeals Court for the D.C. Circuit on Monday with arguments in favor of the regulations.

A French regulator on Monday rejected Google’s appeal of a decision that requires it to remove links from its search results — no matter where they show up in the world.

Please send tips and comments to David McCabe, dmccabe@digital-stage.thehill.com and Mario Trujillo, mtrujillo@digital-stage.thehill.com

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