DEM FCC COMMISH VOWS TO FIGHT FOR NET NEUTRALITY: The lone Democratic commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) joined with activists on Capitol Hill Monday to commemorate the anniversary of the agency’s landmark net neutrality rules and vowed to fight to defend them.
“Now it is time for us to once again roll up our sleeves and fight for the protections embodied in the Open Internet Order, that are designed to ensure that the internet remains an open platform, that enables free speech, freedom of expression and the ability for innovation to flourish,” said Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, speaking alongside representatives from civil rights groups and advocates of net neutrality.
“For me it can be summed up in this way: How do we ensure that one of most inclusive, enabling, empowering platforms of our time continues to be one where our applications, products, ideas and diverse points of view have the exact same chance of being seen and heard by everyone, regardless of our class, race, economic status or where we live?” Clyburn added.
{mosads}The FCC under then-Chairman Tom Wheeler, a Democrat, passed the rules two years ago Sunday.
But Ajit Pai, the new Republican FCC chairman, has already begun chipping away at the rules in the month since he took over the agency.
He has suspended an investigation into so-called zero-rating data plans that critics say violate net neutrality principles and pushed through a measure that exempted smaller internet service providers from certain reporting requirements under the rule.
Read more here.
DEMS EYEING INTERNET PRIVACY FIGHT: Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) also stepped up to defend internet privacy rules – part of the Wheeler era net neutrality provisions. In a call with reporters Monday, the Massachusetts senator said he would oppose any legislative efforts to weaken broadband privacy and said the free market won’t protect consumers. “Many Americans across the country only have access to a couple ISPs [internet service providers] to choose from and simply cannot change service providers if their privacy protections are not transparent or robust,” Markey said.
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TRUMP’S REVISED TRAVEL BAN: A source tells us that Donald Trump’s revised executive order barring foreign nationals from seven predominantly Muslim countries is due this Wednesday. Other outlets are also reporting that the order could arrive Wednesday. We’ll be tracking tech’s reaction. After Trump’s first stab at the ban, technology companies opposed it in force, starting with statements and culminating in over 100 technology companies filing an amicus brief in support of a suit against the order.
TRUMP DODGES ON TIME WARNER-AT&T MERGER: In an interview, Breitbart asked President Trump if “CNN’s pretty bad behavior” should be a factor in assessing the merger between Time Warner’s — the cable news channel’s parent company — and AT&T. Trump didn’t answer either way, telling the right wing website that he didn’t “want to comment on any specific deal.” Trump did, however, note that he believes there needs to be “competition in the marketplace and maybe even more so with the media.” On the campaign trail, Trump said that as president he would block the merger on the grounds that it would put too much power in the hands of too few, but after the election softened his tone. The merger is currently being reviewed by the Justice Department. On Monday, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said he didn’t expect his agency to review the merger.
ANOTHER TECH AMICUS BRIEF IN THE WORKS: Tech companies are signing on to another amicus brief a source confirmed to The Hill. This brief will be filed in support of a transgender student in Virginia. The move comes on the heels of President Trump reversing protections for transgender students last week. Tech companies quickly spoke out against the White House rescinding the protections.
ON THE DIGITAL CURRENCY FRONT: Over two dozen companies including J.P. Morgan Chase, Microsoft and Intel announced a new alliance to promote blockchain technologies that allow people to use digital currencies online. The companies have linked up to create standards to make it easier to develop the Ethereum code, reports Reuters. Ethereum is similar to the digital currency, Bitcoin, however it is specifically designed to allow apps that facilitate digital contracts to be built on its coding. That could allow for more uses beyond functioning as a currency like Bitcoin. Many in the industry consider it to be the most promising digital currency after Bitcoin.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai reiterated that the Commission not be reviewing the AT&T merger with Time Warner.
An Uber executive stepped down after failing to report sexual harassment accusations from his job at Google.
New emails detail a lengthy disagreement between Uber and California over self-driving car testing.
The Transportation Department is reevaluating self-driving car guidelines.
Bill Gates is concerned about what he sees as increasing U.S. isolationism reports Axios.
Mozilla, a non-profit, made its first ever acquisition reports The Verge.
Research shows spike in online fraud.
Civil liberties groups are pressing data brokers to keep their data off any potential immigrant registries.
A D.C. cyber firm is getting a $3.5M investment to develop its security software.