Category: Federal Communications Commission

FCC approves waivers to track Jewish center threats

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is granting an emergency temporary waiver to Jewish community centers and telecommunications carriers that serve them to help track down callers who have made threats, the agency said on Friday. Jewish community centers and schools in at least 13 U.S. states have reported receiving bomb threats this year, stoking fears of a resurgence of anti-Semitism.

JCCs can now trace threatening calls after bomb scares

After more than 30 Jewish Community Centers around the country received call-in bomb threats this week, the Federal Communications Commission on Friday granted Sen. Charles Schumer’s request that Jewish organizations that feel targeted be allowed to trace threatening calls. The Joan & Alan Bernikow Jewish Community Center on Manor Road in Sea View was one of 31 around the country that received a threatening phone call Monday.

FCC chair wants carriers to block robocalls from spoofed numbers

Blocking robocalls from spoofed numbers may soon become easier, as the Federal Communications Commission is preparing to give carriers authority to take more aggressive action against this type of scam call. The FCC in 2015 made it clear that voice service providers can offer call blocking tools to customers, but commissioners said at the time that more needed to be done about Caller ID spoofing.

It’s Time To End Net Neutrality

The change in Administration brings fresh thinking to what had become an epicenter of 1934 regulatory thought – the Federal Communications Commission . Under the prior Administration, the FCC was twice chastised by the courts for attempting to impose net neutrality on Internet Service Providers .

Yahoo Reveals Details of Breaches

Following an independent committee investigation into a series of major security breaches affecting more than 1 billion user accounts, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer will lose out on a cash bonus and an equity award reportedly worth around $14 million. The committee’s findings, outlined in a company filing yesterday with the Securities and Exchange Commission , also prompted the resignation of Yahoo general counsel and secretary Ronald Bell.

FCC, in potential sign of the future, halts new data security rules

The Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday halted new government rules related to data security from taking effect this week, in a potential prelude to a broader repeal of privacy protections for users of high-speed internet. After a 2-to-1, party-line vote by the Republican-led commission, Ajit Pai, the chairman, announced that a portion of privacy rules passed in October would be temporarily stayed.

Former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler blasts his replacement, supports net neutrality

Former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler blasts his replacement, supports net neutralityIt’s only been a month since Tom Wheeler stepped down from his post as chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, but he’s already lined up a new gig. In late February, Actility, a Paris-based Internet of Things management firm, signed on Wheeler as the newest member of its board.

FCC puts robocalls, prison phones at the top of its agenda – CNET

On Thursday, newly minted Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai released the agency’s agenda for the month, with six items it will discuss and vote on March 23. At the top of the list is killing robocalls — those automated phone calls that annoy the entire nation. Pai has been working fast to kill regulation and policies like net neutrality — the concept that all internet traffic must be treated as equal — that the previous administration enforced.

Overnight Tech: Tech firms back teen in transgender rights case |…

MORE TECH COMPANIES TAKE ON TRANSGENDER RULING: Major technology companies including Apple, Amazon, Twitter and Intel on Thursday officially signed an amicus brief in support of a Supreme Court case regarding protections for transgender students. The brief, organized by the Human Rights Campaign , is in favor of a suit brought by transgender student Gavin Grimm.

FCC halts regulations to protect data security

The Federal Communications Commission is delaying new data security rules that were supposed to take effect today. Those regulations, approved by the Obama administration last year, were part of a package of rules that limit how internet providers use and sell customer data.

Mobile Minutes: Twitter abuse; FCC attacks privacy; Snapchat experimentation; Snap IPO

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday blocked some Obama administration rules approved last year that would have subjected broadband providers to stricter scrutiny than websites, a victory for internet providers such as AT&T Inc, Comcast Corp and Verizon Communications Inc . Gatorade’s Kenny Mitchell wasn’t totally sold on Snapchat advertising until he met Imran Khan, Snap Inc.’s chief strategy officer, in December of 2015.

Us FCC stays data security regulations for broadband providers

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has halted new rules that would require high-speed internet providers to take ‘reasonable’ steps to protect customer data. In a 2-1 vote that went along party lines, the FCC voted Wednesday to stay temporarily one part of privacy rules passed in October that would give consumers the right to decide how their data is used and shared by broadband providers.

Schumer to feds: Let Upstate NY Jewish centers trace threatening calls

NEW YORK, March 1 The U.S. Federal Communications Commission said on Wednesday it was exploring what it could do to help law enforcement track down who has made telephone threats to almost 100 Jewish Community Centers across the United States in recent months. When asked for the FCC’s reaction to Schumer’s inquiry, agency spokesman Neil Grace on Wednesday issued a statement to Newsday saying the chairman “is very concerned about the bomb threats being made to Jewish Community Centers across our country”.

Overnight Tech: FCC votes in favor of stay on data security |…

FCC VOTES TO HALT INTERNET PRIVACY RULE: The Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday voted 2-1 along party lines to prevent a new internet privacy rule from taking effect. The provision was part of a larger set of broadband privacy rules passed by the FCC in October under the Obama administration and set to go into effect on Thursday.

FCC halts Internet privacy rule that imposes data security requirements on broadband providers

The Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday voted to halt an Internet privacy rule that would have imposed data security requirements on broadband providers. The move, by a 2-1 vote, came after the agency’s new Republican chairman, Ajit Pai, indicated last week that he opposed the provision and broader privacy rules because they imposed tougher restrictions on high-speed Internet providers than on websites and social networks.

FCC puts data security protections on hold – CNET

As expected the Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday voted 2-1 along party lines to stop a new data security rule from taking effect. It was part of a bigger set of privacy regulation, approved by the FCC in October , that’s supposed to protect consumers’ sensitive personal information online.

Chuck Schumer Seeks FCC Waiver To Unscramble, Trace Origin Of Bomb Threats To Jewish Centers

After a disturbing rash of anti-Semitic acts, which includes Jewish cemeteries being vandalized and bomb threats called in to Jewish community centers, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asked the Federal Communications Commission for a waiver that would allow authorities to unscramble anonymous phone numbers that are being used to call in threats. Schumer’s letter specifically referred to a series of bomb threats that were made on Feb. 27 to 11 JCCs, several of them in or near New York.

New FCC chairman: Net neutrality rules were a ‘mistake’

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission’s net neutrality rules, passed two years ago, were a “mistake” that caused uncertainty for the broadband industry, the agency’s new chairman said. The net neutrality rules, along with the FCC’s decision to reclassify broadband as a regulated common carrier, “deviated” from the U.S. government’s longstanding light-touch regulatory approach toward the internet, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said Tuesday at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

Democrats should get on board with repeal of FCC privacy rules

Is the broadband privacy sky falling? You’d think so if you listen to the apocalyptic tech press or Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey Democrats should get on board with repeal of FCC privacy rules Senate Dems hit FCC chairman on consumer data risks Dems rip Trump administration for revoking Obama’s transgender directive MORE They claim that Republican Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai is about to leave consumers totally unprotected from broadband providers who might use information gathered about them. A press call yesterday put out a flurry of mixed metaphors: Republicans want a “black hole” or an “unregulated Wild West” for broadband privacy.

FCC Chair: Net Neutrality a Mistake

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America’s Favorite Cell Phone Perk Is Coming Back, FCC Head Says, Because Of Obama Regs Roll-Back

Ajit Pai, the Republican chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, said that the recent uptick in “unlimited” data offerings from telecommunications companies is due to his reversal of burdensome federal oversight imposed by the Obama administration. Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, and AT&T – the four largest wireless providers in the U.S. – all launched new unlimited data plans in recent weeks in an apparent attempt to capitalize on the change.

Senate Dems hit FCC chairman on consumer data risks

Democratic Senators slammed Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai for his recent move to abandon new FCC rules on how internet service providers can use customer data Ed Markey Senate Dems hit FCC chairman on consumer data risks Dems rip Trump administration for revoking Obama’s transgender directive A guide to the committees: Senate MORE Xbox launches subscription service Senate Dems hit FCC chairman on consumer data risks Last chance to improve Afghanistan’s fledgling Air Force? MORE Xbox launches subscription service Senate Dems hit FCC chairman on consumer data risks The Hill’s 12:30 Report MORE Xbox launches subscription service Senate Dems hit FCC chairman on consumer data risks Education’s DeVos, unions need to find way to bridge divide and work together MORE cited security concerns while criticizing Pai’s decision not to enact the broadband privacy provisions … (more)

New FCC chair vows ‘light-touch’ approach to regulation

The new Republican head of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission promised “light-touch” regulation of areas such as the internet, a dramatic shift away from the Obama administration’s approach to telecommunications oversight. Ajit Pai, whom President Donald Trump named in January to chair the FCC, said at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona that the agency made a “mistake” in 2015 when it adopted landmark “net neutrality rules” reclassifying internet service like a public utility.

6 ways Chairman Pai can stop FCC overreach

Upon being named the new chairman of the Federal Communications Commission on Jan. 21, Ajit Pai swiftly made clear his intent to reverse the agency’s recent pattern of regulatory overreach. To his credit, Pai already has moved quickly to shift the FCC’s primary focus from imposing new restrictions on broadband services to encouraging more broadband availability for all Americans by employing less heavyhanded interventionist means.

FCC Chair: Net Neutrality a Mistake

Calling the Open Internet Order adopted by the Federal Communications Commission two years ago a “mistake,” new FCC chairman Ajit Pai today told attendees at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona that the agency intends to return to a “light-touch approach” to regulations. MWC 2017, running this week from Feb. 27-March 2, is the mobile industry’s largest annual conference and expo.

FCC Extends Form 477 Deadline Due to Technical Issues

On February 24, 2017, the Federal Communications Commission issued a Public Notice extending indefinitely the deadline to submit the FCC Form 477 report due to “technical difficulties in the filing interface.” The Commission will announce the new filing deadline via a separate public notice once these issues are resolved.

What’s the buzz? Pot-growing lights vex ham radio operators

Retired Coast Guard officer Roger Johnson sometimes notices a harsh buzz when he turns on his amateur radio, and he blames high-powered lighting used to grow pot. Amateur radio operators say the legalization of marijuana is creating a chronic nuisance thanks to interference caused by electrical ballasts that regulate indoor lamps used to grow pot.

FCC announces cooperation agreement with Indian counterpart

The Federal Communications Commission announced on Tuesday a partnership with its Indian counterpart, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India . During the Mobile World Congress summit in Barcelona, Spain, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai signed a non-binding agreement with TRAI Chairman R.S. Sharma to cooperate with the Indian agency and share best practices.

Growing problem: Pot lights give ham radio operators a buzz

In this Feb. 21, 2017 photo, lifelong ham radio operator and expert tinkerer Tom Thompson poses for a photo inside his basement home office, where he operates a ham radio and other devices in Boulder, Colo. After discovering that radio interference was being caused by high-powered lights from home marijuana growers, Thompson built an electronic filter and has given them to nearby growers.