Today, the American Consumer Institute joined a large coalition of groups raising concerns over potential regulations that would significantly expand the Department of Commerce’s discretion in blocking technology transactions and purchases. The letter is available online.
Technology
ACI Statement Regarding Newly Introduced Facial Recognition Legislation
The following is a statement by Dr. Krisztina Pusok, Director of Research and Public Policy, regarding the Senate Bill 2878, also cited as the Facial Recognition Technology Warrant Act of 2019: ”The American Consumer Institute applauds the introduction of the Facial Recognition Technology Warrant Act of 2019 (S. 2878) sponsored by Senator Lee and Senator […]
FCC CAC File Recommendation on Caller ID Authentication
Today, the FCC’s Consumer Advisory Committee filed a recommendation in regard to efforts to dramatically reduce unwanted robocalls. This recommendation dealt with caller ID authentication issues. The recommendation can be viewed here.
Town Hall: FCC’s Push to Challenge China on 5G
Since assuming office, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Ajit Pai has demonstrated bold and principled leadership to establish a policy environment that encourages the development of new technologies and the high-speed wireless networks that are critical to delivering to American consumers. However, there is still more to do if the FCC is to […]
The Hill: C-Band spectrum–Private Auctions are the Quickest Way for 5G Consumer Benefits
Last Tuesday, the U.S. House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology held a hearing on the C-Band, entitled “Repurposing the C-Band to Benefit All Americans.” On behalf of consumers everywhere, our hope is lawmakers conducting the hearing will listen carefully to the arguments in support of C-Band private auctions and use their influence with the FCC […]
Coalition Calls for Expediting C-Band Spectrum Auctions
Today ACI joined Heritage Action, the American Enterprise Institute, the Competitive Enterprise Institute, R-Street and the Lincoln Network in sending a letter to the House Energy and Commerce Committee calling for private auctions of C-Band Spectrum. Such an auction would prevent years of delay that a government-run auction would create, thereby speeding spectrum for 5G […]
Study: Addressing Privacy and Security Concerns with Distributed Tech without Impeding Innovation
In May 2018, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) published a warning notifying that Russian computer hackers had compromised hundreds of thousands of home and office routers and could collect user information or shut down network traffic. The Bureau then urged the owners of several brands of routers to turn them off and on again, and […]
Hill’s Congress Blog: The Third Circuit Shows It Lives in Another era with ruling on Media Ownership
In a 2-1 decision last week, the Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals squashed recent efforts by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deregulate media ownership rules, which would have allowed local news outlets across the country to adapt and thrive. Instead, a 40-year-old rule restricting cross-ownership of a newspaper and TV station in the […]
Politicians’ Love-Hate Relationship with Uber
You can’t have your cake and eat it too. Recently, presidential candidate Mayor Pete Buttigieg joined a rally in San Francisco to support Assembly Bill 5 (AB5), which would transition drivers from “contractor” to “employee” status. Despite his criticism of Uber and Lyft, Buttigieg’s staff have already spent $9,000 on the services in the first […]
The FCC Consumer Advisory Committee Files a Recommendation on Robocall Blocking
Today, the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Consumer Advisory Committee filed a recommendation on robocall block notification and critical call list development. The filing makes a recommendation to FCC Chairman Pai. This issue has been a high priority topic for the FCC. The filing can be read here.