We have moved our content to the new Hogan Lovells platform Engage. Engage gives you the latest legal and regulatory news and provides insights and analysis for your business, from across our global network, when you need it.
Category Archives: Technology, Media & Telecoms
Subscribe to Technology, Media & Telecoms RSS FeedEngage is here
U.S. Supreme Court Finds TCPA’s Federal-Debts Exemption Unconstitutional; Leaves Rest of TCPA Intact
Supreme Court held that the TCPA’s federal-debts exemption is a content-based law that violated the First Amendment and severed the exemption from the TCPA.
Second Circuit Panel Sides with the Ninth Circuit Panel on What Qualifies as an Autodialer
A recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in Duran v. La Boom Disco, Inc. has interrupted the emerging consensus around the definition of “autodialer” in the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). On April 7, 2020, a Second Circuit panel joined a Ninth Circuit panel in adopting a broad reading of the statutory definition of “automatic telephone dialing system” (ATDS), commonly referred to as an autodialer.
Executive Order Creates Committee to Replace “Team Telecom” Review of Foreign Telecom Investments
President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order creating a new multiagency process for Executive Branch review of telecommunications-related applications and licenses involving foreign participation in the telecommunications sector. The newly established Executive Branch committee ostensibly replaces the review currently conducted by an informal, multiagency group known as “Team Telecom.” But the Committee’s mandate includes several novel features that expand the reach and scope of national security review beyond what Team Telecom could accomplish.
President Trump Signs Bipartisan Broadband Mapping Legislation
Trump signed the Broadband DATA Act, which requires the FCC to collect and disseminate data about broadband availability and establish processes to ensure data accuracy.
FCC Confirms that Certain COVID-19 Communications Fall Within the TCPA’s “Emergency Purposes” Exception
Hospitals, health care providers, health officials, and other government officials may use automated calls and text messages to communicate information about COVID-19 when “necessary to protect the health and safety of citizens,” without violating the TCPA. The FCC released the Declaratory Ruling on its own motion, without being prompted to do so by a regulated party.
CSSMA Highlights WRC Advocacy, Earth Station Service Industry
The CSSMA meeting was part of ongoing efforts to develop the smallsat industry by facilitating spectrum coordination and harnessing the industry’s voice on pertinent matters.
Seventh Circuit Joins Third and Eleventh Circuits in “Autodialer” Circuit Split
The U.S. Courts of Appeal increasingly agree on how to interpret the definition of “automatic telephone dialing system” (“ATDS” or “autodialer”) in the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”). The Seventh Circuit held that an “autodialer” must use “a random or sequential number generator” to either store or produce numbers.
Kari’s Law Compliance Obligations Begin February 16, 2020
A wide variety of organizations will be impacted by Kari’s Law and must comply with its requirements.
Eleventh Cir. Rejects Broad Reading of “Autodialer”
The key issue is how to interpret ambiguous language in the Telephone Consumer Protection Act’s (TCPA) definition of “automatic telephone dialing system.” The Eleventh Circuit panel’s decision in Glasser rejects that trend, joins the D.C. Circuit in adopting a much narrower view of the TCPA’s scope, and establishes a clear circuit split with the Ninth Circuit.
DDTC Publishes FAQs on U.S. Persons Working Abroad & ITAR Defense Services
On 6 January, 2020 DDTC announced guidance regarding U.S. persons providing defense services while abroad. The guidance is based on the ITAR and not the 2015 proposed rule, and is provided in a 14-part question-and-answer format.
Congress Passes Bipartisan Robocall Legislation
On December 19, 2019, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act (S. 151), which the House of Representatives passed in a 417-3 vote earlier this month. With the Senate’s passage of the reconciled bill, the bipartisan legislation now heads to President Trump’s desk for his review.
WRC-19 Revamps ITU Radio Regulations to Accommodate Emerging Communications Technologies
Communications technologies often evolve more quickly than the regulatory frameworks governing them. To keep pace, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) revisits the ITU’s Radio Regulations governing radiofrequency spectrum use approximately every four years to accommodate new technologies and uses. Between WRCs, national administrations and ITU sector members (interested companies and trade
FCC Issues Public Notice on Spectrum Allocations for UAS Operations
The FCC recently issued a Public Notice that sought comment on whether to make the 960-1164 MHz and 5030-5091 MHz bands available to support unmanned aerial system operations (UAS). The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 required the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), and the FCC to submit a report
FCBA Event Highlights Innovative History and Future for Spectrum Auctions
On November 12, members of the Federal Communications Bar Association (FCBA) gathered in Washington, DC, to commemorate 25 years of spectrum auctions at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Hosted at Hogan Lovells LLP, the event featured current and former FCC staff members and industry lawyers, who discussed the history and future of spectrum auctions. The
FCC Announces Members of Precision Agriculture Task Force
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, announced the members of the Task Force for Reviewing the Connectivity and Technology Needs of Precision Agriculture in the United States (Task Force). The Task Force, an advisory body to the FCC, will investigate the current state of broadband access in agricultural lands and recommend
Germany’s proposed digital antitrust law: an ambitious project to regulate digital markets
Germany is about to implement an ambitious new “digital antitrust law” (“GWB-Digitalisierungsgesetz”) to effectively regulate online markets. The draft Ministerial bill on the 10th amendment of the German Act Against Restraints of Competition (“GWB”), published at the beginning of October, aims at continuing Germany’s role as a pioneer in antitrust regulation of digital markets. Regulation
FCC Announces Participants in Auction 103
In a Public Notice released October 7, 2019, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced the status of the 39 short-form applications for Auction 103, which is scheduled to begin on December 10, 2019. Auction 103 will offer 14,144 licenses covering some 3,400 megahertz of spectrum in the Upper 37 GHz, 39 GHz, and 47 GHz
Ill-Suited: Private Rights of Action and Privacy Claims
“For years, the plaintiffs’ bar has conjured multibillion-dollar class action lawsuits out of largely intangible privacy harms. This wave of litigation is increasingly driven by federal and state statutes that include private rights of action and allow for excessive statutory damages. Given the willingness of some courts to let cases proceed despite a lack of
Update on FCC 5.9 GHz band rule-making
On May 14, 2019, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai announced plans to open a rule-making to take a “fresh look” at the 5850-5925 megahertz (MHz) (5.9 gigahertz (GHz)) spectrum band. Initial reports suggested that the FCC would take the issue up in June, but the 5.9 GHz rule-making was not included on the
Study shows complexity and uncertainty of IoT regulation in Europe
A Hogan Lovells study comparing of regulatory requirements in the European Union, United States, and China shows the complexity and uncertainty of the regulatory framework relevant to Internet of Things (IoT) in Europe. The number of telecoms regulatory constraints affecting IoT in the EU is almost twice as high as in the United States and
Hogan Lovells publishes Demystifying the U.S. CLOUD Act
Hogan Lovells has published Demystifying the U.S. CLOUD Act, a detailed analysis of the impact of the Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data Act (CLOUD Act) on non-U.S. businesses and individuals who use cloud storage solutions.
NOAA Hosts First Ever Interagency Satellite Workshop
In October, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) brought together NOAA licensees and prospective licensees and representatives from across the federal government for a workshop on U.S. satellite licensing and compliance regulations. The first of its kind, this three-day event was designed to promote transparency and awareness about government processes and to improve
CMS proposes requiring drug prices in TV ads
On October 15, CMS released a proposed rule titled “Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Drug Pricing Transparency,” which would require direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertisements for prescription drugs covered by Medicare or Medicaid to include the Wholesale Acquisition Cost (WAC). This proposed rule resembles a rejected Senate amendment to the FY-2019 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill (analyzed here) that would