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☆ Affordable internet gave Native Americans a way to preserve community and culture. Now it’s another broken promise
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Within weeks, the two-year-old US Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is set to run out of funds, and Congress appears unlikely to authorize more. Even as many older and rural Americans may be thrust into financial hardship due to the ACP’s collapse, indigenous communities could fare even worse. Because tribal members can now work remotely, they are no longer forced to move away from their communities to seek opportunity, they told CNN. For example, Mitchell said, after decades of decline in Mohawk fluency, a growing number of tribal members are now involved in online language immersion. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Seth Wenig/AP/FileInstead, some say, the collapse of the ACP will become another stain on the US government’s centuries-long track record of breaking promises to tribal communities.

Persons: Kelly, ”, “, “ That’s, ” Kelly, Mike Johnson, Pennsylvania Democratic Sen, John Fetterman, Fetterman’s, Jonathan Nez, “ I’ve, Loren King, Geoffrey Starks, ” Starks, Allyson Mitchell, Mitchell, Nez, ” Nez, Derrick VanSoolen’s, Choctaw, ” VanSoolen, they’re, Bois, Randy Long, Gary Johnson, Paul, Seth Wenig, I’ll Organizations: Washington CNN, Mohawk, CNN, Connectivity Program, FCC, Pennsylvania Democratic, Federal Communications Commission, Treasury, US Federal Communications Commission, Mohawk Networks, Navajo, ACP, Emergency, Program, Choctaw Nation, Bois Forte, Paul Bunyan Communications Locations: St, Lawrence, New York, Canadian, Mohawk, America, Navajo, Oklahoma, Oklahoma , Arizona, New Mexico, Alaska, South Dakota, Arizona, Minnesota, Regis

☆ Interest rates: It’s a mystery when the Fed will begin to cut them
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Washington CNN —Nowadays, it’s anyone’s guess when the Federal Reserve will begin to cut interest rates this year — if at all. Fed officials are meeting this week, starting Tuesday, to discuss rates and set policy. That guidance will be key for market observers who clearly have divergent views on interest rates. Forecasts from major Wall Street banks on the first rate cut are all over the place: JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs expect the first cut in July, while Wells Fargo is betting on September. Some Fed policymakers, meanwhile, have even floated the possibility of a rate hike, instead of a cut.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Wall, Liz Ann Sonders, Charles Schwab, Jerome Powell, “, ” Kathleen Grace, John Towfighi, That’s, nearshoring, Alberto Ramos, Ramos, Morgan Stanley, Read, Cindy Westman, —, Brian Fung, Jason Carroll, I’ll, ”, Westman, ’, Westman — Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, Washington CNN, Federal Reserve, JPMorgan, Bank of America, CNN, Labor Department, Manufacturing, Commerce Department, Program, Social Locations: Washington, Wells, Mexico, —, China, United States, Eureka , Illinois

☆ Apple’s iPad will be subject to tough EU competition rules
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Apple’s iPad will face heightened regulation in the European Union after officials labeled its operating system Monday as a key gatekeeper technology under EU competition law. The stricter regulations require, for example, that the iPad not restrict third-party companies from accessing Apple services. And they prohibit Apple from giving its own services preferential treatment on the iPad compared to those offered by competitors. Apple is already subject to European gatekeeper obligations on iOS and in its app store and browser. “We will continue to constructively engage with the European Commission to comply with the DMA, across all designated services,” Apple said in a statement.

Persons: Margrethe Vestager, iPadOS didn’t, “, Vestager, ” Apple, ” Organizations: CNN, European Union, Google, Microsoft, Apple, European Commission Locations: European

☆ How CEOs are preparing for possible employee protests
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

You can always choose to move on, but remember you don’t have a right to work at most companies. We can’t keep re-litigating when we also have a business to runYou speak with CEOs every day. Most of the CEOs I’ve talked to said they haven’t seen their employees protest, but they’re bracing for it. But I will say that I don’t think it will become that widespread because of how swiftly and unapologetically Google addressed it. I don’t think it will become a thing.

Persons: Sundar Pichai, Bell, Johnny C, Taylor Jr, that’s, we’re, We’re, we’ve, I’m, You’d, They’re, I’ve, Royce, Peter Valdes, “ We’re, ”, Martin Fritsches, “ That’s, Brian Fung, Sean Lyngaas, Satya Nadella, Sam Altman, Northrop Grumman, Alejandro Mayorkas Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Google, Tech, Society for Human Resource Management, Companies, Royce, BMW, OpenAI, Microsoft, Department of Homeland Security, Delta Air Lines, DHS, “, Amazon Web Services, IBM, Cisco, ’, Civil Locations: New York, Israel, Chichester , England

☆ FCC fines wireless carriers millions for sharing user locations without consent
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington CNN —The US government has issued millions of dollars in fines to AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon after an investigation found the nation’s top wireless carriers had illegally shared customers’ personal data without their consent. The fines target a practice in which carriers shared user location information with data resellers, known in the industry as “location aggregators.” These aggregators passed the data onward to their own third-party customers. “Each carrier attempted to offload its obligations to obtain customer consent onto downstream recipients of location information, which in many instances meant that no valid customer consent was obtained,” the FCC said in a release. In response to the FCC fines, all of the wireless carriers said they expect to appeal the decision. We take our responsibility to keep customer data secure very seriously and have always supported the FCC’s commitment to protecting consumers, but this decision is wrong, and the fine is excessive.

Persons: Trump, perversely, ”, “, Oregon Democratic Sen, Ron Wyden, Wyden, ” Wyden Organizations: Washington CNN, Mobile, Verizon, Federal Communications Commission, FCC, Sprint, ” Verizon, Oregon Democratic Locations: Securus

☆ ‘Should have been done yesterday’: Rural, older Americans could get hurt as affordable internet program runs out of cash
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Brian Fung | Jason Carroll | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

But in just a few weeks, her internet bills, and those of other Americans like her, could skyrocket by hundreds of dollars a year. The program is heavily used by Americans over age 50, military veterans and low-income working families nationwide, according to FCC data. Amira Karaoud/Reuters/FileRural and older usersThe ACP has quickly gained adoption since Congress created the program in the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law. Large swaths of the ACP’s user base trend older; Americans over 65 account for almost 20% of the program. The FCC’s Lifeline program, which dates to the Reagan administration, similarly gives low-income households a monthly discount on phone or internet service.

Persons: Cindy Westman, —, I’ll, ”, Westman, ’, Westman —, Gigi Sohn, “, Biden, Allison Bailey /, Cynthia George, George, ” George, Marc Veasey, They’re, Geoffrey Starks, “ It’s, ” Starks, Amira Karaoud, Walter Durham, I’m, ” Durham, Michelle McDonough, McDonough, she’ll, doesn’t, “ I’m, ” McDonough, Kamesha Scott, Louis, Megan Janicki, ” Janicki, Reagan, Mike Johnson, Blair Levin, Johnson didn’t, Levin, Jonathan Blaine, ” Blaine, they’re Organizations: CNN, Program, Social, Federal Communications Commission, FCC, Capitol, Getty, MSN, White, ” Texas Democratic, “, Comcast, ACP, Navy, American Library Association, Lifeline, Republicans, Republican, New, Research, ” Bills Locations: Eureka , Illinois, America, Dallas, Las Vegas, Kentucky, San Diego, United States, Maine, St, Vermont

☆ EU investigates Meta over fears of election interference and foreign disinformation
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Officials said the investigation highlights apparent violations of Europe’s signature law governing online platforms, the Digital Services Act. They added that Meta’s tools for users to report illegal content don’t appear to align with the DSA’s requirements, either. The investigation comes after Meta submitted required materials to the European Commission last fall outlining how it manages perceived risks linked to its products. Without it, the European Commission said, users and researchers will have less visibility into what is happening on Meta services and could have a harder time detecting foreign election interference. “We look forward to continuing our cooperation with the European Commission and providing them with further details of this work.”

Persons: Meta, CrowdTangle, “, ” Organizations: CNN — European Union, European Commission, Officials, Digital Services, European, Facebook

☆ CEOs of OpenAI, Google and Microsoft to join other tech leaders on federal AI safety panel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Washington CNN —The US government has asked leading artificial intelligence companies for advice on how to use the technology they are creating to defend airlines, utilities and other critical infrastructure, particularly from AI-powered attacks. The Department of Homeland Security said Friday that the panel it’s creating will include CEOs from some of the world’s largest companies and industries. The list includes Google chief executive Sundar Pichai, Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella and OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman, but also the head of defense contractors such as Northrop Grumman and air carrier Delta Air Lines. It also includes federal, state and local government officials, as well as leading academics in AI such as Fei-Fei Li, co-director of Stanford University’s Human-centered Artificial Intelligence Institute. The US government already uses machine learning or artificial intelligence for more than 200 distinct purposes, such as monitoring volcano activity, tracking wildfires and identifying wildlife from satellite imagery.

Persons: Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, Sam Altman, Northrop Grumman, ”, Alejandro Mayorkas, Fei Li, Joe Biden Organizations: Washington CNN, Department of Homeland Security, Google, Microsoft, Delta Air Lines, DHS, “, Amazon Web Services, IBM, Cisco, ’, Civil, Stanford, Intelligence, Safety, Security

☆ Who could buy TikTok?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Still, the company is under such close scrutiny that it would be a poor candidate to buy TikTok, experts say. If you were to tell me it’s Verizon, or AT&T, maybe it’s not as big of a problem.”Jasmine Enberg, principal analyst at Emarketer, highlighted a paradox: Only the largest, most dominant tech giants may have the resources to buy TikTok. Microsoft had been one of the handful of contenders to buy TikTok in 2020 when President Donald Trump first pushed for a sale. A former Trump Cabinet official enters the frayIn a move that caught many by surprise, former Trump Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced last month that he is putting together a team of investors to buy TikTok. As with Mnuchin, O’Leary has said a potential acquisition of TikTok may have to exclude TikTok’s algorithm.

Persons: Joe Biden, There’s, ”, Gene Kimmelman, Jasmine Enberg, ” Enberg, TikTok’s, Donald Trump, TikTok, Steven Mnuchin, Mnuchin, ” Oregon Democratic Sen, Ron Wyden, Trump, who’ve, Kevin O’Leary, O’Leary Organizations: CNN, Facebook, Google, Meta, Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Department, YouTube, Microsoft, Intel, Cisco, Verizon, Emarketer, Activision Blizzard, Walmart, Oracle, Project Texas, Texas, Trump Cabinet, Trump Treasury, Trump, ” Oregon Democratic, Washington Post, O’Leary Ventures Locations: United States, TikTok, ” Oregon

☆ TikTok suspends TikTok Lite rewards program in the EU amid regulatory scrutiny
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Washington CNN —TikTok said Wednesday it would suspend a controversial program in the European Union that has prompted growing alarm among EU regulators. The program at issue appears within TikTok Lite, a less data-intensive version of TikTok’s main app, and which contains a feature that rewards users with cash for engaging with TikTok content and app features. “TikTok always seeks to engage constructively with the EU Commission and other regulators,” TikTok said in a post on X. “We are therefore voluntarily suspending the rewards functions in TikTok Lite while we address the concerns that they have raised.”The EU warnings to TikTok reflected an exercise of new oversight powers granted by the Digital Services Act, the trading bloc’s recently enacted law governing online platforms. TikTok also faces further, additional fines of up to 6% of its global annual revenue if the TikTok Lite feature is determined to be in violation of the DSA.

Persons: Washington CNN — TikTok, TikTok, “, “ TikTok, ” TikTok, Joe Biden Organizations: Washington CNN, European Union, European Commission, EU Commission, Digital Services, TikTok, Commission, DSA, Wednesday Locations: European, Europe, United States, Israel, Ukraine

☆ Net neutrality is back as FCC votes to regulate internet providers
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The net neutrality regulations adopted Thursday by the Federal Communications Commission prohibit providers such as AT&T, Comcast and Verizon from selectively speeding up, slowing down or blocking users’ internet traffic. And for the first time, the FCC said it would step in to override state or local policies that conflict with the federal net neutrality rule. “The Title II authority will ensure that broadband providers are properly overseen by the FCC like all telecommunications services should be. “These 400-plus pages of relentless regulation are proof positive that old orthodoxies die hard,” said Jonathan Spalter, CEO of USTelecom, a trade association representing internet providers. As a result, the outcome of a legal challenge to the FCC’s net neutrality rules could have potentially broad ramifications for other US regulatory bodies, not just the FCC.

Persons: Trump, Jessica Rosenworcel, Rosenworcel, ” Rosenworcel, ”, Justin Brookman, Biden, Jonathan Spalter, Brendan Carr Organizations: Washington CNN, Federal Communications Commission, Comcast, Verizon, Democratic, FCC, “, Consumer, Trump, Republican, Communications Locations: unwound, Washington, America

☆ Congress just passed a potential TikTok ban. Here’s what happens next
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Washington CNN —Congress finalized legislation on Tuesday that could lead to a nationwide TikTok ban, escalating a massive threat to the company’s US operations. What does the TikTok legislation do? The earlier TikTok bill had been passed by the House, but it stalled in the Senate. In a procedural move, House Republicans this month attached the revised TikTok bill to the foreign aid package in hopes of forcing the Senate to vote on the TikTok legislation. Bundling the bill with the foreign aid — a top US priority — fast-tracked the TikTok bill and made it more likely to pass.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Biden, there’s, Will Biden, Jennifer Gay, Mariam Zuhaib, —, TikTok, Shou Chew, ”, Nadine Farid Johnson, ByteDance Organizations: Washington CNN —, Republicans, Senate, White, U.S . Capitol, U.S, TikTok, Columbia University, “ Locations: Israel, Ukraine, United States, Washington, China

☆ TikTok could face EU fines and a suspension over sister app TikTok Lite
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —European officials are threatening TikTok with massive fines and a possible forced suspension this week of parts of a new spinoff app, launched this month, that regulators allege contains addictive features. The warnings target TikTok Lite, a less data-intensive version of TikTok’s main app which contains a feature that rewards users with cash for engaging with TikTok content and app features. EU officials fear the feature could be used to turn TikTok Lite users into addicts who can’t stop using the app and described it as an “experiment” on unwitting EU citizens in Spain and France where TikTok Lite has been made available. A decision to order the suspension could come as early as Thursday, commission officials told reporters on a conference call. TikTok could face further, additional fines of up to 6% of its global annual revenue if the TikTok Lite features the Commission is investigating are determined to be violations of the DSA.

Persons: ”, TikTok didn’t, TikTok, we’ve Organizations: CNN, European Union, EU, Digital Services, DSA, European Commission, Lite, Commission, TikTok Locations: Spain, France, European, United States, Israel, Ukraine, TikTok

☆ TikTok vows legal challenge to potential US app ban
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —TikTok will file a court challenge if Congress passes legislation paving the way to a nationwide ban of the app, a top executive told employees in an internal memo obtained by CNN. He invited employees to an internal town hall scheduled for Wednesday “for additional context.”The memo was earlier reported by The Information. The legislation calls for forcing TikTok’s Chinese parent, ByteDance, to sell the app within 270 days — otherwise it would be illegal for US app stores to offer TikTok for downloads. The legislation also would allow Biden to extend that deadline by another 90 days if he determines there’s been progress toward a sale. Foreshadowing its legal strategy, TikTok has already publicly opposed the bill as an infringement on its users’ First Amendment rights.

Persons: CNN —, TikTok —, Michael Beckerman, Joe Biden, ” Beckerman, Mike Johnson, Biden, ”, Beckerman, didn’t, there’s, TikTok Organizations: CNN, “, Republican, The

☆ Investors are fearful. They shouldn’t be
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The economy has been extraordinarily resilient for the past few years — consistently proving the naysayers wrong, he says. For all of the market gloom last week, stocks are still near all-time highs, and this earnings season has been strong. Investors have been worrying about the Federal Reserve keeping rates higher for longer. I speak with many institutional investors, and I don’t see them folding in fear. Residual lubricant reduced the retention of the pad to the pedal,” the NHTSA wrote in the recall document.

Persons: ”, Philipp Carlsson, there’s, Carlsson, Szlezak, they’re, I’m, it’s, I’ve, we’re, TikTok, Brian Fung, Joe Biden, Tesla, Chris Isidore, Peter Valdes Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Federal Reserve, Boston Consulting, ByteDance, NHTSA Locations: New York, Europe, Ukraine, Israel, Washington

☆ What to know about the TikTok ban bill the House passed
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —House lawmakers have once again passed legislation that could lead to a nationwide TikTok ban, renewing a massive threat to the company’s US operations. In March, House lawmakers approved a bill that would give TikTok roughly six months to sell. Another factor that’s shaking things up is how House Republicans inserted the TikTok bill into a much larger foreign aid package. Biden endorsed the prior version of the TikTok bill, which suggests he may quickly sign any foreign aid package that includes similar language targeting TikTok. In addition to complying with the legislation, TikTok could challenge it in court and has made no secret that it might do so.

Persons: TikTok, Joe Biden, there’s, who’ve, Washington Democratic Sen, Maria Cantwell, Paul Gallant, Cowen, Gallant, Joe Biden’s, Biden, —, Shou Chew, ”, Nadine Farid Johnson, ByteDance Organizations: CNN —, White, Washington Democratic, Republicans, House, Senate, Inc, Columbia University, “, TikTok Locations: United States, Ukraine, Israel, China

☆ House passes legislation that could ban TikTok in the US amid high-stakes vote on foreign aid
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

By attaching the TikTok bill to funding for Ukrainian military equipment and Israeli missile defense, House Republicans put the pressure on Senate lawmakers to consider the whole package in a single up-or-down vote. Policy analysts expect the Senate to take up the aid package quickly, giving it high odds of passage. And President Joe Biden has previously said he would sign the TikTok legislation if it reaches his desk. And in the days leading up to the House vote on Saturday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized the urgency of approving the foreign aid. On Saturday, Schumer said in remarks on the Senate floor that there is a tentative agreement for the chamber to take up the foreign aid package on Tuesday.

Persons: TikTok, Joe Biden, ” TikTok, ”, Chuck Schumer, Schumer, Paul Gallant, Cowen, Gallant, ” Gallant Organizations: Washington CNN, ByteDance, House Republicans, Cowen Inc Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Washington, U.S

☆ TikTok is in the hot seat once again in Washington
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

An earlier version of the TikTok bill sailed through the House in March, but it has become bogged down in the Senate. Opponents, including TikTok and a range of civil society groups, have argued the bill risks violating TikTok users’ First Amendment rights. President Joe Biden has said he would sign the House TikTok bill if it reaches his desk. The latest version of the TikTok bill contains some updates. One key senator who was doubtful of the initial House TikTok bill appeared satisfied.

Persons: TikTok, Mike Johnson, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, there’s, “, Johnson, ”, Washington Democratic Sen, Maria Cantwell, I’ve, Cantwell, Cathy McMorris Rodgers Organizations: CNN, Republicans, Senate, House Republicans, Washington Democratic, Oracle, Republican, Washington Rep Locations: Israel, Ukraine, China, India, Texas

☆ House passes key procedural vote on foreign aid bills, setting up final vote Saturday
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Annie Grayer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The House voted Friday in a bipartisan manner to advance a key foreign aid package, a significant step in sending aid to Ukraine and Israel and setting up a final vote as soon as Saturday. The move is likely to further inflame conservatives who are against additional aid to Ukraine and have threatened Johnson’s job over the issue. The committee activity capped off another contentious day on Capitol Hill as the renewed push to send foreign aid to Ukraine has divided House Republicans. Three bills in the foreign aid package would provide aid for Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific region, with the latter intended to help deter Chinese aggression in the area. The three assistance bills are similar to the foreign aid legislation that passed the Senate in February.

Persons: Mike Johnson’s, Johnson, Thomas Massie, Marjorie Taylor, Greene, Republicans – Massie, Ralph Norman of, Chip Roy, Texas –, ”, “, CNN’s Haley Talbot, Katie Lobosco, Tami Luhby, Brian Fung Organizations: Democratic, GOP, Republicans, CNN, Caucus Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Texas, Iran

☆ Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter allegedly stole $16 million from his bank account. Here’s how to protect your own
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The interpreter, a longtime friend of Ohtani’s named Ippei Mizuhara, allegedly stole vast sums of money from a bank account established in Ohtani’s name. Mizuhara had unique access to Ohtani’s bank account, authorities say, because it was he who helped Ohtani create it in the first place in 2018 — which put him in a privileged position to take advantage of his client. Password managers help you generate and keep track of complex, secure passwords that aren’t easily guessed or cracked. And many password managers are also transitioning to support passkeys. This is another area where password managers can come in handy.

Persons: Shohei, Ohtani’s, Ippei Mizuhara, Mizuhara, It’s Organizations: CNN, Apple, Google, Microsoft

☆ Internet price hikes for low-income Americans could begin in May as federal funds run dry, FCC says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Due to lack of funds, April will be the final month the ACP can provide full benefits, the FCC said Tuesday. Next month, ACP subscribers can expect to receive only 46% of their usual benefit, the FCC said. After that, program subscribers may have to pay hundreds of dollars more per year to stay online, or could potentially have to give up internet service entirely. Many ACP subscribers have told CNN that without help, they could have to choose between paying for internet and putting food on the table. CNN is reaching out to major internet providers for comment on the FCC’s call for those voluntary measures.

Persons: Biden, Mike Johnson, Chuck Schumer, Ohio Democratic Sen, Sherrod Brown, Kansas Republican Sen, Roger Marshall, “ Organizations: CNN, Federal Communications Commission, FCC, ACP, Ohio Democratic, Kansas Republican, Senate Locations: Congress

☆ FCC rolls out mandatory ‘nutrition labels’ for internet providers’ plans
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Consumer broadband labels will be required for internet providers starting on Wednesday — in many cases in both English and Spanish. Known as “consumer broadband labels,” the FCC-mandated disclosures must be offered at the point of sale both online and in stores — and in many cases, in both English and Spanish. In 2016, an FCC advisory committee first released a version of the disclosures that providers were not required to adopt. Then, under the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law, the FCC moved to implement mandatory broadband disclosure labels and held a lengthy process to design and finalize them. Because providers will be required to prominently display the labels, FCC officials will be monitoring for evidence or consumer complaints about non-compliance, which could lead to agency investigations or fines.

Persons: ” Alejandro Roark, Roark, “ We’re, ” Organizations: CNN, Federal Communications Commission, White, Consumer, FCC, Biden, Comcast, Verizon, AT Locations: —

☆ US lawmakers unveil a plan to give all Americans a right to online privacy
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-08 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Washington CNN —Two leading US lawmakers have reached a bipartisan deal that could, for the first time, grant all Americans a basic right to digital privacy and create a national law regulating how companies can collect, share and use Americans’ online data. But it could also override some of the toughest state-based privacy laws in the nation, such as in California. And it would guarantee Americans the right to request copies of their data, to correct it or even to have it deleted from a company’s records. The draft legislation breaks a yearslong deadlock between Republicans and Democrats over the scope of any national privacy bill. It would preempt more than a dozen state privacy laws already on the books in states such as California, Texas and Virginia.

Persons: hoover, Washington Sen, Maria Cantwell, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, —, ’, Biden, we’ve, ”, McMorris Rodgers, Cantwell, Joe Biden’s Organizations: Washington CNN, General Data Protection, Republicans, Democratic, Senate, Committee, Washington Rep, Republican, House Energy, Commerce, Democrats Locations: United States, California, China, Russia, California , Texas, Virginia

☆ Biden administration points finger at Republicans for internet bill hikes
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“President [Joe] Biden has been calling on Congress to pass legislation that would extend the benefit through 2024. “But unfortunately, Republicans in Congress have failed to act.”Biden has called on Congress to approve $6 billion to continue the ACP. A bill introduced in January by a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the House and Senate would authorize $7 billion. That legislation has 216 co-sponsors in the House, including 21 Republicans, and three in the Senate, including two Republicans. Administration officials declined to say whether Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris have personally discussed the ACP with congressional Republicans.

Persons: Biden, Joe, ”, ” Biden, Mike Johnson, Blair Levin, ” Levin, Republican Sens, J.D, Vance of Ohio, Kevin Cramer of North, Spokespeople, Johnson, Chuck Schumer didn’t, Kamala Harris, Jessica Rosenworcel, ” Rosenworcel, Rosenworcel, Sen, Maria Cantwell Organizations: CNN, Republicans, Program, Federal Communications Commission, GOP, Democratic, Congress, Republican, New, Research, Administration, ACP, Commerce, Science, Transportation Locations: Kevin Cramer of North Dakota

☆ Microsoft will now let customers worldwide buy Office without Teams, following EU antitrust concerns
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Washington CNN —Microsoft will no longer sell its Teams collaboration software as a bundled product with its Office 365 suite anywhere in the world, the company said Monday, in the face of antitrust concerns. The decision to separate Teams from Office globally extends a previous announcement last year affecting only the European Union. And it comes after rivals such as Salesforce’s Slack complained in 2020 that Microsoft’s practices were a form of anticompetitive self-dealing. Slack’s complaint led to a European Commission antitrust investigation of Microsoft that is still ongoing. Monday’s announcement appears aimed at allaying some of those concerns, allowing customers worldwide to buy Microsoft’s Office software without Teams included and the ability to buy Teams as a standalone product for business customers.

Persons: Salesforce’s Slack Organizations: Washington CNN, Microsoft, European Union, Economic, European Locations: Switzerland

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