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☆ ISS says unions and pension funds should back Norfolk Southern activist investor
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Norfolk Southern Chief Executive Alan Shaw testifies during a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing titled "Improving Rail Safety in Response to the East Palestine Derailment" in Washington, U.S., March 22, 2023. Norfolk Southern -invested unions and pension funds should back activist Ancora's full seven-director slate at the railroad's shareholder meeting later this month, two different Institutional Shareholder Services proxy advisory services said. Neuberger Berman said earlier that it would support Ancora's case for change at Norfolk Southern, while Canadian asset manager EdgePoint also reaffirmed on Thursday that it would be voting its shares with the activist. (EdgePoint was initially partnered with Ancora's campaign at Norfolk Southern but dissolved that arrangement months earlier.) Top institutional shareholders include Vanguard, BlackRock, State Street and Dodge & Cox, as well as California's pension funds, CalPERS and CalSTRS, and Colorado's public pension fund.

Persons: Alan Shaw, Ancora's, Taft, Jim Barber, Glass Lewis, Barber, investor's, Ancora, Neuberger Berman, EdgePoint Organizations: Norfolk Southern, Commerce, Science, Institutional, Hartley Advisory Services, Social Advisory Services, CNBC, UPS, ISS, Norfolk Southern's, Norfolk, Vanguard, Dodge, Cox Locations: East Palestine, Washington , U.S, Norfolk, East Palestine , Ohio, BlackRock

☆ Clear lets people skip the line at the airport. California lawmakers want to change it
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Clear is a service that lets people skip the security line at airports with nothing but a biometric scan and $189. Clear, a publicly-traded security company, lets members jump the line at airports, sports, concerts and other venues. About 10% of California travelers are Clear members, according to a legislative analysis of the bill. The bill, which appears to be the first in the United States, won’t block Clear at California airports, Newman said. But Clear, and major airlines like Delta, California airports, and business groups like the California Chamber of Commerce oppose the bill.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, ” Sen, Josh Newman, ” Newman, Newman Organizations: New, New York CNN, Transportation Committee, California, Assembly, Gov, Transportation Security Administration, TSA, CNN, Travelers, ” Clear, Association of Flight, American Federation of Government Employees, California Chamber, Commerce, Airports, Committee Locations: New York, California, haves, United States, Delta

☆ Republican House panel launches probe into Biden's FTC-DOJ task force on corporate pricing
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"The timing of the Strike Force announcement, in an election year, raises the likelihood that political motivations rather than the interests of American consumers drove the action," House Oversight Committee Chair Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., said in the letter. The Strike Force is jointly led by the FTC and the Department of Justice, which have been at the front lines of the Biden administration's regulatory agenda over the past several years. Comer alleged in the letter that "this pattern" of blaming corporate-pricing practices for inflation "signals that the new FTC-DOJ Strike Force will be used as a political tool." But Biden's logic that companies are the ones responsible for high prices, not his economic agenda, could be taking hold with voters. A March survey found that respondents blamed recent price hikes on "large corporations taking advantage of inflation" more than Democratic policies.

Persons: Lina M, Khan, Bill Nelson, Joe Biden's, Lina Khan, Biden, James Comer, Jonathan Kanter, Comer, —, Biden's Organizations: Commerce, Science, NASA, Capitol, Republican, CNBC, Federal Trade, Strike Force, Force, U.S, FTC, Department of Justice, Biden, Kroger, Albertsons, DOJ Strike Force, Democratic Locations: Washington , U.S, Ky

“There’s no strong infrastructure for safety in maritime," said Jim Hall, who led the National Transportation Safety Board from 1994 to 2001. The Dali was flagged in Singapore, which has one of the best safety records of any country where ships are based. It's not listed as one of the 42 countries identified as “flags of convenience” by the International Transport Workers Federation. He said that with maritime shipping being the oldest transportation industry, with its international regulations that rely on many different countries for enforcement, it may have the most problems. “When I talk about those other transportation industries, the maritime industry is the worst offender of safety violations, of labor violations than any other industry,” Rexha said.

Persons: “, Jim Hall, Peter DeFazio of, ”, ” DeFazio, it's, Dali —, Peter Gautier, Dali, It's, Grace Ocean, Douglas Hales, ” Hales, Roland Rexha, midflight, ” Rexha, Michael Kunzelman, Seung Min Kim Organizations: International Maritime Organization, National Transportation, Guard, Former U.S . Rep, Transportation, U.S . Coast Guard, International Chamber of Shipping coalition, Allianz Global, International Transport Workers Federation . Authorities, Synergy Marine, University of Rhode, Port, Marine Engineers, Boeing, Max, Associated Press Locations: Baltimore, London, Former, Peter DeFazio of Oregon, West, New York, United States, U.S, Singapore, Chile, Belgium, Antwerp, Callao, Western Callao, Port of Baltimore, Ohio

☆ How to stop your internet-connected car from sharing and maybe even selling your driving data
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Cheryl Winokur Munk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

"The amount of personal and car information that car companies collect, share and sometimes sell is beyond what is necessary to get someone from Point A to Point B safely. But there are growing privacy concerns as reports proliferate about car companies sharing driver data with insurers, and as car companies get into the insurance business themselves. To be sure, there can be valid reasons to collect driver and car data for safety and functionality purposes, and some essential services, such as emergency and security-related data sharing, may be difficult or impossible to opt out of. Ford, for example, said it provides customers with a choice regarding any sharing of connected vehicle data. The government is looking at car privacy regulationsThere are various regulatory efforts afoot to understand carmakers' data-sharing practices and reign in potential privacy violations.

Persons: Jen Caltrider, There's, That's, James Hodgson, Parv Sharma, Caltrider, Cobun Zweifel, Mo Al, Keegan, Edward J, Markey, Eric Goldman, Hodgson, It's Organizations: Mozilla Foundation, Mozilla, ABI Research, McKinsey, Counterpoint Technology Market Research, Ford, Hyundai, Nissan, BMW, Keegan, International Association of Privacy, SBD Automotive, Protection Agency, Federal Trade Commission, Zweifel, Senate Commerce, Science, Transportation, Santa Clara University School of Law, Apple Locations: U.S, California , Colorado, Connecticut, California

☆ NTSB rips Boeing for failing to produce key door plug documents
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Gregory Wallace | Pete Muntean | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Boeing has not turned over important records to investigators probing the door plug blowout on a 737 Max earlier this year, investigators say. She testified that because of Boeing’s actions, NTSB investigators do not know who on the Boeing assembly line removed and reinstalled the door plug that – months later while the plane was in service carrying passengers – blew out. Homendy said that Boeing has not fully cooperated with the NTSB Board's investigation into Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 door plug incident. The plane flew about 150 commercial flights before the door plug flew off the plane mid-flight on January 5, just over two months ago. NTSB investigators have made multiple visits to Boeing facilities and created a special team to handle requesting and processing documents from Boeing and its key contractor, Spirit AeroSystems.

Persons: Jennifer Homendy, Homendy, Kevin Dietsch, ” Homendy Organizations: CNN, Boeing, Transportation, Commerce, U.S . National Transportation Safety Board, Senate Commerce, Science, Russell Senate, NTSB, Alaska Airlines, Getty, Federal Aviation Administration Locations: Renton, Washington ,

WASHINGTON (AP) — The new chief of the Federal Aviation Administration says the agency will use more people to monitor aircraft manufacturing and hold Boeing accountable for any violations of safety regulations. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker is expected to face a barrage of questions Tuesday about FAA oversight of the company since a door panel blew off a Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliner over Oregon last month. Separately, investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board are expected to release a preliminary report on the Jan. 5 incident as early as Tuesday. After the incident on the Alaska jet, the FAA grounded most Max 9s for three weeks until panels called door plugs could be inspected. FAA also said it won't let Boeing increase the production rate of new Max jets until it is satisfied with the company's safety procedures.

Persons: Mike Whitaker, Whitaker, Max, Whitaker's Organizations: WASHINGTON, Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing, Max, National Transportation Safety, Transportation, FAA, Alaska Airlines Max, Alaska, Sunday Locations: Oregon, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Arlington , Virginia

☆ Venice is installing speed cameras on its canals after a series of deadly accidents
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Venice is deploying aquatic speed cameras to enforce speed limits on its iconic canals. AdvertisementVenice will use speed cameras along its iconic waterways, with fines given to boats that violate speeding rules, following the approval of an amendment by the city's transportation committee. According to Venice Insider Guide, the amendment permits using "barcaveloxes" to monitor the speed of boats and gondolas navigating the canals. Barcaveloxes are speed cameras adapted to aquatic environments that can detect when boats are going too fast. However, the speed cameras, some of which had already been installed, could not be fully activated due to a lack of regulatory infrastructure.

Persons: —, Martina Semenzato, MailOnline Organizations: Service, Venice, The Telegraph, UNESCO Locations: Venice, Belgian

The official, Mike Whitaker, said the FAA would not agree to any Boeing request to expand production of Max planes until the agency is satisfied that quality-control concerns have been addressed. The move came on the same day that a key senator indicated that Congress will join the scrutiny of Boeing. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident on an Alaska Airlines Max 9. Investigators are building a timeline of the door plug that failed, from the early stages of its production to the flight on which it blew off the plane. The Federal Aviation Administration is looking into whether Boeing and its suppliers followed proper safety procedures during manufacturing.

Persons: Mike Whitaker, Max, Sen, Maria Cantwell, David Calhoun, jetliner, Cantwell, Calhoun, ” Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Boeing, Max, Federal Aviation Administration, Alaska Airlines Boeing, FAA, Senate Commerce, Science, Transportation Committee, National Transportation Safety, Alaska Airlines Max, NTSB Locations: Oregon, Portland , Oregon, Renton , Washington

CNN —American Airlines said it is reviewing a video posted on TikTok that shows a baggage handler releasing a passenger’s wheelchair to slide down a jet bridge chute, where it crashed into a metal barrier, flipped over and tumbled onto an airport tarmac. In the video, as the first man lets the wheelchair go, a second baggage handler, who is on the ground at the other end of the chute and wearing an American Airlines vest, steps back. American Airlines said in a statement, “We recognize how important it is to support the independence of customers with disabilities by ensuring the proper care of mobility devices throughout their journey with us. In 2022, American Airlines’ rate of damaging, delaying or losing wheelchairs and scooters was 2.00 per 100, DOT statistics show. It also calls on the agency to study whether it is possible for passengers to use wheelchairs in the main cabin.

Persons: Haeley Dyrdahl, Dyrdahl, ”, “, Pete Buttigieg, Sen, Tammy Duckworth, ” Duckworth, “ It’s, Duckworth, John Thune, –, Steve Cohen, Pete Stauber, CNN’s David Williams, Ross Levitt, Gregory Wallace Organizations: CNN — American Airlines, Miami International Airport, CNN, American Airlines, Transportation, Department of Transportation, DOT, United Airlines, Illinois Democrat, Republican, Senate Commerce, Science, ”, Tennessee Democrat, Minnesota Republican Locations: America, American, Illinois, South Dakota, Tennessee, Minnesota

☆ NTSB chair says US near miss aviation incidents 'clear warning sign'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy testifies during a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing titled "Improving Rail Safety in Response to the East Palestine Derailment" in Washington, U.S., March 22, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 8 (Reuters) - National Transportation Safety Board chair Jennifer Homendy will tell a U.S. Senate subcommittee that an increase in near miss aviation incidents is a "clear warning sign that the U.S. Aviation system is sharply strained." Homendy, who will testify at a Senate Commerce aviation subcommittee hearing along side the Federal Aviation Administration and aviation unions, will tell senators the aviation system has a lack of redundancy around technology to prevent runway incursions and wrong surface landings. "We cannot ignore or avoid the warning signs of strain from all these recent events," Homendy will say. Reporting by David Shepardson, Editing by Franklin PaulOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jennifer Homendy, Evelyn Hockstein, Homendy, David Shepardson, Franklin Paul Organizations: Transportation, Commerce, Science, REUTERS, Transportation Safety, U.S, Senate, U.S . Aviation, Senate Commerce, Federal Aviation Administration, Franklin Paul Our, Thomson Locations: East Palestine, Washington , U.S

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and 22 other Democratic senators are urging federal regulators to investigate multibillion-dollar acquisitions by oil giants ExxonMobil and Chevron, saying the deals could lead to higher prices at the gas pump. “These deals are likely to harm competition, risking increased consumer prices and reduced output throughout the United States,'' the senators wrote. Chevron, Exxon and other oil companies have announced huge profits from strong energy prices and demand since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Exxon reported $9.1 billion in profits in the quarter that ended Sept. 30, while Chevron reported $6.5 billion in profits. Environmental groups hailed the call for an investigation of what some called “merger mania” within the oil industry that threatens competition.

Persons: Chuck Schumer, Exxon's, Chevron’s, Minnesota Sen, Amy Klobuchar, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Bernie Sanders, Chevron, Hess, Lukas Ross, ”, ” API's Bethany Williams, Schumer Organizations: WASHINGTON, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Federal Trade Commission, Natural Resources, Hess Corp, Exxon, FTC, Resources, Big Oil, American Petroleum Institute, Senate Commerce, Science, Transportation Locations: United States, Minnesota, Sens, Vermont, Ukraine, Texas, U.S, New York

☆ Net neutrality may be US regulators’ next quagmire
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jonathan Newton/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Sept 26 (Reuters Breakingviews) - U.S. regulators risk another quagmire. The Federal Communications Commission wants to reinstate net neutrality rules that regulate how traffic flows on the internet. As with antitrust enforcers’ often-frustrated deal crackdown, the agency is stuck in a cycle of trying to litigate future problems, today. Regulators are trying to use yesterday’s tools to address the hypothetical problems of tomorrow. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Jessica Rosenworcel, Jonathan Newton, ’, Donald Trump, Joe Biden’s, Jennifer Saba, Jonathan Guilford, Sharon Lam, Aditya Sriwatsav Organizations: U.S . Senate Commerce, Science, Transportation Committee, Federal Communications Commission, REUTERS Acquire, Reuters, Verizon Communications, Netflix, Regulators, X, Republicans, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, Ukraine

☆ US FCC chair to seek reinstating net neutrality rules rescinded under Trump
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Alex Wong/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 25 (Reuters) - U.S. Federal Communications Commission chair Jessica Rosenworcel plans to begin an effort to reinstate landmark net neutrality rules rescinded under then-President Donald Trump, sources briefed on the matter said Monday. The FCC is set to take an initial vote on the net neutrality proposal in October, the sources added. In July 2021, Biden signed an executive order encouraging the FCC to reinstate net neutrality rules adopted under Democratic then-President Barack Obama in 2015. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 3-0 that the 2017 decision by the FCC to reverse federal net neutrality protections could not bar state action, rejecting a challenge from telecom and broad industry groups to block California's net neutrality law. Days after Biden took office, the U.S. Justice Department withdrew its Trump-era legal challenge to California's state net neutrality law.

Persons: Jessica Rosenworcel, Alex Wong, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Anna Gomez, Biden, Barack Obama, Rosenworcel, David Shepardson, Himani Sarkar, Kim Coghill Organizations: U.S . Senate Commerce, Science, Transportation, Federal Communications Commission, Rights, . Federal Communications, FCC, Democratic, U.S, Circuit, Appeals, Industry, U.S . Justice Department, Trump, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S

"With its missionary zeal for consumers, Amazon has marched toward monopoly by singing the tune of contemporary antitrust," Khan, then 29, wrote in the Yale Law Journal. Six years later, Khan, who became the FTC's chair in 2021, is leading the agency's antitrust charge against the online retailer. The FTC's lawsuit filed on Tuesday asks a court to consider forcing the company to sell assets to stop what it said was ongoing harm to consumers. Amazon has fought back and rejected the antitrust lawsuit filed on Tuesday. "By contrast, the FTC's 2021 budget topped out at only $351 million, or slightly more than 1% of Amazon's earnings."

Persons: Lina M, Khan, Bill Nelson, Graeme Jennings, Lina Khan, Andy Jassy, Jeff Bezos, Bezos, David Shepardson, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Commerce, Science, NASA, Capitol, Rights, Federal Trade, Amazon.com, Amazon, Yale Law, FTC, Apple, Facebook, Google, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, United States, Washington

☆ US FCC chair says China's Quectel, Fibocom may pose national security risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Jonathan Newton/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel asked U.S. government agencies to consider declaring that Chinese companies including Quectel (603236.SS) and Fibocom Wireless (300638.SZ) pose unacceptable national security risks, according to letters seen by Reuters. Federal funds cannot be used to purchase equipment from companies on the list, and the FCC will not authorize new equipment from companies deemed national security threats. Rosenworcel wrote the FBI, the Justice Department, the National Security Agency, the Defense Department and other agencies on Sept. 1, forwarding the request from the lawmakers. She added the FCC can update the Covered List "only at the direction of national security authorities." Last year the FCC voted to revoke China Unicom’s U.S. unit, Pacific Networks and ComNet’s authorization to operate in the United States, citing national security concerns.

Persons: Jessica Rosenworcel, Jonathan Newton, Mike Gallagher, Krishnamoorthi, Rosenworcel, David Shepardson, Jonathan Oatis, David Gregorio Our Organizations: U.S . Senate Commerce, Science, Transportation Committee, Federal Communications Commission, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Federal Communications, U.S, Fibocom Wireless, Reuters, Republican, China, FCC, FBI, Justice Department, National Security Agency, Defense Department, Huawei, ZTE, Hytera Communications Corp, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology, Zhejiang Dahua Technology, Pacific Networks, Embassy, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Quectel, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, U.S, United States, Washington

In securing some of the biggest names in tech, Schumer plans to make a giant splash for the first of what he's dubbed "AI Insight Forums." But when it comes to AI, we cannot be ostriches sticking our heads in the sand." But some have scratched their heads at Schumer's new approach in the Senate, which typically develops major policy legislation through committees of jurisdiction. Schumer has said the committees will work in tandem with the insight forums to develop legislation. And to me, that's a process that you ought to let work," Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., a senior member of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, said this summer.

Persons: Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Chuck Schumer, Zuckerberg, Satya Nadella, Alphabet's Sundar Pichai, OpenAI's Sam Altman, NVIDIA's Jensen Huang, Eric Schmidt, Musk, ChatGPT, Schumer, You've, John Thune Organizations: Capitol, SpaceX, Tesla, Meta, Facebook, Commerce, Science, Transportation Locations: OpenAI, York

☆ Two US lawmakers raise security concerns about Chinese cellular modules
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jonathan Newton/Pool via REUTERS/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Two U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday asked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to address questions about potential security concerns involving cellular modules made by Chinese companies including Quectel (603236.SS) and Fibocom Wireless (300638.SZ). Cellular modules are components that enable internet of things (IoT) devices to connect to the internet. The lawmakers asked if the FCC is considering using the Covered List to address Chinese-owned cellular modules. "Could requiring certification for modules used in communications equipment be an effective means" of addressing Chinese modules in U.S. networks? In 2022, the Chinese Embassy in Washington said the FCC "abused state power and maliciously attacked Chinese telecom operators again without factual basis."

Persons: Jessica Rosenworcel, Jonathan Newton, Mike Gallagher, Raja Krishnamoorthi, David Shepardson, Mark Porter, Leslie Adler Organizations: U.S . Senate Commerce, Science, Transportation, Federal Communications Commission, Tuesday, Fibocom Wireless, Republican, China, FCC, Pacific Networks Corp, HK, Huawei Technologies, ZTE Corp, Hytera Communications Corp, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology, Zhejiang Dahua Technology, Embassy, Huawei, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Quectel, China, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, Washington

☆ Sen. Ed Markey announces bill to raise taxes on private jets and their ultra-wealthy passengers
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Sen. Ed Markey on Wednesday announced legislation to raise taxes on jet fuel used by private planes. Private jet travel, which is the most polluting form of transport, has surged in recent years. The bill — called the Fueling Alternative Transportation with a Carbon Aviation Tax (FATCAT) Act — would raise federal taxes on private jet fuel from $0.22 to $1.95 per gallon. Private jet travel has surged in recent years. The surge in private jet travel raises serious environmental concerns.

Persons: Sen, Ed Markey, —, Markey, Chuck Collins Organizations: Wednesday, Massachusetts Democrat, Private, Service, Carbon Aviation, Institute for Policy Studies, Patriotic Millionaires, Federal Aviation, Senate Commerce, Science, Transportation, Communities Trust Fund, Treasury, NGO Transport, Environment Locations: Massachusetts

☆ US House to weigh bill allowing older pilots, other aviation reforms
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The House bill, approved 63-0 by the Transportation Committee in June, would reauthorize Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety and infrastructure programs for the next five years. The pilot age proposal faces opposition from unions and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg who worry it could complicate operations. The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) says it could cause airline scheduling and pilot training issues and require reopening pilot contracts. Buttigieg told Fox News Radio Friday that "I would want to see a lot more data before we could feel comfortable with any kind of change" to the pilot age rules. The House bill would also bar airlines from charging family seating fees but would not impose new rules sought by President Joe Biden to compensate passengers for delays.

Persons: Pete Buttigieg, Buttigieg, Joe Biden, David Shepardson, Susan Heavey Organizations: U.S . House, Republican, Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, Air Line Pilots Association, Fox News Radio, Regional Airline Association, Senate, Colgan Air, U.S, Reagan Washington National Airport, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines, Thomson Locations: United States, Russia, Buffalo

☆ FTC chair defends tenure as lawmakers battle over consumer agency's impact
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Diane Bartz | David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Representative Kevin Kiley, Republican from California, asked Khan about the cases that the agency had lost. “We fight hard when we believe there was a law violation, and unfortunately things don’t always go our way,” responded Khan. The agency also lost a fight to stop Facebook parent Meta Platforms from buying VR content maker Within Unlimited. Democrats on the committee sought to defend Khan, occasionally joined by Republicans on the panel including Rep. Ken Buck. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, a Republican, however, worried about investors in small businesses losing their exit strategies.

Persons: Lina Khan, Lina M, Khan, Bill Nelson, Graeme Jennings, Activision Blizzard, Kevin Kiley, “, don’t, ”, ” Kiley, ” Khan, Darrell Issa, Trump, Ken Buck, Michael Kikukawa, Scott Fitzgerald, “ you’re, you’re, Black Knight, Jim Jordan, Elon, Jerry Nadler, Nadler Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, Republican, Commerce, Science, NASA, Capitol, Committee, Microsoft, “, Activision, Facebook, Republicans, White House Press, Rep, Black, Horizon Therapeutics, Twitter, FTC, Democrat Locations: Washington , U.S, California, U.S

☆ Why cities want to ban new drive-thrus
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Magnets of traffic and congestion, drive-thrus discourage walking, public transit use and visits to neighboring businesses. A host of cities and regions want the sprawl to stop: Atlanta lawmakers will vote this summer on whether to ban new drive-thrus in the popular Beltline area. Minneapolis; Fair Haven, New Jersey; Creve Coeur, Missouri; Orchard Park, New York, and other cities have banned new drive-thrus in recent years. Experts say pedestrian safety can be improved by tightly managing access along arterial roads and locating drive-thrus away from them. Cities push backAtlanta City Councilman Jason Dozier proposed a bill this year to block new drive-thrus around the Atlanta Beltline, a pedestrian trail along a 22-mile railroad corridor.

Persons: Creve, ”, David Dixon, Jack, Wendy’s, Sweetgreen, Taco Bell, Leonard Ortiz, Eric Dumbaugh, David Paul Morris, Dixon, Stantec, Jason Dozier, Dozier’s, “, ” Dozier, Marilyn Nieves, iStockphoto, Levi Thatcher, Charlotte, Keba Samuel Organizations: New, New York CNN, Starbucks, Smithsonian, Companies, MediaNews, Orange, Register, Florida Atlantic University, “, CNN, Bloomberg, Atlanta City, Atlanta, Atlanta Beltline, Sugar House, Sugar, Transportation, Charlotte Planning, Charlotte City Locations: New York, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Fair Haven , New Jersey, Creve Coeur , Missouri, Orchard, , New York, Southern California, Long, Pittsburgh, Mesa , Arizona, “, ”, California, Santa Ana , California, driveways, Atlanta’s, Salt Lake City, Charlotte, WCNC

☆ Lawmakers wrangle over measures to address pilot shortage
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Greg Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —A series of controversial proposals to address the airline pilot shortage is complicating Congress’ consideration of a new slate of Federal Aviation Administration policies with one senator warning fellow lawmakers there will be blood on their hands if reduced pilot training causes a fatal accident. The measures presented by lawmakers include raising the pilot retirement age, allowing more training to occur in a flight simulator rather than aircraft cockpit, and fast-tracking training programs. The measures are hotly contested and are aimed at addressing a shortage in airline pilots that was exacerbated by the pandemic. The Illinois Democrat scolded those who feel simulator training will be equivalent and said she didn’t believe reducing training hours would solve the shortage. On the House side, the House Transportation Committee narrowly approved an amendment that would raise the mandatory pilot retirement age by two years to 67.

Persons: Sen, John Thune of, Republican Sen, Jerry Moran, ”, “, Jason Ambrosi, Tammy Duckworth, Troy Nehls, ” Nehls, You’re, Rick Larsen, Nehls Organizations: CNN, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, Republican, Senate, Air Line Pilots Association union, Illinois Democrat, Transportation, Texas Republican, AARP, Regional Airline Association, United, ” Locations: John Thune of South Dakota, Kansas, Iraq, Illinois, Texas, American, Delta

☆ FTC chair met UK antitrust officials last week but did not talk deals
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Graeme Jennings/Pool via REUTERSWASHINGTON, April 27 (Reuters) - Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan met with the heads of other antitrust enforcers, including Britain's, last week but no mergers were discussed, according to an FTC official who spoke amid allegations the FTC and UK are working together to block Microsoft's bid for Activision. The FTC official, speaking on Thursday, was responding to comments made by the game-maker's CEO, Bobby Kotick, who told CNBC he believed that the U.S. agency had pushed Britain's CMA to stop the planned acquisition. Kotick said: "I was surprised to learn that Lina Khan and the head of the CMA had a meeting a week and a half ago in Washington. The FTC official, who was not authorized to speak on the record but who was present at the virtual meeting, said that officials had no discussions of any mergers being reviewed or other ongoing investigations. When a deal appears blatantly anticompetitive then independent antitrust regulators can simply make their own judgments," said spokesperson Douglas Farrar.

☆ US FTC leaders will target AI that violates civil rights or is deceptive
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Graeme Jennings/Pool via REUTERSWASHINGTON, April 18 (Reuters) - Leaders of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said on Tuesday the agency would pursue companies who misuse artificial intelligence to violate laws against discrimination or be deceptive. Bedoya said companies using algorithms or artificial intelligence were not allowed to violate civil rights laws or break rules against unfair and deceptive acts. "It's not okay to say that your algorithm is a black box" and you can't explain it, he said. Khan agreed the newest versions of AI could be used to turbocharge fraud and scams and any wrongdoing would "should put them on the hook for FTC action." Slaughter noted that the agency had throughout its 100 year history had to adapt to changing technologies and indicated that adapting to ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence tools were no different.

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