The Big Story: FCC proposes unlicensed spectrum boost. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced a proposal this week to reallocate spectrum in the 5.9 GHz band for unlicensed use, a move that would open up the airwaves for more Wi-Fi. The 5.9 GHz band is currently reserved for vehicle-to-vehicle communications but has largely been unused for its intended purpose. Chairman Pai’s proposal would reallocate the lower 45 MHz for unlicensed use while setting the upper 40 MHz aside for vehicle safety purposes.
Engine has for years called on the federal government to open up the 5.9 GHz band for unlicensed use. Startups rely on access to unlicensed spectrum in several ways, including for the airwaves the Wi-Fi networks run on to connecting Internet of Things devices over short distances. The proposal could potentially provide wireless devices with access to 60 percent of the airwaves that have been set aside since 1999 for vehicle-to-vehicle communication. The FCC will vote on the proposal at its Dec. 12th public meeting.
Policy Roundup:
House panel moves broadband mapping bill. The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted unanimously this week to advance legislation that would require the FCC to collect more detailed mapping data about connectivity across the country. The Senate Commerce Committee advanced companion legislation earlier this year.
Interpol moves away from encryption resolution. Interpol this week backed off plans to release a resolution opposing end-to-end encryption that was drafted by FBI officials after initial reporting that Interpol would release a resolution condemning the privacy protections because of child sexual exploitation concerns.
Startups and state privacy laws. States like California have moved forward with their own privacy laws in lieu of federal action, but a state-by-state approach to data privacy will create a convoluted patchwork of laws that make it difficult for startups to grow and thrive.
Engine submits comments to USPTO on AI inventions. Engine and the Electronic Frontier Foundation submitted comments to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office noting that, in order to continue promoting and establishing high-quality patents in the field, artificial intelligence does not need to disrupt the patent system.
Google will limit targeted political ads. Google became the latest major social media platforms to take a public positions on political ads ahead of the 2020 presidential election when it announced this week a new policy limiting the ways in which political advertisements can target users based on age, gender, and location. Facebook is also reportedly considering raising the minimum number of people who can be targeted by a political ads from 100 up to a few thousand.
Heritage Foundation voices support for Section 230 protections. The Heritage Foundation released a policy paper this week opposing a bill from Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) that would hold Internet platforms liable for any illegal content posted on their sites unless they can prove to the federal government that they’re “politically neutral.”
DOJ open to wider tech investigation. U.S. Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen signaled during a speech at an American Bar Association event that the Justice Department might expand its ongoing investigation of large tech companies to examine issues outside of potential antitrust violations, saying the DOJ “will not ignore any harms caused by online platforms that partially or completely fall outside the antitrust laws.”
Startup Roundup:
#StartupsEverywhere: Salt Lake City, Utah. Salt Lake City is the original home of Mobius Audio, a music-focused startup that is using the latest technology to create a multidimensional sound platform for recording artists while teaching them to function as their own businesses. Carter Pochynok, the founder of Mobius, is using his background in music to guide the emerging company through its seed funding stage as it looks to establish itself on an international scale.
Startups stockpiling cash. After years of freely spending money to grow their companies, many startups are beginning to spend less and raise more as investors push for startups to turn a profit over rapid expansion.
