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Telecommunications
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April 30, 2024
State Telecom Roundup: Tech Companies As Public Utilities
It's long-settled law that common carriers and public utilities can't discriminate or deny service without good reason, which is perhaps why there is a push in at least three different states to have the definition of a common carrier expanded to cover tech titans like Google and Facebook.
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April 29, 2024
Meta Seeks Pause On Privacy Appeal For High Court Ruling
Meta urged the D.C. Circuit on Monday to pause the company's appellate efforts to block the Federal Trade Commission from pursuing changes to a $5 billion privacy settlement, asking the appeals court to wait for an impending U.S. Supreme Court ruling on a similar case involving the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
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April 29, 2024
TikTok Law Likely To Withstand Appeal, FCC Member Says
A federal law banning TikTok unless it's divested from its Chinese parent company is likely to survive upcoming judicial challenges because it differs in key ways from a recently blocked Montana law affecting TikTok, a member of the Federal Communications Commission said.
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April 29, 2024
1st Circ. Slashes Atty's Convictions In Email Fraud Case
An Illinois lawyer convicted of receiving proceeds from a business email compromise scheme had three of six counts vacated Monday by the First Circuit, which ruled that Massachusetts wasn't the right venue for those charges.
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April 29, 2024
Apple Says Nothing's Changed To Revive COVID App Suit
Apple urged a California federal judge not to reopen a tossed antitrust lawsuit over the company's refusal to distribute a COVID-19-tracking app on the App Store, arguing that neither new European Union law nor Epic Games' jury win over Google change the dynamics of a case that has favored the iPhone maker at every turn.
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April 29, 2024
Don't Put Cable 'Junk Fee' Rules On Biz Services, FCC Told
Cable providers are asking the Federal Communications Commission to leave business services out of the commission's plans to end cable "junk fees," saying that doing otherwise would jeopardize lower rates negotiated by the businesses.
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April 29, 2024
Herbert Smith Adds Bankruptcy Pro To Thai Disputes Practice
Herbert Smith Freehills has hired an expert in construction disputes and insolvency and bankruptcy matters as a new partner for its Bangkok office, a move the firm says will strengthen its disputes practice in Thailand's capital.
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April 29, 2024
FCC Fines Wireless Carriers $195M For Selling Location Data
The country's top wireless carriers face fines totaling almost $200 million from the Federal Communications Commission after a yearslong probe into the companies' sales of user location data to third parties.
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April 29, 2024
Border Sheriffs Want Control Of 4.9-GHz Band To Stay Local
Two border sheriff organizations are lending their voices to the growing chorus of public safety interests telling the Federal Communications Commission that turning the revamped 4.9-gigahertz public safety band over to an AT&T-affiliated entity to manage is a bad idea.
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April 26, 2024
Law360 Reveals Titans Of The Plaintiffs Bar
In the past year, plaintiffs have won settlements and judgments for millions and billions of dollars from companies such as Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, Facebook and Fox News, with many high-profile cases finally wrapping up after years of fighting. Such cases — involving over-the-top compensation packages, chemical contamination, gender discrimination and data mining — were led by attorneys whose accomplishments earned them recognition as Law360's Titans of the Plaintiffs Bar for 2024.
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April 26, 2024
Senate Bill Would Vet FCC Rural Program Applicants
A bill that would make the vetting process tougher for rural broadband telecoms trying to get their hands on Federal Communications Commission-provided high-cost subsidies may advance Wednesday if all goes well during committee.
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April 26, 2024
Orgs Ask Biden, Congress To Impel Ligado Order's Reversal
It's time for the Federal Communications Commission to retract its controversial order allowing satellite communications company Ligado Networks to operate over a slice of spectrum known as the L-band, over 100 groups have banded together to tell Congress and the Biden administration.
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April 26, 2024
2nd Circ. Revives NY's Low-Income Broadband Pricing Law
The Second Circuit has breathed new life into a New York state law that requires internet service providers to offer reduced-price broadband plans, ruling Friday that a lower court was wrong to block the law nearly three years ago.
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April 26, 2024
Sen. Panel Set To Vote On Dems' Spectrum Auction Bill
A Senate panel plans to vote on a bill that would renew the Federal Communications Commission's spectrum auction powers and address a shortfall in the agency's national security program.
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April 26, 2024
Google Urges Va. Court To End DOJ's Ad Tech Case
Google urged a Virginia federal court on Friday to toss the U.S. Department of Justice case accusing it of monopolizing key digital advertising technology ahead of trial, saying the government cannot use antitrust law to force a company to help its competitors.
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April 26, 2024
9th Circ. Won't Block Calif.'s Universal Service Funding Rule
The Ninth Circuit on Friday rejected a push to block California's new contribution regime for its statewide universal service fund, with the appellate judges ruling that the challenge from T-Mobile and its subsidiaries was unlikely to succeed on the merits.
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April 26, 2024
TikTok GC To Step Down, Work On Overturning US Law
The global general counsel for TikTok and parent company ByteDance will be stepping down from his role in June to take on a different job within the social media giant, the company announced Friday: fighting a new federal law requiring ByteDance to divest in TikTok or face a ban in the U.S.
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April 26, 2024
Apple Keeps Win Over Fortnite Player In Calif. Antitrust Suit
A California state appeals court on Thursday refused to revive a putative class action brought by Fortnite players alleging that Apple's App Store policies violate the state's antitrust and unfair competition laws, saying because the tech giant's conduct is immune from antitrust liability it can't be held to be "unfair."
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April 26, 2024
NJ Solar Co. To Settle Claims It Ignored Do Not Call List
Apollo Energy Co. and the Pennsylvania man who accused it of repeatedly calling consumers who had put their phone numbers on the national Do Not Call registry or who had already asked not to call them again have agreed to settle their dispute, the parties said.
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April 26, 2024
Cox Says Insurers Must Pay For Settled DMCA Suit
Cox Enterprises Inc. sued two of its insurers this week over allegations they failed to cover the company's more than $15 million in expenses in defending, and ultimately settling, a novel lawsuit that aimed to hold the internet service provider liable for users' illegal downloads.
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April 26, 2024
Sonus $4.5M Settlement With Investors Gets Final OK
A Massachusetts federal judge has granted final approval to a $4.5 million settlement, including $1.5 million in fees for class counsel, to resolve a securities class action between the former Sonus Networks Inc. and investors over a 2015 stock price decline tied to the communications company's revenue forecasting.
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April 25, 2024
GOP Lawmakers Want Intel Chip Exports To Huawei Blocked
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., demanded Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Commerce "immediately revoke" all export licenses granted to Huawei, following the Chinese technology giant's recent announcement that it plans to use new Intel chips with artificial intelligence capabilities in its latest personal computers.
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April 25, 2024
FDA Decision Didn't Prejudice Would-Be Contractor, GAO Says
The U.S. Government Accountability Office has denied a Virginia technology company's protest of the Food and Drug Administration's decision not to amend a digital communications support deal's performance period, saying the company didn't show it was competitively prejudiced by the decision.
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April 25, 2024
Legal Battles Set To Begin On Broadband 'Neutrality' Regs
Now that the Federal Communications Commission's Democratic leadership brushed past GOP members' opposition to net neutrality rules, it faces what could be a higher hurdle — growing resistance in the courts to expansive views of agency powers.
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April 25, 2024
FCC OKs $1.35B T-Mobile, Mint Deal With Unlocked Phones
The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday approved T-Mobile's $1.35 billion purchase of Ka'ena, the parent company of Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds' wireless brand Mint Mobile, adopting as a condition for approval the carrier's commitment to more quickly "unlocking" its phones so they can be transferred between service providers.
Expert Analysis
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Avoiding The Ethical Pitfalls Of Crowdfunded Legal Fees
The crowdfunding of legal fees has become increasingly common, providing a new way for people to afford legal services, but attorneys who accept crowdsourced funds must remember several key ethical obligations to mitigate their risks, say Hilary Gerzhoy and Julienne Pasichow at HWG.
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Fed. Circ. In September: The Scope Of Analogous Prior Art
The Federal Circuit's recent decision in Netflix v. DivX turned on the often-overlooked requirement that any prior art must be analogous art, explaining that the art available to a person of ordinary skill in the art is limited to only the artisan's field of endeavor at the time the invention was made, says Jeremiah Helm at Knobbe Martens.
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Appellate Rulings Highlight Telecom Standard Uncertainties
Two recent contrasting appellate opinions in Cellco v. White Deer Township and NMSurf v. Webber — interpreting Sections 332 and 253 of the Communications Act, respectively — demonstrate the continuing uncertainty carriers face when challenging state and local requirements that may impede their provision of telecommunications services, say attorneys at Davis Wright.
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Bracing For Regulatory Delays As Shutdown Looms
As a government shutdown looms, stakeholders should plan for regulatory delays and note that more regulations could become vulnerable to congressional disapproval under the Congressional Review Act, say Matthew Shapanka and Holly Fechner at Covington.
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What Large Language Models Mean For Document Review
Courts often subject parties using technology assisted review to greater scrutiny than parties conducting linear, manual document review, so parties using large language models for document review should expect even more attention, along with a corresponding need for quality control and validation, say attorneys at Sidley.
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Tips For Camp Lejeune Attorneys To Mitigate TCPA Suit Risks
To retain and assist Camp Lejeune clients, it is vital to understand best practices to avoid violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which has been at the center of recent lawsuits against attorneys seeking to reach veterans and their families affected by the toxic water exposure at the Marine Corps base, says Libby Vish at SimplyConvert.
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7th Circ. Ruling May Steer ADA Toward Commuter Issues
Employers faced with commuting-accommodation requests from employees who do not require on-site modifications under the Americans with Disabilities Act should consider the Seventh Circuit's recent reopening of a lawsuit alleging unlawful refusal of a night-vision-challenged worker's request to extend a shift change, says Robin Shea at Constangy.
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Series
Participating In Living History Makes Me A Better Lawyer
My role as a baron in a living history group, and my work as volunteer corporate counsel for a book series fan association, has provided me several opportunities to practice in unexpected areas of law — opening doors to experiences that have nurtured invaluable personal and professional skills, says Matthew Parker at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
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7 Ways Telco Operators Can Approach Lead Cable Claims
A recent spotlight on the telecommunication industry shows that companies in the field have known for decades that lead-wrapped cables proliferate in their vast networks, which is likely to provoke prolonged and costly legal battles — but seven best practices can efficiently resolve claims and minimize damage, say consultants at AlixPartners.
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Opinion
Private Equity Owners Can Remedy Law Firms' Agency Issues
Nonlawyer, private-equity ownership of law firms can benefit shareholders and others vulnerable to governance issues such as disparate interests, and can in turn help resolve agency problems, says Michael Di Gennaro at The Law Practice Exchange.
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New FCC Broadband Label Rules Should Be Read Carefully
A recent order from the Federal Communications Commission clarifies standardized broadband label requirements that are pending final approval — and while compliance should be manageable, the rules impose new risk, particularly with regard to speed and latency disclosures, say Craig Gilley and Laura Stefani at Venable.
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How To Protect Atty-Client Privilege While Using Generative AI
When using generative artificial intelligence tools, attorneys should consider several safeguards to avoid breaches or complications in attorney-client privilege, say Antonious Sadek and Christopher Campbell at DLA Piper.
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How New Lawyers Can Leverage Feedback For Growth
Embracing constructive criticism as a tool for success can help new lawyers accelerate their professional growth and law firms build a culture of continuous improvement, says Katie Aldrich at Fringe Professional Development.
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Bracing For Rising Cyber-Related False Claims Act Scrutiny
Two recent cyber-related False Claims Act cases illustrate the vulnerability of government contractors, including universities, obliged to self-attest compliance with multiple controls, signal the importance of accurate internal controls and underline the benefits of self-disclosure, say Townsend Bourne and Nikole Snyder at Sheppard Mullin.
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Series
ESG Around The World: Australia
Clive Cachia and Cathy Ma at K&L Gates detail ESG-reporting policies in Australia and explain how the country is starting to introduce mandatory requirements as ESG performance is increasingly seen as a key investment and corporate differentiator in the fight for global capital.