Good morning tech

USF REFORM SPARKS RECLASSIFICATION DEBATE IN SENATE. Republicans clashed with officials from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Thursday over the agency’s plans for broadband regulation, with Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) accusing it of putting “billions of dollars in jeopardy.” Blasting FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski’s proposal to boost his power over broadband services — which he says would help make overdue reforms to a telecom fund — Thune predicted an entirely different result: “torturous litigation.”

EXPERTS SAYS WIRETAP LAW NEEDS UPDATE FOR DIGITAL AGE. The law that governs when the government can intercept digital communications is outdated and badly in need of an update, a panel of experts told lawmakers on Thursday.
At a hearing on Thursday, witnesses said Congress needs to update the 1986 Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), which protects citizens’ electronic communications while in transit. Witnesses said the existing law doesn’t address location-based mobile services and other newer technologies.

TWITTER SETTLES WITH FTC OVER BREACH THAT STRUCK OBAMA’S ACCOUNT. A hack job that allowed intruders to take control of President Obama’s Twitter account has resulted in a settlement at the the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The agency unanimously voted to approve a settlement with Twitter after charging it with leaving the door open for hackers to take control of the site on two occasions last year. The negligence risked users’ personal data and gave perpetrators a chance to hijack accounts, the FTC said on Thursday.

SCHEDULED.

…11 a.m. Stakeholders meet with committee aides to discuss telecom legislation.

…3 p.m. The FCC holds a forum on broadcast engineering. It will be streamed.

SAID.

“On the way through life, make this your goal, keep your eye on the donut on not the hole.”

-FCC Commissioner Michael Copps quoting former Sen. Frederick “Fritz” Hollings at a hearing on Thursday about universal service reform. The donut, Copps said, is “broadband for each and every American.”

WATERCOOLER.

HOW MANY?…Praising Russian President Medvedev’s visit to Silicon Valley, President Obama mispronounced the name of the lead micro-blogging site, calling it “Twitters.” It sounds funnier than it reads. Watch below.