OVERNIGHT TECH: Blumenthal presses Sony on latest attack

{mosads}Senate Commerce Committee passes spectrum bill: Legislation that would fund a nationwide network for first responders and assign the valuable D Block
of spectrum to public safety agencies cleared the Senate Commerce Committee Wednesday despite some Republican opposition. The bill also authorizes the FCC to conduct incentive spectrum auctions, which would likely result in airwaves
currently used for television being reassigned to wireless carriers, a move strongly supported by the technology industry.

Opponents focused during the markup on the choice to give spectrum to public safety
agencies rather than auctioning it to commercial providers, who could potentially share their networks with first responders. Supporters said the bill ensures
that first responders can talk to each other in times of need. The
bill faces an uphill path to President Obama’s desk despite strong support from the House Homeland Security Committee.

“I commend Chairman Rockefeller and Senator Hutchison for their bipartisan leadership in crafting a comprehensive, forward-looking measure that will spur wireless innovation, economic growth and job creation; provide our nation’s first responders with modern, efficient and interoperable communications capabilities; and reduce the deficit,” said Commerce Secretary Gary Locke in a statement supporting the legislation.

On Tap Thursday: Attorney General Eric Holder will deliver remarks at the Northwest Indiana Cyber Security Summit that will likely touch on the administration’s recent cybersecurity proposals. He is scheduled to speak at 11:30 a.m. in Hammond, Ind.

The Federal Communications Commission will hold its monthly open meeting, the first since former Republican Commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker left to join Comcast. The Commission is expected to release its “Future of Media” report, which has been rebranded and reportedly contains only minor suggestion for rule changes to help struggling newspapers and media firms. Project leader Steve Waldman is expected to give a report at the meeting.

On the now four-member commission’s agenda is a measure to allow firms to electronically file their tariffs in order to streamline the process. The group will also
consider a measure to prevent interference in certain kinds of
broadcasting and satellite services.

Markey says Facebook should have used opt-in for facial recognition: A new Facebook feature that uses facial recognition software to
suggest the names of friends in uploaded photos so users can tag them in pictures is drawing fire in both
the U.S. and the European Union. The service has been available
since December but will now be a default setting on existing accounts. 

“Requiring users to disable this feature after they’ve already been
included by Facebook is no substitute for an opt-in process,” said Rep.
Edward Markey (D-Mass.), co-chairman of the bipartisan Congressional
Privacy Caucus. “If this new feature is as useful as
Facebook claims, it should be able to stand on its own, without an
automatic sign-up that changes users’ privacy settings without their
permission.”

FCC chairman agrees to repeal Fairness Doctrine: FCC chair Julius Genachowski said he plans to comply with a request from House Energy and Commerce Republicans to strike the Fairness Doctrine from the agency’s rule books to ensure it can’t be revived. The rule, which gives the FCC the authority to ensure broadcasters present controversial public issues in a fair and balanced manner was shelved in 1987 after the FCC decided it was unconstitutional. Reps. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Greg Walden (R-Ore.) cheered the announcement and asked for a timeline.

ICYMI:

The pick to become the Genachowski’s next chief counsel could have a big impact on issues currently in front of the FCC.

TweetCongress will study whether lawmakers are tweeting less post-Weinergate.

Mary Schapiro, chairwoman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, responded to Senate Democrats by stating that existing disclosure rules mandate firms divulge cyberattacks that would be relevant to investment decisions.

Apple’s new campus will reportedly look like a spaceship.