U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Tina Smith (D-MN) have asked for details about possible Federal Trade Commission antitrust investigations into Amazon and Facebook and possible Justice Department antitrust investigations into Google and Apple. In the letters, the senators requested information regarding the existence and scope of the potential investigations.
“Over the years, we have heard numerous complaints about potential anticompetitive conduct by large technology firms, and we have held hearings that have explored these issues,” the senators wrote. “When we saw the recent press reports of potential U.S. investigations into these matters, we were encouraged, but also somewhat troubled that such inquiries were not already well underway. But given the silence of the FTC and the Justice Department, the truth is that we still do not know if these investigations have actually been initiated and neither do the American people.”
The FTC was asked to provide answers to the following questions:
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The Regulatory Mix Today: Senators Seek Information on Tech Company Antitrust Investigations, FCC Allows Withdrawal of Forbearance Relief for Dark Fiber Transport Unbundling, FTC Announces Crackdown on Illegal Robocalls
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The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau granted USTelecom’s request for approval to withdraw without prejudice the portion of its May 4, 2018 petition for forbearance seeking relief from the dark fiber transport unbundling requirements of the Communications Act. USTelecom gave no specific reason for the withdrawal request.
The FTC announced a major crackdown on illegal robocalls, including 94 actions targeting operations around the country that are responsible for more than one billion calls pitching a variety of products and services including credit card interest rate reduction services, money-making opportunities, and medical alert systems. The joint crackdown, “Operation Call it Quits,” is part of the FTC’s ongoing effort to help stem the tide of universally loathed pre-recorded telemarketing calls. It also includes new information to help educate consumers about illegal robocalls. In addition, the FTC continues to promote the development of technology-based solutions to block robocalls and combat caller ID spoofing. Additionally, several state and local agencies have brought enforcement actions.
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The Regulatory Mix, Inteserra’s blog of telecom related regulatory activities, is a snapshot of PUC, FCC, legislative, and occasionally court issues that our regulatory monitoring team uncovers each day. Depending on their significance, some items may be the subject of an Inteserra Briefing.