Welcome to the Tech & Telecom Weekly, an e-newsletter keeping you apprised of the latest developments in the telecommunications and high-tech industries.


FCC Policy

The next FCC Open Meeting will be held tomorrow, July 13, 2021, at 10:30am ET. The final Agenda contains six items, including a Report and Order amending the rules for the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program and a Report and Order authorizing additional measures to combat contraband wireless devices in correctional facilities. The meeting will be live-streamed here.


Developments in the EU

Two days before Pres. Biden issued his Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy, which has incited some discussion about state-run broadband networks, the European Commission released a Staff Working Document that summarizes the results of two EU rules aimed at encouraging state broadband: the Broadband Guidelines and the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER). The Executive Summary  states that the rules “are effective as a state aid architecture,” but “there might still be room … for further improving the rules in the broadband sector in order best to accompany the necessary investments in the coming years.” 

In the Courts

On July 7, 2021, a group of 36 U.S. states and the District of Columbia sued Google in antitrust for alleged restraint of trade and monopoly maintenance in the market for Android app distribution and payment processing. The 144-page Complaint lodges seven Sherman Act claims, under both Section 1 and Section 2, and a claim lodged under the antitrust and consumer protection statutes of 34 states. Requested relief includes treble damages to the States parens patriae and several forms of injunctive relief to retrain further anticompetitive conduct, such as prohibiting contracts that unreasonably impede competition and paying equipment manufacturers or app developers not to work with Google competitors. Utah, et al. v. Google LLC, et al., No. 3:21-cv-05227 (filed July 7, 2021 N.D. Cal.).


For more information about any of these developments, please contact Stephanie Joyce.  


Note: This publication is distributed with the understanding that the author, publisher and distributor of this publication and/or any linked publication are not rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice or opinions on specific facts or matters and, accordingly, assume no liability whatsoever in connection with its use. Pursuant to applicable rules of professional conduct, portions of this publication may constitute Attorney Advertising.

Media Contact

Marlene Laro
mlaro@potomaclaw.com
703.517.6449

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