OVERNIGHT TECH: Vote set to overturn net-neutrality rules

THE LEDE: The Senate will vote Thursday on a resolution to overturn the Federal Communications Commission’s net-neutrality rules, passed last December and scheduled to take effect on Nov. 20. The resolution, which passed the House earlier this year, was introduced by Senate Commerce ranking member Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) and is co-sponsored by 42 Senate Republicans. While debate on Wednesday stuck mostly to party lines and familiar themes, tomorrow’s vote will force remaining fence-sitters to tip their hand as to whether they support or oppose the signature policy of FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski’s tenure.

The Obama administration, most Democrats and a host of public interest groups argue the FCC took a light-touch approach to guarantee Internet service providers cannot discriminate between similar sources of content on the Web. In fact many net-neutrality supporters were disappointed by the FCC’s failure to cover wireless networks as part of the order. But Republicans have hit back furiously, labeling the rules unnecessary regulation of the Internet and arguing the FCC has overstepped its legal authority. A simple majority is needed to pass the resolution and there are signs it could be close, but even if the GOP somehow persuades enough Democrats to oppose the rules the White House has threatened to veto the bill. Whether the FCC’s Open Internet Order takes hold will likely be ultimately determined by the courts, which tossed the agency’s last attempt to enforce the doctrine last year.

{mosads}Emergency Alert System test hits speed bumps: Wednesday’s first-ever national test of the emergency alert system brought varying results for members of the public depending on their television provider and location. While many customers reported the expected interruption of their TV and radio programs at 2 p.m. EDT, others pointed to bizarre glitches or no sign of the test at all. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, the cable industry and the broadcasters all acknowledged some difficulties, though the latter said the test has been largely successful on their end.

In a joint statement, FEMA and the FCC said: “The Nationwide EAS Test served the purpose for which it was intended — to identify gaps and generate a comprehensive set of data to help strengthen our ability to communicate during real emergencies. Based on preliminary data, media outlets in large portions of the country successfully received the test message, but wasn’t received by some viewers or listeners. We are currently in the process of collecting and analyzing data, and will reach a conclusion when that process is complete.”

Wireless industry urges supercommittee to accommodate licensed and unlicensed spectrum: CTIA, an association representing wireless companies, urged the congressional supercommittee on deficit reduction to protect the future of both licensed and unlicensed spectrum in a letter on Wednesday.

Unlicensed spectrum frequencies are not dedicated to any one particular company. A range of devices — including remote controls, garage door openers, baby monitors and Wi-Fi — rely on unlicensed spectrum bands. Wireless companies generally rely on spectrum licensed to them to carry their customers’ data.

In the letter, CTIA President Steve Largent urged lawmakers to preserve some unlicensed spectrum, but he warned that the committee “must not sacrifice spectrum in the TV bands that is ideal for licensed mobile wireless broadband service to accommodate unlicensed use.” But he added that there might be space for unlicensed uses in the television bands of spectrum.

Spectrum reform is part of the debt committee talks because auctioning spectrum bands for licensed use has the potential to raise billions of dollars in government revenue.

ICYMI:

The FCC and cable companies announced a low-cost Internet program for poor families.

A bipartisan group of senators introduced an online sales tax bill.

Lawmakers debate net neutrality.

American teens say their peers are mostly kind to one another on social networking sites, but cruelty is still a persistent problem, according to a study released Wednesday by the Pew Internet Center.