House Commerce Committee Democrats sought answers Tuesday from major tech platforms about how they’re addressing COVID-19 misinformation. In letters to Facebook, Twitter and Google, Chairman Frank Pallone of New Jersey, Anna Eshoo of California, Oversight Subcommittee Chair Diana DeGette of Colorado, Communications Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle of Pennsylvania and Consumer Protection Subcommittee Chair Jan Schakowsky of Illinois responded to reports that vaccine misinformation is “escalating.” They followed up about correspondence in July. “False and misleading information is dangerous, and if relied on by the public to make critical health choices, it could result in the loss of human life,” they wrote. They requested information about policy changes on the spread of misinformation, specifics about information labels, details about targeted ads and information about any company coordination.

There’s “mounting enthusiasm” to return to the physical NAB Show Oct. 9-13 in Las Vegas, reported the association Tuesday. Freeman Event Research canvassed 1,000 previous NAB Show attendees online Nov. 9-16, finding that nearly seven in 10 plan to return to the in-person show, which NAB postponed from its customary April run due to the pandemic. About 60% said their decision to attend would hinge on the availability of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 88% “said they are likely to return once they feel the threat of the virus is mitigated,” said NAB. The survey was done about a month before the Food and Drug Administration approved the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for emergency deployment. The situation on the ground in Las Vegas remains precarious, prompting resort operators to downplay the possibility of a “visitation spike” before 2022 (see 2101280006). Freeman manages exhibitor services for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

Between March 13 and Oct. 31, 99% of the COVID-19-related billing and service informal complaints that the FCC received had a provider respond within 30 days, then Chairman Ajit Pai said in a letter to Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Calif., dated Jan. 15 and released Monday. He responded to an October letter from McNerney about Keep Americans Connected pledge complaints.

Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioner Brendan Carr toured Whitman-Walker Health in Washington Friday to promote telehealth, the FCC said. The clinic has conducted nearly 21,000 telehealth visits since beginning them in March, CEO Naseema Shafi said.

Let noneligible telecom carriers access Universal Service Administrative Co. data systems so they can immediately participate in the emergency broadband benefit program, NCTA, ACA Connects, the Wireless ISP Association and Incompas asked FCC Wireline Bureau staff, per a letter posted Thursday in docket 20-445 (see 2101260053). Consumers will be "deprived of the variety and quality of services that Congress intended the program to provide" if non-ETCs are unable to sign up customers and be reimbursed as existing Lifeline providers, the associations said.

The FCC set a virtual roundtable Feb. 12 at 10 a.m. EST on how to structure the $3.2 billion emergency broadband benefit program, a public notice said Thursday (see 2101260053). Replies on a public notice seeking comment on the fund are due Feb. 16 in docket 20-445. Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said the program "promises to help ease the burden" on families during the pandemic.

Responding to Comcast data caps, a Massachusetts bill would ban ISPs from capping data, disconnecting customers, raising prices or creating new fees during the pandemic. HD-663 also would bar existing such limits. It's meant “to push back [Comcast] and any other service providers who try to raise prices or fees during a pandemic,” co-sponsor Rep. Dave Rogers (D) tweeted Thursday. It wouldn’t apply to mobile. The ban would expire 60 days after the governor declares an end to the COVID-19 emergency. “Our data plan is structured in a way that the very small percentage of our customers who use more than 1.2 terabytes of monthly data and generate the greatest demand for network development and capacity pay more," emailed a Comcast spokesperson: "Superusers" can buy an unlimited plan. The cable company said it won't assess overage charges to affected Northeast customers until August. Public Knowledge tweeted approvingly, "Policymakers across the U.S. should take note!"

USTelecom backs a petition led by the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition urging the FCC to let schools temporarily use E-rate funds for remote learning (see 2101260055). “We need to use every tool available to close the Homework Gap," an association spokesperson emailed Tuesday evening.

“There’s no return to January of 2020,” Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella told Tuesday's call for the quarter ended Dec. 31. Responding to a question on Microsoft’s expense profile post-COVID-19, Nadella focused on “flexibility” in time and where employees work because “expectations have changed.” That’s an opportunity for Microsoft’s Teams business communication platform, he said: “Work happens before meetings, during meetings, after meetings, and especially in hybrid work, you need that sophisticated set of tools that really track workflow irrespective of who is where,” he said. On Xbox, Microsoft exceeded $5 billion in quarterly revenue, a first, as the Series X and S debut set a record for most devices sold in a launch month. Xbox Live has more than 100 million active monthly users and Game Pass has 18 million subscribers, he said. Xbox hardware revenue grew 86%, driven by the new console launch and lower prices on previous-generation consoles, said Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood. The stronger PC market resulted in overall OEM revenue growth of 1% despite a strong prior year comparable in OEM Pro due to the end of support for Windows 7, said Hood. OEM non-Pro revenue grew 24%, OEM Pro revenue dropped 9%, she said. Quarterly revenue grew 17% to $43.1 billion, said the company. Shares closed at $232.90 Wednesday after hitting a 52-week high of $240.44.

Education advocates seek an FCC expedited declaratory ruling to temporarily let E-rate funds be used for remote learning. The pandemic "exacerbated the digital divide and made longstanding calls for the commission to allow E-rate support for off-campus broadband a matter of great urgency," said the petition, led by the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition, Tuesday in docket 13-184. President Joe Biden's executive order encourages the FCC to "increase connectivity options for students lacking reliable home broadband."