New Cases and Developments

Comments submitted to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from nine higher education associations regarding the proposed reversal of net neutrality rules. The FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Restoring Internet Freedom on May 18, 2017. The associations assert that preserving an open Internet is essential for higher education institutions and libraries, whose missions rely heavily on research, education, and the free flow of information.  They are concerned that public broadband Internet access providers will have a financial incentive and the opportunity to block, degrade or prioritize the Internet transmission of some at the expense of others “unless the Commission maintains strong, enforceable network neutrality rules.”

Public Service Announcement issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warning of a fraud schemes targeting universities and their students. The Announcement identifies and summarizes the different schemes that scammers have used since July 2016—including a vendor bank account update scam, the fake “education tax” scam, a phishing scheme requesting W-2 tax information, and a phishing scheme involving payroll fraud—and offers tips on how universities and students can protect themselves.