OVERNIGHT TECH: House committee delays markup of FCC overhaul bills

THE LEDE: The House Energy and Commerce Committee has postponed Tuesday's scheduled markup of legislation to overhaul how the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) operates.

A committee aide said on Friday that the markup had to be re-scheduled because of a conference committee meeting on extending payroll tax cuts. The committee did not announce a new date for the FCC markup.

The bills, sponsored by Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.), would consolidate some reporting requirements, codify the unofficial shot clock for merger reviews and limit the types of conditions the agency can place on transactions. Other provisions would likely make it more difficult for the FCC to pass new regulations.

The legislation would require the FCC to identify a market failure or regulatory barrier to investment before adopting new regulations. The commission would then have to perform a cost-benefit analysis to demonstrate the new rules benefit the public interest.

Republicans say the legislation would make the FCC more transparent and increase certainty for business, but Democrats say the measures are just an attempt to hamstring the agency.

Many groups subject to FCC regulation, including broadcasters, the cable industry and the leading telecom association, back the legislation.

The Communications and Technology subcommittee approved the bills in November.

Senate to discuss accessible technology: The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will hold a hearing Tuesday afternoon on the "challenges and opportunities" of developing accessible technology for people with disabilities. Representatives from academia, the National Federation of the Blind and the Justice Department's civil rights division will testify.

Obama taps Baer for DOJ antitrust post: President Obama nominated Bill Baer to lead the Justice Department's antitrust division on Friday.

The former director of the Federal Trade Commission's Competition Bureau was widely considered the front-runner for the assistant attorney general post, and was reportedly being vetted for the job by the Obama administration last month after acting head Sharis Pozen announced her intent to resign in April.

Pozen took over after former assistant attorney general Christine Varney resigned in August to join Cravath, Swaine & Moore. Under Pozen, the Justice Department sued to block AT&T's proposed $39 acquisition of T-Mobile USA, resulting in the eventual breakup of the deal.

ICYMI: 

NBC will likely face formal complaints to the FCC after singer M.I.A. flipped off the camera during Sunday's Super Bowl halftime show.

The House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Communications and Technology will mount an “aggressive review” of cybersecurity threats against the United States this year, according to the panel’s Republican chairman.

A coalition of about 70 advocacy groups and companies sent a letter to Congress on Monday urging lawmakers to take their time in drafting anti-piracy legislation.

President Obama will host the second White House science fair on Tuesday as part of his continued emphasis on the importance of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.

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