Coronavirus Forces More Industry Cancellations, Adjustments
Telecom and tech continued responding to COVID-19. Actions included moving to telework and the cancellation or postponement of events, or moving them virtual.
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• Dish Network is giving AT&T 20 MHz of its AWS-4 spectrum and all of its 700 MHz portfolio at no cost for 60 days, said Dish Thursday. It began lending T-Mobile all its 600 MHz spectrum last week. With the AT&T and T-Mobile agreements, Dish “has activated most of its spectrum portfolio to enhance national wireless capacity as the nation confronts the COVID-19 crisis,” it said. T-Mobile said Thursday it has deployed additional 600 MHz spectrum from multiple companies (see 2003160063) “effectively doubling total 600 MHz LTE capacity across the nation.” The extra spectrum “will help ensure T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile and partner customers can stay connected during this critical time,” the carrier said.
• AT&T continues to update its customer response. It said Thursday all residential fixed broadband customers can use unlimited data. It's offering new customers its $10 monthly Access program for two months free and expanding eligibility for the discount program to households participating in Head Start and the National School Lunch Program. The company is redirecting resources to first responders.
• FCBA canceled its annual seminar scheduled May 1-3 and is “examining options” to reschedule in the fall, said an email. The group also is planning webinars for its April and May CLEs, wrote President Joshua Turner.
• The American Bar Association and the Forum on Communications Law are postponing the 39th Annual Representing Your Local Broadcaster Conference, which had been set for April 19 in Las Vegas. The event is usually scheduled so that attendees of the NAB Show can attend it. “When the NAB reschedules their event, the Forum will evaluate whether RYLB can be rescheduled on the same date," said an announcement.
• Processing of Copyright Office registration applications and examination of physical deposits will be delayed. The CO encouraged applicants submit applications online. To minimize impact on copyright infringement action, the CO adopted an interim policy for “special handling” of registration applications: Special handling claims submitted electronically and for “which electronic deposits are permissible under the regulations” will continue to be “examined within five business days” by remote examiners. For electronic applications requiring physical deposits, applicants must send physical deposits, but the office “will allow the applicant to additionally upload an electronic deposit of that same work.”
• ITU issued national emergency telecom plan guidelines. They will help develop policies for "continued use of telecommunication networks and services before, during and after a disaster,” ITU said.
• The Brookings Institution's Washington campus will be closed through April 3. All events are canceled or postponed. Brookings will continue to publish.
• Hudson Institute’s District of Columbia headquarters is now fully virtual, said the group Thursday. The think tank “remains fully operational but our experts and staff are working remotely,” it said: “Regular programming has shifted to video conferences and teleconferences.”