Wireless carriers remain hopeful on the outlook for the 3.1-3.45 GHz band, despite recent comments by John Sherman, DOD chief information officer, about the high costs and long time frame for clearing the spectrum (see 2209190061). Industry experts note spectrum in recent FCC auctions has come with some protection for incumbent users, which will likely also be the case for 3.1 GHz.
The National Treasury Employees Union endorsed FCC nominee Gigi Sohn as the Senate adjourned Thursday for a six-week pre-election recess. Sohn’s confirmation process has been stalled since March, but Hill supporters believe her confirmation prospects will improve once the Senate returns in November for the lame-duck session (see 2209130065). The White House is continuing to hold out for a Senate vote on Sohn, but lobbyists told us the Biden administration is considering at least two potential candidates to replace her if she fails to make it through: former acting NTIA Administrator Anna Gomez, ex-Wiley (see 2207010056), and NASA Chief of Staff Susie Perez Quinn. NTEU-affiliated FCC staffers “benefit when there is sound and stable leadership at the agency, and we are concerned with the continued vacancy,” National President Anthony Reardon said in a letter to Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash. Sohn “is a highly qualified nominee,” knows “the agency well and she would be an excellent member of the Commission. Furthermore, I feel that any further delay in the confirmation of her nomination threatens to inhibit progress at the FCC to the detriment of both the workforce and the American consumer.” It’s “time for the country to allow this Commission and its employees to be fully staffed and functioning,” Reardon said.
The FCC's Communications Equity and Diversity Council needs more time to draft model policies for localities to prevent digital discrimination, the group said at its meeting Friday, which had been expected to include a vote on final recommendations for the agency (see 2202230065.
The Universal Service Fund should be revised and the FCC should consider requiring contributions from tech companies, said a bipartisan group of current and former commissioners on a virtual panel Wednesday hosted by the Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council. The group, including former Chairs William Kennard and Richard Wiley, also discussed the lack of an FCC majority, the digital divide and media ownership.
Wiley partner Anna Gomez, former acting NTIA administrator, retires … LPTV Broadcasters Association announces private practice attorney Peter Saad as executive director, succeeding Michael Lee, who continues in part-time role … Hawaii Gov. David Ige (D) elevates Public Utilities Commission member Leo Asuncion to chair.
The Senate’s continued stall in considering FCC nominee Gigi Sohn is prompting some of her supporters to eye ways to break the logjam, including pressing chamber leaders to seek an initial discharge vote to bring her to the floor even if Democratic senators who remain publicly undecided on her candidacy (see 2205050050) don’t commit to a position beforehand. Some supporters believe it’s worth the risk such a vote would fail given chatter about Sohn or the White House withdrawing her nomination, though top Senate Democratic backers believe it’s unlikely the White House would take such an action. Observers also see a White House recess appointment of Sohn as an increasingly feasible route to at least temporarily set up a Democratic FCC majority given the commission’s year-plus 2-2 deadlock.
House Communications Subcommittee members voiced strong support during a Tuesday hearing for the Extending America’s Spectrum Auction Leadership Act (HR-7783) and two NTIA-focused spectrum bills, echoing expected backing from Wiley’s Anna Gomez and CommScope Business Development and Spectrum Policy Director Mark Gibson (see 2205230061). Lawmakers broadly supported elements of the Safe Connections Act (HR-7132), but opinions on the Ensuring Phone and Internet Access for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Recipients Act (HR-4275) divided along party lines.
Wiley’s Anna Gomez, former acting NTIA administrator, backed the Extending America’s Spectrum Auction Leadership Act (HR-7783) and two NTIA-focused spectrum bills in written testimony ahead of a Tuesday House Communications Subcommittee hearing (see 2205170081). HR-7783 is one of five wireless-focused bills House Communications will examine during the Tuesday hearing. The others are: the Ensuring Phone and Internet Access for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Recipients Act (HR-4275), the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences Codification Act (HR-4990), the Simplifying Management, Reallocation and Transfer of Spectrum Act (HR-5486), and the Safe Connections Act (HR-7132). The partly virtual hearing will begin at 11 a.m. in 2123 Rayburn.
Open internet supporters cheered ISPs dropping their challenge of California’s net neutrality law. National telecom associations indicated Wednesday they won’t appeal to the Supreme Court after the full 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused to rehear their case (see 2204200061). Whether states may regulate broadband might still not be settled. Some opponents of state net neutrality laws said to watch out for the 2nd Circuit to perhaps differ on federal preemption questions.
FirstNet Authority announces CEO Edward Parkinson leaving the organization for the private sector; Deputy CEO Lisa Casias becomes acting CEO, effective May 10, during search for new CEO … DOD names Craig Martell, from Lyft, as first chief digital and artificial intelligence officer … Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition's Chief Operating Officer-Chief of Staff Emily Olson departing to become an NTIA broadband program specialist, beginning May 23 … Platinum Advisors says Daniel Sepulveda, ex-Wiley and former ambassador-telecommunications and media issues in Obama administration, is joining government relations team.