The correct name of a Loyola Marymount professor is David Offenberg (see 2105260074).

The FCC agreed 3-1 Thursday to stay the 4.9 GHz order, approved 3-2 last year and as some expected (see 2105140051). Commissioner Brendan Carr dissented, while Nathan Simington voted yes. “The Commission’s decision to stay our 4.9 GHz band order will return this spectrum to the broken framework of the past,” Carr said: “This is the spectrum equivalent of taking points off the board. While I am dissenting from today’s decision, I remain hopeful that we can find a way to quickly put a beneficial framework back in place.” Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioner Geoffrey Starks dissented to the original order, which gave states control over how the band is used (see 2009300050). Simington wasn't a member then. No other commissioner had a statement now. The order noted petitions for reconsideration by APCO, the Public Safety Spectrum Alliance and National Public Safety Telecommunications Council. “In light of the serious questions posed …, the possibility of irreparable harm to current and future public safety users of the 4.9 GHz band and to our goal of facilitating greater use of this spectrum, the extent to which a stay will further the public interest, and the fact that no parties will be injured if a stay is granted, a stay is appropriate to permit the Commission to address the issues raised,” the order said. “Allowing use of the band to become fragmented on a state-by-state basis could create incentives for individual states to make use of the spectrum for revenue generation in ways that do not serve the interests of public safety, decreasing the likelihood of interoperable communications for public-safety users.” The commission’s action "comes as a relief,” said APCO Executive Director Derek Poarch, who thanked commissioners for “listening to public safety and taking this important step to chart a better course for the spectrum.”

CTIA and major carriers urged caution on contraband cellphones in prisons, in a call with an aide to FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington. As the commission considers a termination framework, “ensure sufficient oversight of approved contraband interdiction systems and designated corrections officials to provide a level of accountability and protection for consumers and providers that is commensurate with existing court order processes,” said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 13-111. Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel circulated (see 2105030062) an order and second Further NPRM last month.

Verizon is “sitting on a fantastic position in spectrum” after investing big in the C band (see 2103040034), CEO Hans Vestberg told a JPMorgan conference Tuesday. It plans to use C band and its high-band spectrum in its fixed-wireless 5G offering, he said. Before buying C band, Verizon had “the best network and the least spectrum,” he said. The provider won’t need new towers to build out the band but will upgrade at facilities where it has 4G, he said. Vestberg said unlike AT&T (see 2105240044), which is cutting its dividend as part of the Discovery deal, Verizon plans to increase its payout. “We can continue to create better bottom line and top line,” he said. Verizon sees “great interest” from customers for private networks using high-band or a 5G slice, he said. Slicing wasn’t possible with 4G, he said. “Sometimes, people ask about when will you monetize 5G,” he said: “We're already doing it.” Vestberg expects buying Tracfone to close in Q3 (see 2105250065).

Big Tech should be required to pay into USF, said FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr Monday in Newsweek. It would “secure a funding model that can support the long-term investments needed to close the digital divide,” Carr wrote. “Big Tech has been enjoying a free ride on our internet infrastructure while skipping out on the billions of dollars in costs needed to maintain and build that network.” He said it would take .009% of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google and Netflix's 2020 combined revenue to “eliminate entirely the unsustainable 30 percent tax that currently hits consumers on their monthly bills.” USF is “on the verge of collapse,” Carr added, saying he's discussing his proposal with other members of the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service. “We hope the FCC will take a common-sense approach and not punish innovative, high-quality streaming services that are fulfilling consumer demand,” said Internet Association CEO Dane Snowden in a statement.

President Joe Biden’s administration reduced its broadband spending ask to $65 billion Friday in a $1.7 trillion revised infrastructure proposal responding to Senate Republicans' counteroffer, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said during a news conference. The administration originally proposed $100 billion for broadband (see 2104220067), reflecting the Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act (HR-1783/S-745) and Leading Infrastructure for Tomorrow's (Lift) America Act (HR-1848). “This is the art of seeking common ground,” Psaki told reporters. “This proposal exhibits a willingness to come down in size, giving on some areas that are important to the president ... while also staying firm in areas that are most vital to rebuilding our infrastructure and industries of the future.” This removed “investment in research and development to supply chain, manufacturing and small business,” shifting that money into “other efforts” like the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (S-1260), previously known as the Endless Frontier Act, Psaki said. A revised version of S-1260 under Senate consideration includes $49.5 billion to implement the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America Act and $1.5 billion for the Utilizing Strategic Allied Telecom Act.

"[Net neutrality] supporters say active oversight" by the FCC "would have prevented alleged [misrepresentations] by Frontier," tweeted Republican FTC Commissioner Christine Wilson Friday. The FTC sued Frontier Wednesday, claiming it misled customers on its DSL speeds (see 2105190052). The FCC "monitors internet speeds of ISPs and produces reports on discrepancies in actual vs. advertised speeds," Wilson said, but the "[FTC] took action." The FCC declined to comment Friday. Democrats at both agencies say the FCC would have a stronger role with restored past net neutrality rules.

Deutsche Telekom is committed to obtaining majority ownership of T-Mobile in the U.S., DT CEO Tim Hoettges told investors Thursday. DT’s stake was diluted to 43% after T-Mobile bought Sprint from SoftBank, but under a shareholder agreement, it can vote SoftBank’s 9% stake. “We are clearly willing to get the majority in the timeframe that we have laid out,” Hoettges said, noting its proxy voting rights expire in 2024. “We definitely want to get to 50% plus one share -- more would always help, though,” Hoettges said. “We have always argued that Softbank is making a mistake by selling, but if they do, DT investors ought to be happy beneficiaries,” New Street’s Jonathan Chaplin told investors. There is complication, he said: If T-Mobile stock exceeds $150, SoftBank can “clawback” 49 million shares, he said. “This would actually dilute DT to 49%, and this means for DT to go back above 50%, either they could buy [T-Mobile] stock in the market, or DT wouldn’t participate pro-rata in the buyback, which could create extra technical buying for T-Mobile shares.”

FCC commissioners upheld 2018 Wireless Bureau denial of an Air-Tel petition to have its GPS-assisted location service considered radiolocation, or alternately a waiver allowing those services under Air-Tel's radiolocation service license (see 1810050030). Wednesday's order said the application for review was procedurally deficient, making "vague assertions of error," and the Mobility Division properly applied FCC precedent. The commission dismissed an Air-Tel requested license modification to add a radar emission designator. The company's outside counsel didn't comment.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s proposals for FTC Act Section 13(b) would let violators keep ill-gotten gains, “hurt honest competitors” and leave consumers without recourse, acting FTC Chairwoman Rebecca Kelly Slaughter wrote in a letter to the Senate Commerce Committee (see 2104270086) released Wednesday. She disagreed with the assertion that legislation (see 2104260065) would “dramatically extend FTC authority in unbounded ways” or lack “safeguards.” She encouraged Congress to act quickly and restore agency authority with an additional 10-year statute of limitation on the FTC’s ability to seek monetary relief. She disagreed with a proposal to limit the authority to ongoing or imminent conduct. The chamber didn’t comment.