The full FCC voted 3-2 -- as expected -- to propose a $13.4 million forfeiture for Sinclair Broadcast for more than 1,700 instances of improperly identified paid content (see 1712180064), but the FCC’s Democrats say that’s too little for a $2.7 billion company. “The proposed forfeiture of over $13 million is more than three times any penalty that has ever been imposed for violating our sponsorship identification rules,” Chairman Ajit Pai said in a statement released with the notice of apparent liability. “Does this mark yet another example of special treatment by the FCC majority? You decide,” Commissioner Mignon Clyburn said in her statement.

The full FCC voted 3-2 -- as expected -- to propose a $13.4 million forfeiture for Sinclair Broadcast for more than 1,700 instances of improperly identified paid content (see 1712180064), but the FCC’s Democrats say that’s too little for a $2.7 billion company. “The proposed forfeiture of over $13 million is more than three times any penalty that has ever been imposed for violating our sponsorship identification rules,” Chairman Ajit Pai said in a statement released with the notice of apparent liability. “Does this mark yet another example of special treatment by the FCC majority? You decide,” Commissioner Mignon Clyburn said in her statement.

The FCC approved 5-0 Thursday a public notice on twilight towers, as expected (see 1712110043), examining ways such towers could be made available for collocation of wireless facilities without additional historic review. The PN is an early part of the FCC’s focus under Chairman Ajit Pai on speeding up the buildout of wireless facilities. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel concurred, citing concerns about the treatment of Indian tribes.

Federal lawmakers and state governments promised action Thursday to counteract the FCC 3-2 vote to roll back its 2015 net neutrality rules. State Democratic attorneys general announced plans to sue as expected (see 1712130051), and other officials said they will protect consumers within their states if the FCC won’t. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and House Communications Subcommittee ranking member Mike Doyle, D-Pa., gained support for respective plans to file Congressional Review Act resolutions of disapproval to undo the FCC's repeal (see 1712110050 and 1712120037). The FCC's action drew impassioned statements from lawmakers in both parties, with Republicans largely in support and Democrats uniformly in opposition.

Federal lawmakers and state governments promised action Thursday to counteract the FCC 3-2 vote to roll back its 2015 net neutrality rules. State Democratic attorneys general announced plans to sue as expected (see 1712130051), and other officials said they will protect consumers within their states if the FCC won’t. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and House Communications Subcommittee ranking member Mike Doyle, D-Pa., gained support for respective plans to file Congressional Review Act resolutions of disapproval to undo the FCC's repeal (see 1712110050 and 1712120037). The FCC's action drew impassioned statements from lawmakers in both parties, with Republicans largely in support and Democrats uniformly in opposition.

Federal lawmakers and state governments promised action Thursday to counteract the FCC 3-2 vote to roll back its 2015 net neutrality rules. State Democratic attorneys general announced plans to sue as expected (see 1712130051), and other officials said they will protect consumers within their states if the FCC won’t. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and House Communications Subcommittee ranking member Mike Doyle, D-Pa., gained support for respective plans to file Congressional Review Act resolutions of disapproval to undo the FCC's repeal (see 1712110050 and 1712120037). The FCC's action drew impassioned statements from lawmakers in both parties, with Republicans largely in support and Democrats uniformly in opposition.

The FCC approved an NPRM seeking comment on possible relaxation or elimination of the national cap on TV station ownership on a 3-2 party-line vote, as expected (see 1712060051). Though Commissioner Mike O’Rielly voted with the other Republicans to approve, he said he agreed with the Democrats the FCC doesn’t have authority to alter the cap. Despite that, if the FCC acts to modify the cap after the NPRM, O’Rielly said he will “happily support” Thursday's action: “That is not to suggest my position has changed, but only that I believe in getting to finality and am willing to cast a vote that will allow the commission to take the needed step to get this to court review.”

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's Thursday briefing with House Republicans was “very productive” in addressing members' questions about the commission's draft order to rescind its 2015 net neutrality rules and other recent actions, House Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., told us. A day before, Pai briefed Senate Republicans (see 1712060058). As on the Senate side, Pai received a warm reception from House GOP members, Walden and others said.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's Thursday briefing with House Republicans was “very productive” in addressing members' questions about the commission's draft order to rescind its 2015 net neutrality rules and other recent actions, House Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., told us. A day before, Pai briefed Senate Republicans (see 1712060058). As on the Senate side, Pai received a warm reception from House GOP members, Walden and others said.

The FCC issued wireline infrastructure deployment decisions adopted by commissioners at the Nov. 14 meeting, largely along party lines (see 1711160032). The 115-page report and order, declaratory ruling and Further NPRM text eases regulatory requirements of incumbent telcos retiring copper lines and discontinuing telecom services as industry transitions to IP-based fiber systems. It also takes targeted steps to facilitate pole attachments. Commissioner Mignon Clyburn dissented and fellow Democrat Jessica Rosenworcel largely dissented while backing pole-attachment provisions. Some parties recently told us FCC internal back-and-forth over those dissents may have slowed release of the text.