An ATSC 3.0 draft order that requires that broadcasters offer “substantially similar” 1.0 and 3.0 simulcasts and doesn’t prevent the new standard from coming up in retransmission consent negotiations is widely expected to be ready for the FCC’s Nov. 16 commissioners' meeting, said industry officials. The Media Bureau is believed to be nearly finished preparing the order, with the aim of circulating it by Oct. 26, in time for the November agenda, industry officials said in interviews. Meantime, MVPDs and broadcasters are stepping up their lobbying on the 3.0 transition.

An ATSC 3.0 draft order that requires that broadcasters offer “substantially similar” 1.0 and 3.0 simulcasts and doesn’t prevent the new standard from coming up in retransmission consent negotiations is widely expected to be ready for the FCC’s Nov. 16 commissioners' meeting, said industry officials. The Media Bureau is believed to be nearly finished preparing the order, with the aim of circulating it by Oct. 26, in time for the November agenda, industry officials said in interviews. Meantime, MVPDs and broadcasters are stepping up their lobbying on the 3.0 transition.

The National Hispanic Media Coalition pressed the FCC to put consumer complaint materials into the open internet docket and seek comment. Though the commission released many documents in response to an NHMC Freedom of Information Act request for complaint materials, "a significant number of carrier responses, consumer rebuttals, emails, and email attachments were omitted from those productions," said the group in a filing posted in docket 17-108 Monday on a meeting with Wireline Bureau and Office of General Counsel officials including Bureau Chief Kris Monteith. NHMC representatives including ex-Commissioner Gloria Tristani made similar but shorter filings (here, here, here) on meetings with aides to Commissioners Brendan Carr, Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel. NHMC said the FCC also apparently hasn't produced any consumer-commission interactions through an ombudsman email address since the prior ombudsman stepped down. "These omissions, which represent a clear failure by the Commission under its FOIA obligations, also make it impossible to conclude how the underlying complaints were ultimately resolved," said the group, which cited arguments for opening a new comment cycle. NCTA and USTelecom opposed (see 1709290049) a motion by NHMC and others (see 1709200033).

The National Hispanic Media Coalition pressed the FCC to put consumer complaint materials into the open internet docket and seek comment. Though the commission released many documents in response to an NHMC Freedom of Information Act request for complaint materials, "a significant number of carrier responses, consumer rebuttals, emails, and email attachments were omitted from those productions," said the group in a filing posted in docket 17-108 Monday on a meeting with Wireline Bureau and Office of General Counsel officials including Bureau Chief Kris Monteith. NHMC representatives including ex-Commissioner Gloria Tristani made similar but shorter filings (here, here, here) on meetings with aides to Commissioners Brendan Carr, Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel. NHMC said the FCC also apparently hasn't produced any consumer-commission interactions through an ombudsman email address since the prior ombudsman stepped down. "These omissions, which represent a clear failure by the Commission under its FOIA obligations, also make it impossible to conclude how the underlying complaints were ultimately resolved," said the group, which cited arguments for opening a new comment cycle. NCTA and USTelecom opposed (see 1709290049) a motion by NHMC and others (see 1709200033).

Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel slammed FCC direction on media consolidation and Sinclair's planned buy of Tribune Media, the proposed ATSC 3.0 transition and rolling back Title II net neutrality regulation under the Communications Act. Her speech drew NAB and 3.0 supporter pushback, as well as some plaudits from other Democrats. “This is the first time I’ve seen that she’s been willing to be very vocal about her disagreements with her colleagues," said Gigi Sohn, an Open Society Foundations fellow and former aide to previous Chairman Tom Wheeler, a Democrat. Rosenworcel said she wanted "to make a little ruckus" and believes in fighting to make the "future work for all," according to her prepared remarks to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Thursday (see 1710120012).

Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel slammed FCC direction on media consolidation and Sinclair's planned buy of Tribune Media, the proposed ATSC 3.0 transition and rolling back Title II net neutrality regulation under the Communications Act. Her speech drew NAB and 3.0 supporter pushback, as well as some plaudits from other Democrats. “This is the first time I’ve seen that she’s been willing to be very vocal about her disagreements with her colleagues," said Gigi Sohn, an Open Society Foundations fellow and former aide to previous Chairman Tom Wheeler, a Democrat. Rosenworcel said she wanted "to make a little ruckus" and believes in fighting to make the "future work for all," according to her prepared remarks to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Thursday (see 1710120012).

The National Hispanic Media Coalition and other public interest groups urged the FCC to do more to address the communications meltdown in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (see 1710040046). Chairman Ajit Pai, meanwhile, said he appointed a staff task force on hurricane recovery. Addressed to Pai, the letter also was signed by the Center for Media Justice, the Color of Change, Free Press and Public Knowledge.

FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said she has named Travis Litman, who has worked as her aide before and was Wireline Bureau Telecom Access Policy Division assistant chief, as chief of staff and senior legal adviser-wireline and public safety issues; Kate Black, ex-Emily's List, as policy adviser-media issues; and from Office of Managing Director Lashion Pratt as staff assistant ... Marni Walden, Verizon executive vice president/president-global media, leaves company, effective in February, and effective Dec. 31, moves to strategic adviser and continues reporting to CEO Lowell McAdam until departure; after that, Oath CEO Tim Armstrong continues, reports directly to McAdam; and telematics organization reports to John Stratton, executive vice president/president-global operations.

The full FCC unanimously approved a notice of apparent liability for a $144,344 fine for a repeat offender North Miami, Florida, pirate radio operator and his landlords at Tuesday’s meeting. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said the fine is the first commission-level NAL for a pirate radio operator. The fine is the maximum amount allowable by statute, Enforcement Bureau staff said. Fabrice Polynice and landlords Harold and Veronise Sido will have an opportunity to respond to the NAL before the FCC votes on a final forfeiture order, bureau Chief Rosemary Harold said in a later news conference. She said she hopes other pirate radio operators will learn of the fine on social media.

Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel slammed the 2017 version of the FCC’s mobile wireless competition report, approved 3-2 Tuesday in a party-line vote. Both questioned whether wireless in parts of the U.S. is genuinely competitive. During the Obama administration, the FCC repeatedly declined to determine there's effective competition in the U.S. wireless market. The new report says there is. The disagreement was expected and has been a topic of contention between Republicans and Democrats (see 1709220049).