Commercial aviation priorities frequently push aside commercial space launch operation issues at the FAA, said George Nield, chairman of the Global Spaceport Alliance (GSA). Tackling some challenges that the space launch industry faces starts with elevating the Office of Commercial Space Transportation so that instead of being under FAA, it has equal standing as the FAA, Nield said in an interview with Communications Daily. The following transcript was edited for length and clarity.
California broadband advocates and industry clashed over how the state should treat fixed wireless and other non-fiber technologies in its BEAD plan, as the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) races to finalize a revised proposal by Sept. 4. In reply comments posted Wednesday (docket 23-02-016), commenters disagreed on whether fixed wireless can serve as a viable long-term solution for bridging the digital divide.
Industry groups urged the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to move quickly in its rulemaking to modernize its carrier of last resort (COLR) requirements as the agency considers changing the state's 30-year-old rules (see 2410310044). Some suggested that the requirement be removed entirely in areas that are well-served, while advocacy organizations encouraged the commission to maintain the rules and instead update the framework.
House action on the Senate-cleared version of the HR-1 budget reconciliation package, previously known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, appeared in doubt Wednesday afternoon amid resistance from several GOP lawmakers. Critics of Senate Commerce Committee Republicans’ HR-1 spectrum language held out hope amid the ruckus that lawmakers would make additional bands ineligible for potential reallocation. The Senate narrowly passed its HR-1 language Tuesday (see 2507010070).
Damage to Charter Communications' network June 15 in Van Nuys, California, was domestic terrorism, the company said Tuesday. That determination was based on the nature of the fiber cuts, the extent of the damage and the makeup of the customers affected, it said, noting that the 13 damaged cables resulted in lost connectivity to emergency services, financial institutions, court buildings, health care facilities, a U.S. military base and cell towers. More than 50,000 residential customers and 500 business customers were affected for up to 30 hours, according to Charter. "This is a pervasive and persistent threat to American families and businesses across the country that cannot be tolerated, and such life-threatening events should be declared acts of domestic terrorism and prosecuted accordingly," CEO Chris Winfrey said. The company said it's offering a $25,000 reward for information. NCTA, CTIA, USTelecom and NTCA have urged Congress to consider criminalizing communications network vandalism and theft federally (see 2411190058).
Communications Daily is tracking the lawsuits below involving appeals of FCC actions.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed a bill Friday extending the California Public Utilities Commission's Deaf and Disabled Telecom Program to Dec. 31, 2034. SB-142 also extends the commission's surcharge for the Deaf and Disabled Telecom Program Administrative Committee Fund and authorizes it to make recommendations regarding program funding. The law took effect immediately.
In a 6-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday upheld a Texas law requiring age verification for access to porn sites (see 2506270015 and 2501130012). The majority in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton sided with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) in support of HB-1181, which the adult industry trade association Free Speech Coalition said violates the First Amendment (see 2409170012).
Changes at the FCC: Chairman Brendan Carr names Eduard Bartholme, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, and Jonathan McCormack, Broadband Data Task Force, co-chairs of the Broadband Data Task Force, replacing Jean Kiddoo, retiring; Hillary DeNigro, Media Bureau, tapped as chair of the Incentive Auction Task Force, also replacing Kiddoo; Jill Coogan, Public Safety Bureau, retires; Patricia Goff, Office of Engineering and Technology, retires; Commissioner Olivia Trusty appoints Krista Senell, Office of Engineering and Technology, as her chief of staff/senior counsel; William Holloway, Broadband Data Task Force, and Jessica Kinsey, Enforcement Bureau, as acting legal advisers; and Andi Roane, office of former Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, as acting confidential assistant ... National Emergency Number Association board elects: Lee Ann Magoski, Monterey County (California) Emergency Communications Department (president); Roxanne Van Gundy, Lyon County (Kansas) Emergency Communications Center (first vice president); Cassie Lowery, Rutherford County (Tennessee) Emergency Communications District (second vice president); Melanie Jones, Guilford (North Carolina) Metro 911 (immediate past president); Mark Fletcher, RapidSOS; Leah Hornacek, Aurelian; Stephanie Johnson, Ada County (Idaho) Sheriff’s Office; Holly Barkwell, Barkwell Holland Group; and Karin Marquez, RapidSOS … Nokia Chief Legal Officer Esa Niinimaki will serve as interim chief people officer, replacing Lorna Gibb, leaving to pursue another opportunity; recruitment has begun for Gibbs' successor ... CTIA adds Vijesh Mehta, EZ Texting, to its board.
California lawmakers approved a bill Monday establishing a process for the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to allow companies to request relief from carrier of last resort (COLR) obligations. The move comes as the CPUC conducts a rulemaking on the issue (see 2506170067). The Assembly Committee on Communications and Conveyance voted unanimously, with two nonvoting members present, to pass AB-470. The bill would define "eligible area" as a "well-served" census block of at least three different facilities-based providers. The CPUC would have until Dec. 15, 2026, to adopt a map designating such areas.