Connecticut should adopt one-touch, make-ready (OTMR) requirements, local governments and the telecom industry commented Thursday at the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA). Union workers and some pole owners advised caution in the agency's ongoing pole-attachment proceeding. The Florida Public Service Commission expects to develop rules soon to reverse preempt FCC jurisdiction over pole attachments. Several other states are also mulling attachment issues.
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg was right to dismiss the FTC’s antitrust case against Facebook (see 2106280057), but he created a road map for the agency to replead its monopoly case against the social network, antitrust attorneys said in interviews.
Congressional Democrats are considering how to attach additional broadband money to a coming budget reconciliation package (see 2108100062) without violating the agreement a bipartisan group of senators struck on spending for what became the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The Senate-passed HR-3684 includes $65 billion for broadband. Republicans and some observers caution attempts to include connectivity money this year beyond what was in the bipartisan infrastructure package could backfire.
Some winning Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction bidders asked the FCC to waive penalties if they decide to withdraw bids for census blocks that faced questions about whether service is already available. Bidders that won the smallest number of census blocks are among those that responded to the FCC accepting the offer so far.
The FCC’s rules for foreign-sponsored content are outside the agency’s authority and violate the Administrative Procedure Act, said a petition for review filed Friday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit by NAB, the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters, and the Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council. Provisions in the rules that require broadcasters to investigate any entity leasing airtime are “overbroad,” said NABOB President James Winston in an interview (see 2104220074). “Broadcasters strongly oppose foreign interference in American elections, but the Commission’s order fails to even address this core objective,” the groups said in a joint news release.
A divided U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit remanded the FCC's 2019 RF safety rules (see 2108130035) to the FCC for further work. The rules largely upheld old rules, while making a few tweaks (see 1912040036). Judges appeared skeptical of the FCC’s defense in January argument in Environmental Health Trust v. FCC (see 2101250051). The wireless industry and RF safety advocates both declared a win. The FCC is “reviewing the decision carefully,” a spokesperson said.
Broadcasters and the recording industry remain at odds over a longstanding legislative debate about the prospect of performance royalty payments for radio airplay. Interviews with NAB and former Rep. Joe Crowley, D-N.Y., chairman of musicFIRST, a group that represents artists’ interests, highlighted the divide.
Verizon’s proposed buy of Tracfone got a major boost Thursday with Public Knowledge, Communications Workers of America and other groups dropping their opposition (see 2108110018). That means most of the groups now say their concerns have been addressed. Verizon filed a letter at the FCC formalizing its commitments. The groups retained the right to object in state proceedings, including before the California Public Utilities Commission. California consumer groups said the federal concessions don't ameliorate their concerns.
As ISPs face a growing number of lawsuits by music labels accusing them of complacency in battling piracy by their subscribers, intellectual property and copyright experts say it's not clear whether broadband internet access service providers have modified their procedures in response or whether such contributory and vicarious copyright infringement suits will continue to be filed and potentially won for years to come.
A sudden transition in New York governors could affect how the state spends federal infrastructure and pandemic rescue dollars tagged for broadband, said state observers after Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) announced his resignation Tuesday, effective in two weeks. With Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) succeeding him, some predicted a change in style from a governor who they said had outsize influence over the New York Public Service Commission.