Aug. 11 nationwide tests of the emergency alert system and wireless emergency alerts are expected to proceed similarly to the last ones but more smoothly, said broadcasters and EAS officials in interviews. Volume problems and transmission issues that caused a drop-off in reception in the 2019 EAS exercise (see 2005120064) have been addressed. The 2021 WEA test requires users to have opted in to get the test message, unlike the 2018 version. The 2020 test was canceled due to COVID-19. “If something fails, we try to go back and see where it’s not working,” said Wyoming Association of Broadcasters President Laura Grott.
Potential recusal of Jonathan Kanter in DOJ’s case against Google could draw Senate Judiciary Committee attention during his confirmation to lead the department's Antitrust Division (see 2107200070). Some experts told us last week there’s a stronger case for Kanter’s recusal than requests for FTC Chair Lina Khan's disqualification from cases involving Amazon and Facebook (see 2107160052). Senators told us they’re reviewing Kanter’s record.
Broadband-focused lawmakers and industry supporters are wary about the trajectory of a bipartisan infrastructure package, amid widespread perceptions that talks are falling apart. A framework that President Joe Biden backed in June allocates $65 billion for broadband (see 2106240070). The House Rules Committee was, meanwhile, considering broadband-focused amendments to an FY 2022 appropriations “minibus” (HR-4502) Monday, before a likely floor vote later this week. The committee was eyeing a proposal to zero out CPB. The underlying HR-4502 includes $388 million for the FCC, almost $390 million for the FTC (see 2106300028), more than $907 million for Department of Agriculture rural broadband programs and $565 million for CPB in FY 2024.
Items adjacent to net neutrality in President Joe Biden's executive order issued earlier this month (see 2107090006) could get packaged together with net neutrality or at least all be on deck for FCC meetings late this year or early 2022, experts and interested parties told us. Some think the agency may try to move some less controversial items, such as broadband “nutrition labeling,” while it still has a 2-2 party split and acting chairwoman. Many think work is underway on net neutrality (see 2107200036).
It's not just congressional Democrats upset about wireless industry lobbying and other efforts to keep a lower lid on customer surcharges for mental-health services related to hotlines, we found. State legislators are also irked, they said in recent interviews. Federal lawmakers continue to be upset, they said.
TV stations increasingly are available via a mushrooming number of streaming options such as aggregators. Discussions between networks and affiliates have been rising as cable subscribers decline, putting retransmission consent dollars in jeopardy, experts said in recent interviews. Networks wanted big increases on what affiliates pay based on the notion affiliates get more retrans revenue, but there's MVPD resistance to rising retrans fees, said broadcast lawyer Jack Goodman.
Increasing maximum potential rates for some telecom services used by the deaf and hard of hearing, as the FCC would propose, is generally backed by stakeholders. They noted in recent interviews that the proposed changes could ultimately increase some per-minute rates. They said that would ensure the service is sustainable for users who can't rely on other services. Commissioners are to vote Aug. 5 on an NPRM (see 2107150066).
As Democratic senators raised concerns on Verizon's buying Tracfone, Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg said Wednesday during a quarterly call the deal remains on track to close late this year. Vestberg said Verizon is returning to near pre-pandemic activity at its stores and on its 5G urban network. The company was the first of the major carriers to report Q2 earnings.
The Senate failed to invoke cloture Wednesday on the shell bill (HR-3684) for a bipartisan infrastructure package under negotiation. Republican members of the group working on the measure believe the legislation will be ready next week with enough GOP support to proceed. A 157-page draft of part of the bipartisan measure’s broadband language gives NTIA responsibility to define low-cost broadband service options for grantees. It would set a minimum speed threshold below what fiber advocates are seeking for projects receiving money from a $40 billion pot slated for NTIA-administered state-level grants. The overall proposal, which President Joe Biden backed last month, allocates $65 billion for broadband (see 2106240070).
The FTC unanimously approved a policy statement Wednesday aimed at bolstering consumers’ rights to self-repair and access to third-party independent repairs by vowing to crack down on manufacturers whose restrictions are deemed to violate antitrust or consumer protection laws. The agency also rescinded a merger-related policy statement on a party-line vote (see 2107190066).