U.S. Court of Appeals for District of Columbia Circuit judges questioned a settlement in principle (in Pacer) that Aureon and AT&T agreed to for a tariff dispute, during oral argument (see 2103190067). Whether a settlement had been reached or if the court had standing to hear the case were issues Friday.
Congressional aides and FCC officials emphasized appetite for bipartisan telecom cooperation, at a Friday FCBA event. Aides to the House and Senate Commerce committees noted lawmakers' work to reach a compromise on infrastructure spending including broadband. FCC members’ chiefs of staff said commissioners learned to work together amid the 2-2 split.
Staying 4.9 GHz band rules as proposed by acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel isn't a slam dunk. Rosenworcel appears close to lining up a third vote to support the stay, FCC and public safety officials said in interviews last week. The order made broad changes, giving control to states. Few of them have engaged. A Louisiana bill to reallocate the band per the FCC order got unanimous House approval last month and could pass the Senate Monday.
The Senate intends to take up the Endless Frontier Act next week in a package of legislation, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on the floor Thursday. He’s hopeful for a Senate vote this month.
Satellite regulatory experts said SpaceX's license modification approved last month (see 2104270027) could point to how the FCC is thinking about collision risk in its orbital debris proceeding. An official said it’s not clear when acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel might act on that docket, or if she will wait until there’s a full roster of commissioners. The official said the rules update item doesn’t seem very controversial since SpaceX and Kuiper, which would be the biggest mega constellations, haven’t lodged big objections.
The regulatory patchwork of federal agencies covering emerging space operators got a mixed report card during an FCBA panel discussion Wednesday. Many applauded recent changes while saying the slow pace of licensing approvals is a challenge, and innovations often don't fit into the regulatory status quo. “It's not exactly enabling companies to move fast,” said Spire regulatory lawyer Michelle McClure.
Some inmate calling services providers and advocates back FCC-proposed interim rate caps for interstate and international ICS calls (see 2104280084), said those who spoke with us recently. Some said the commission didn’t go far enough and needs to clarify how site commission payments factor into the new rates. Don't look for big changes between the proposal released April 29 and what commissioners vote for at their May 20 meeting, one official said.
The Senate Commerce Committee advanced Lina Khan’s FTC nomination to the Senate floor, with four Republicans opposed (see 2105070062). The committee also approved the Endless Frontier Act (S-1260) 24-4 during Wednesday’s markup.
Scott Harris of Harris Wiltshire appears to be the front-runner for NTIA administrator, communications sector officials and lobbyists told us. The Biden administration may announce its NTIA pick as soon as next week. The Senate Commerce Committee voted down 14-14 Wednesday a bid by ranking member Roger Wicker, R-Miss., to attach his Improving Spectrum Coordination Act (S-1472) to the Endless Frontier Act (S-1260) amid Democrats' belief a permanent administrator needs to be in place before lawmakers consider major changes to spectrum policymaking. Senate Commerce advanced an amended version of S-1260 24-4 (see 2105120063).
Nebraska's Public Service Commission voted 4-1 to expand the state USF’s connections-based method for residential services to now include business and government lines. At another Tuesday meeting, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission delayed shifting to a per-line monthly surcharge from a revenue-based mechanism.