Some local supporters don’t speak for most governments on the FCC’s latest infrastructure proposal, said their representatives in interviews last week. Many local officials have no time in a pandemic to consider a draft declaratory ruling on circulation clarifying industry can swap out antennas and other infrastructure on towers without delay under the 2012 Spectrum Act (see 2005190058), they said. Cheyenne Mayor Marian Orr supports the commission acting quickly because COVID-19 shows connectivity is critical, the Wyoming Republican said.
Since it began holding commissioners’ gatherings via teleconference March 31, the FCC reduced news briefings it holds after monthly meetings. Eighth-floor officials suggested logistical and technical concerns could be factors. Republican commissioners have held all of the few post-meeting media briefings, while Democratic commissioners and bureaus held none. Chairman Ajit Pai held one.
House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., and Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., filed the Rural Broadband Acceleration Act (HR-7022) Thursday in a bid to speed disbursing funds from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction before its start date. The FCC plans to begin the first phase of the 10-year, $20.4 billion RDOF Oct. 29. Some stakeholders want RDOF Phase I to be delayed, but no change is likely (see 2004280055).
Industry, USF recipients and consumer advocates are exploring new ways to fund USF. Talks began last year and remain in early stages, participants said in interviews. Parties fear the contribution factor, which reached a record high of 25% last fall (see 1909130003), isn't sustainable. Some want to present a unified funding proposal to Congress or the FCC. Most want the matter addressed next year.
Ligado’s L-band license modification OK should have gone through a spectrum reallocation notice-and-comment process, with the final decision coming in an open commission meeting, some said in the petitions for reconsideration this week in docket 11-109. Others said any problems the FCC had with analyses raising red flags about possible interference should have been brought up before the perfunctory dismissal of them. The commission hasn't resolved concerns about GPS interference.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday that would remove liability protections for online platforms that censure or edit content (see 2005270016). There would be a role for antitrust agencies and the FCC, whose commissioners reacted along party lines to the EO. “We’re here today to defend free speech from one of the greatest dangers,” Trump said, claiming tech monopolies have “unchecked power” to censor and restrict human interaction.
The long-awaited launch of AT&T’s HBO Max subscription VOD service drew some early frustration on Twitter Wednesday from apparent cord cutters upset that the $14.99 monthly offering isn’t available on popular streaming platforms. WarnerMedia is offering the subscription directly and through many MVPDs and vMVPDs, not over Amazon Fire TV or Roku. Early Wednesday afternoon Comcast emailed that it reached an agreement to give Xfinity X1 and Flex customers access to HBO Max at no extra cost “via the HBO Max app and website while the companies work to quickly bring the HBO Max app” to the X1 platform and 4K Flex streaming device included with Xfinity Internet.
Congress should require radio stations pay artists for broadcasting their music, SoundExchange and music performance rights holders told the Senate Intellectual Property Subcommittee Wednesday. Such a drastic change would upend the free radio broadcast model, said NAB and National Religious Broadcasters.
Non-geostationary orbit constellation operators put proposals for more than 80,000 satellites before the FCC International Bureau, in NGSO fixed satellite service processing round applications submitted Tuesday (see 2003240059). It was driven by OneWeb, Kuiper and New Spectrum Satellite applications outside past rounds. The vast bulk of the proposed additional satellite traffic came from SpaceX and OneWeb. Numerous applications noted satellite's role in closing the digital divide.
Legislatures took up broadband bills in California and other states this week. Bills address grants or change state policies including for electric cooperatives. “The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the acute need to expand broadband access across the country,” and “some states have recognized -- and are responding to -- that need in their legislative responses to the public health crisis,” said Anna Read, Pew Charitable Trusts broadband researcher.