The FCC’s 900 MHz order, set for a vote Wednesday, is expected to be approved with the full support of commissioners and few changes, if any, agency and industry officials said. The order would reallocate a 6 MHz swath to broadband while keeping 4 MHz for narrowband. The commissioners’ meeting will be brief, with items approved beforehand and no oral statements, the agency announced Wednesday evening.
Space experts anticipate many of the orbital debris regulatory proposals the FCC moved from April's order to an accompanying Further NPRM (see 2004230040) will be in a future second order. They spoke in interviews this week. Enforcement of the initial order likely wouldn't be until fall, so a draft order before next winter seems unlikely, said Satellite Industry Association Senior Director-Policy Therese Jones.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., is eyeing legislation as a potential way to speed the FCC’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction, among other actions to improve connectivity amid COVID-19. The committee plans a Wednesday hearing to examine the "state of broadband" during the epidemic and related legislative proposals. Other senators also filed broadband-centric bills Thursday.
A voted on yet unreleased order and consent decree resolving investigations into conduct of Sinclair (see 2005060063) doesn’t conclude it was untruthful with the commission and says the TV broadcaster acted in good faith based on the company’s understanding of precedent during negotiations to buy Tribune, industry and FCC officials told us Thursday. The order and consent decree was approved 3-2, with the Democrats opposed, officials said. The decree includes a compliance plan that requires reporting for four years but doesn’t involve spinoffs or other stiffer requirements beyond the $48 million penalty, and prevents further FCC proceedings on the allegations, the officials said.
Federal and state response to the COVID-19 pandemic sped adoption of telehealth technologies, said panelists at a Brookings Institution webinar. Quick support from Congress, the FCC and Department of Health & Human Services allowed patients to access clinical care via broadband, smartphones and telephone during social distancing, speakers said. The FCC announced it granted $11.9 million, totaling $24.9 million to date. This fifth round in the $200 million program includes grants to 26 healthcare providers, five in Texas, five in California, and three in Pennsylvania.
COVID-19 is affecting local small business advertising and sports revenue, but won’t hurt political ads, said Fox, Nexstar and Sinclair on Q1 calls. All predicted big drops for the next quarter, saying their companies have the scale to weather recession. “We’ve seen a surge of viewership in local news and across our sites,” said Sinclair CEO Chris Ripley. Also Wednesday, The FCC announced Sinclair agreed to a $48 million penalty to resolve investigations related to its failed purchase of Tribune, sponsorship identification violations, and good faith negotiation violations (see 2005060063).
Several top Senate Armed Services Committee members appeared to side Wednesday with DOD officials on the department’s concerns with FCC OK of Ligado’s L-band plan. Others voiced skepticism about some Pentagon claims. Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., and others have been exploring legislative options to intervene (see 2004230001). Ligado, which wasn’t represented at the hearing, defended its plan and the approval order.
Sinclair agreed to a $48 million civil penalty as part of settling an FCC probe of the company's since-killed takeover of Tribune Media, the agency announced (see 2005060061) Wednesday. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said the agency isn't revoking Sinclair's licenses after staff investigated various allegations. That fit with expectations as staffers were reviewing lack of candor that potentially occurred during the pendency of Sinclair/Tribune (see 1906270068).
Chief Justice John Roberts said the Telephone Consumer Protection Act is a popular law the Supreme Court doesn’t want to undermine, as it heard argument in a case Wednesday with broad implications for the statute (see 2001130044). Other justices said similar, and experts don't expect the entire regime to be overturned. The court heard the case via teleconference, with justices calling in remotely because of COVID-19. Barr v. American Association of Political Consultants involves an AAPC challenge of a 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling, which declared a 2015 government debt collection exemption unconstitutional and severed the provision from the remainder of the TCPA.
Broadcasters, public safety groups and wireless mic makers raised concerns about proposals to allow TV white spaces (TVWS) devices to operate with higher power in less-congested areas, in comments on an FCC NPRM. Commissioners approved the notice 5-0 in February (see 2002280055). CTA, public interest groups and Microsoft urged the FCC to approve the proposal. Initial comments were due Monday in docket 20-36.