Spotify “seeks to keep all the benefits of the App Store ecosystem -- including the substantial revenue that they draw from the App Store’s customers -- without making any contributions to that marketplace,” responded Apple Friday about Monday's antitrust complaint to the European Commission (see 1903130064). “They distribute the music you love while making ever-smaller contributions to the artists, musicians and songwriters who create it -- even going so far as to take these creators to court.”
The FCC voted 5-0 to approve a rural call completion order with few changes, as expected (see 1903140051). Democratic commissioners partially concurred, saying stronger actions are needed. The item sets "flexible" service-quality standards that require intermediate providers to take reasonable steps to ensure calls they handle are completed, a release said. "Intermediate providers will now have an obligation to take action and ensure that calls are completed," said Commissioner Brendan Carr at Friday's meeting. The order also eventually sunsets "covered" originating provider recordkeeping duties.
There's still a good chance some House Republicans will support the Save the Internet Act net neutrality bill (HR-1644), said House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle, D-Pa., on an episode of C-SPAN's The Communicators that was set to have been televised over the weekend. HR-1644 and Senate companion S-682, filed earlier this month, would add a new title to the Communications Act that would overturn the FCC order rescinding its 2015 rules, retroactively restoring reclassification of broadband as a Communications Act Title II service (see 1903060077). House Communications Republicans railed against the bill during a legislative hearing last week, leading some lobbyists to predict a party-line vote on the measure at markup later this month (see 1903120078).
The FCC unanimously approved a reimbursement order Friday for low-power TV, TV translator and FM stations. It's little changed from the draft, Media Bureau Chief Michelle Carey said. It was uncontroversial at the meeting, as expected (see 1903130076). Most commissioners cut their pre-vote statements short.
The FCC isn't expected to act at least before summer on revamping its cable leased access proceeding despite eighth-floor lobbying by the cable industry in recent days (see 1903120070). A cable official told us nothing is expected for April’s agenda. An FCC official said May also seems unlikely and the Media Bureau still seems to be gathering information. The agency and NCTA didn’t comment.
The FCC approved 5-0 an order allocating the first bands above 95 GHz for Wi-Fi and other unlicensed use. Commissioners Geoffrey Starks and Jessica Rosenworcel voted for the order but raised questions, as expected (see 1903130057). The "spectrum horizons" order provides unlicensed use of 21.2 GHz of spectrum in four band segments and would permit experimental use on any frequency from 95 GHz to 3 THz.
Comedian John Oliver's critique of the FCC for not doing enough to cut illegal robocalls became the latest partisan commissioner dispute over Telephone Consumer Protection Act enforcement and regulation. After commissioners' Friday meeting, there was a war of words over whether the FCC is doing enough, quickly enough, whether wireless and other telecom service providers can do more, and whether the agency has more authority than it has used under Chairman Ajit Pai. Democrats want more agency and industry action, while Republicans said TCPA enforcement is front and center under Pai, and there may not be authority for the crackdown Oliver sought March 10 on Last Week Tonight.
The push to reauthorize the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act is gaining support on Capitol Hill, including among top members of the Commerce committees. Interest in the policy debate is particularly strong on Senate Commerce, with communications policy-focused members telling us they agree with committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., that it's a must-pass bill (see 1902270018). Members of the House and Senate Judiciary committees, which also have jurisdiction over STELA recertification, also showed interest in interviews.
FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel dissented on a Further NPRM proposing vertical accuracy standards for wireless calls indoors to 911. Commissioner Geoffrey Starks voted yes in part and concurred in part. The questions were expected (see 1903140043). The FNPRM proposes a vertical location accuracy metric, or z-axis, of plus or minus 3 meters for 80 percent of indoor wireless calls to 911.
New York will apply existing pole attachment requirements to wireless providers while the Public Service Commission considers other ways to streamline wireline and wireless deployment in the state, commissioners unanimously decided Thursday. Commissioners voted 4-0 at their livestreamed meeting to partly grant a nearly 3-year-old CTIA petition in docket 16-M-0330 for relief so wireless providers may quickly deploy small cells and distributed antenna systems needed for 5G services (see 1608020029).