The American Cable Association challenged C-Band Alliance math in CBA's plan that as of last week includes launching eight more satellites (see 1812190048). And the association of small and mid-size carriers wants more spectrum cleared for broadband wireless use than the alliance plans. The alliance countered the criticism, and has said its sale could make 200 MHz available. The filings were posted Friday in docket 18-122.
With tough choices looming, FCC officials don't appear to have decided on rules or other actions stemming from a proposal to bar use of USF money to make purchases from companies that “pose a national security threat” to U.S. communications networks or the communications supply chain. Industry officials said supply chain issues are expected to be a focus at CES Jan. 8-11 in Las Vegas.
Early results of the first nationwide test of the wireless emergency alert system show “uneven” reception, the FCC Public Safety Bureau found from the October test of WEA and the emergency alert system (see 1810030051). Friday's public notice had more details for the EAS test, which wasn't a first, than for the WEA one because wireless test reporting isn't required, unlike for EAS. After surveying emergency communications representatives for most states and national industry associations, we found that officials, too, had better success with EAS tests. The report also squared with government predictions.
The federal government appeared Friday evening to be on the verge of a partial shutdown due to disagreement between the Senate and president and a supportive House majority over the inclusion of $5 billion in border wall funding in a continuing resolution to temporarily fund government through Feb. 8. A CR set to expire at midnight Friday covers funding for the FCC, FTC and the departments of Commerce and Homeland Security and others.
This week’s revelations about Facebook’s alleged data abuse (see 1812190039) spurred bipartisan fervor for addressing privacy issues in 2019. Incoming leadership for the Senate Commerce Committee, where the chamber’s privacy debate has centered (see 1812070039), told us to expect data privacy in the spotlight, with additional hearings.
The FCC should revise must-vote rules, limit participation of bureau staff in advisory committees, allow commissioners to offer amendments during open meetings, establish mandatory sunsets for rules and change many other procedures, Commissioner Mike O’Rielly blogged Thursday listing 61 proposed revisions. “It's now time to publicly release these medium, small, and tiny, mostly non-mutually exclusive ideas, and have each produce feedback on its merits or pitfalls,” O’Rielly said in a brief introductory paragraph to his proposed list, which doesn’t offer detailed explanation of proposals. Though he lists a six items as partially implemented. An aide told us there’s no “concrete timeline” for enacting any of them though they have been raised with the office of Chairman Ajit Pai.
Withdrawal of both holds on Senate confirmation of FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr to a full five-year term ends the main hurdle to approval of him and Democratic FCC nominee Geoffrey Starks. But dynamics in the Senate continue to cloud their chances for confirmation this year. Senate leaders have been working since June to advance the nominees as a pair (see 1806270065). Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, lifted his hold on Carr (see 1812200033) in concert with the formal end of a separate hold by Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. President Donald Trump would need to renominate Carr and Starks for the Senate to reconsider them in 2019.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., sent a letter asking the FTC and DOJ to open an investigation into Amazon’s price parity provisions, a controversial practice it ceased in Europe. Blumenthal announced the request Wednesday during a Senate Antitrust Subcommittee hearing, in which he claimed U.S. consumers are paying higher prices for goods via Amazon because of the “invisible” clause preventing merchants from charging lower prices. He called the contractual obligation for third-party sellers a barrier to entry and asked witnesses why Americans don’t deserve the same protections as Europeans. An FTC spokesperson confirmed it received the letter. DOJ didn’t comment.
The FCC should get tough with spectrum holdouts -- licensees standing in the way of repurposing spectrum to a higher use -- the Phoenix Center reported Wednesday. The document mentions the C-band, expected to be a major focus of the FCC next year (see 1812190048), but only in a footnote.
TracFone got support both from industry and public interest groups for the FCC to address "serious shortcomings" in the Lifeline national verifier (see 1812030053) being deployed by Universal Service Administrative Co. FCC and industry officials said it’s not clear whether FCC Chairman Ajit Pai will press for further action, especially since the commission is reining in the program as part of a broader series of changes to the USF (see 1806060031). Without FCC action, mass de-enrollments will start Jan. 2, commented the National Lifeline Association in docket 17-287.