Parties disagreed on the FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act's fallout for an FCC's rulemaking to protect the communications supply chain from national security threats. The Telecommunications Industry Association said NDAA Section 889 requires the commission to bar certain suppliers from participating in its funding programs. Huawei -- one of the targeted suppliers -- and others said the recently enacted provisions give the FCC no mandate to impose supplier restrictions on USF support. NCTA suggested the commission defer action and consult with other agencies. Comments were posted through Monday on a public notice (see 1810260044).
The FCC should hold annual workshops on supplier diversity and create a web portal to make it easier for suppliers and companies to find each other, said the Advisory Committee on Digital Diversity and Empowerment in a unanimous recommendation at its meeting Monday. It heard brief remarks from Chairman Ajit Pai, discussed the prospects of the ACDDE being renewed after its charter expires, and discussed recent confidential meetings its members had with tech companies on diversity.
The Communications Workers of America claimed foul play Monday on T-Mobile and Sprint's comments on their deal made last week at the New York Public Service Commission in docket 18-C-0396. The carriers urged the PSC to clear their deal, citing big benefits to the state. CWA and a state consumer advocate said the companies' initial New York application was deficient. Reviews continue in California and elsewhere.
Though cable distributors are engaging in First Amendment-protected expressive conduct in choosing what networks to carry, Section 1981 of federal law covering racial discrimination doesn't seek to regulate content, but only the way those MVPDs reach editorial decisions, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled. Monday's decisions were in related appeals about alleged racial discrimination by Comcast and Charter Communications in programming choices.
The satellite industry isn't likely to come to consensus on many issues in the FCC orbital debris NPRM, including what kind of oversight authority the agency has, experts told us. Some see the FCC's actions potentially conflicting with the Trump administration's approach. Commissioners divided on oversight issues when approving the NPRM (see 1811150028). The final item was released Monday.
The top Democratic seat on the Senate Commerce Committee is up for grabs after ranking member Bill Nelson, D-Fla., conceded Sunday that he lost his re-election bid against Republican Gov. Rick Scott. Telecom interests identified the race as one of several contests that could potentially upend leadership of the House and Senate Commerce committees (see 1811020048). Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., is considered the frontrunner to become the top Senate Commerce Democrat, though there's uncertainty about the appointment.
FCC drafts on rural telco USF, robocalling, an eagerly awaited quadrennial review of media ownership rules and a communications market report appear among the items under consideration for commissioners' Dec. 12 meeting, we were told Monday. Some of those items were expected, including the QR (see 1811080063). Chairman Ajit Pai said in August he planned to circulate a draft order to ensure rate-of-return high-cost USF support is adequate and efficient (see 1807310034). FCC officials and others said a draft order is likely or could be on the tentative agenda Pai is expected to announce Tuesday.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen repeatedly cited the need for “relentless resilience” Friday, lauding launch of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. President Donald Trump signed legislation Friday restructuring the National Protection and Programs Directorate into CISA, a new DHS agency.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai touted his "Fast Plan" to spur 5G. "We're aiming to free up more spectrum over the next 15 months than is currently held" by every mobile provider combined, he noted Friday in a Federalist Society speech largely tracking written remarks. He said low earth orbit satellite constellations, like those approved Thursday (see 1811150028), could be a "game changer" for broadband-hungry areas.
A nearly two-hour Thursday meeting between FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, on USF Rural Health Care Program issues (see 1811150044) concluded with Sullivan's related hold remaining on Senate reconfirmation of Commissioner Brendan Carr to a full five-year term. The hold will continue at least through Congress' weeklong Thanksgiving recess. Sullivan acted in September (see 1809120056).