ORLANDO -- State regulators’ relationship with the FCC “needs some work,” said NARUC Second Vice President Paul Kjellander in an interview at the association’s annual conference this month. Federal USF contribution modification could raise tension next year if the FCC continues to exclude states from the process, he said. The National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates, holding its annual event concurrently with NARUC, remains concerned about deregulation and consumers losing protection as telecom technology moves to the IP world, NASUCA President Elin Swanson Katz told us.
The numbers show broadcasters aren’t going to be able to complete the repacking on the FCC’s 39-month timeline without adjustment, said tower industry and broadcast industry officials in interviews. The rate at which stations are completing repacking moves, number of tower crews available to move them, and the advancing phase schedule add up to many broadcasters in later phases not completing their repacking on time, they said.
Cisco saw “immaterial” impact in its Q1 ended Oct. 27 from the 10 percent Trade Act Section 301 tariffs that took effect Sept. 24 on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports, because the tariffs kicked in with only a month to go in the quarter, said CEO Chuck Robbins on a Wednesday earnings call. Though Cisco hiked prices on Chinese-sourced goods in Q1 to cover the higher tariff costs, it “saw absolutely no demand change” between the week before and the week after the price increases took effect, he said.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., was “very aware” the Senate Intelligence Committee “has been relentless” in probing Facebook about foreign meddling, ranking member Mark Warner, D-Va., told reporters Thursday. Warner was asked about a report suggesting Schumer, whose daughter works at Facebook, told Warner to tone down the probe, so Facebook could focus on GOP misinformation and other issues.
The FCC revised rules for wireless handset hearing-aid compatibility, replacing annual service provider reporting with certification and enhanced website disclosure duties. Commissioners unanimously approved an order containing some tweaks to a draft, as expected (see 1811090041). Commissioner Mike O'Rielly said more changes should have been made to certification details that appear impractical.
Some of the biggest U.S. municipalities and their associations are opposing an FCC Further NPRM proposing treating cable operators' in-kind contributions required by local franchise authorities (LFAs) as franchise fees that face a congressional limit (see 1811140004). More than 200 filings were posted Wednesday and Thursday in docket 05-311. Counties, cities and organizations, large and small, said the new action is a misreading of the Cable Act and would hurt public, educational and government programming.
Commissioners split on the FCC's role in orbital safety and congestion issues caused by the satellite mega constellation boom and growth of new satellites, but agreed there's a problem. Approving the orbital debris NPRM Thursday, Jessica Rosenworcel and Mike O’Rielly described parts as “timid.” Rosenworcel and Commissioner Brendan Carr staked out different stances on the agency's role and authority on tackling orbital debris. At the meeting, which included a variety of space-related items, members voted 4-0 to update wireless handset hearing-aid compatibility rules (see 1811150033).
Localities and their allies inundated the FCC with filings opposing a Further NPRM proposing treating cable operators' in-kind contributions required by local franchise authorities -- such as public, educational and government channel transmission -- as franchise fees (see 1811070045). Wednesday was the comments deadline. The opposition hadn't swayed the agency's GOP commissioners yet, said a cable lawyer with LFA experience. It's unclear if the additional comments might sway them.
Moving privacy legislation will be “right at the top of necessary and achievable goals” in 2019, Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., expected to chair the Senate Commerce Committee, told us. Whether a split Congress improves prospects for achieving compromise on a privacy bill is unclear, said lawmakers from both chambers this week.
Signing off on U.S. nonfederal devices accepting signals from Europe's Galileo system will bring the FCC in line with where global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers have been for years, experts told us. The FCC "is really playing catch-up" with the draft order on Thursday's agenda (see 1810240030), said Bradford Parkinson, vice chairman of the Space-Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing National Advisory Board. "Industry is way ahead."