New Street analyst Blair Levin ends affiliation with Brookings and joins the Center for Strategic International Studies’ Strategic Technologies Program as a senior associate (nonresident) … Morgan Lewis promotes Danielle Burt and Patricia Cave to partner in the firm’s telecommunications, media and technology practice … Changes at broadband fiber connectivity provider Clearfield: Anis Khemakhem promoted to chief commercial officer, replacing Allen Griser, who becomes executive adviser until he leaves by year-end; Mike Ward, ex-Charles Industries, joins as vice president of sales for broadband; and Marc Temple, formerly Meritec, becomes vice president of channels and strategic alliances ... Correction: Douglas Kyle retires from the FCC's Public Safety Homeland Security Bureau after 36 years of service (see 2509300059).
Northrop Grumman's Space Logistics subsidiary is seeking FCC approval for telemetry and commanding operations for its MRV-1 robotic spacecraft when it conducts satellite servicing missions in and around geostationary orbit. In an FCC Space Bureau application Tuesday, Space Logistics said MRV-1 is scheduled to launch in the first half of 2026. MRV-1 will attach propulsion augmentation mission-extension pods onto client satellites, lengthening the fuel life of those satellites, the company said.
Petitions to deny SpaceX's acquisition of EchoStar spectrum licenses are due Oct. 30, according to an FCC Wireless Bureau public notice Tuesday (docket 25-302). Oppositions are due Nov. 14, replies Nov. 24. SpaceX is buying EchoStar's AWS-4 and H-block spectrum licenses (see 2509080052). Also due Oct. 30 are petitions to deny AT&T's purchase of EchoStar's 3.45 GHz and 600 MHz licenses (see 2509300046). EchoStar is reportedly talking with Verizon about the sale of its AWS-3 spectrum licenses (see 2509300057).
The Wireline Bureau is pausing deadlines connected with Section 214 discontinuance applications and transfers of control during the federal shutdown, said a public notice Wednesday. Section 214 discontinuance applications generally have a deadline by which they will be automatically granted, but that won't happen during the shutdown, the notice said. Instead, applications with comment deadlines that fall during the shutdown will be due the next business day after the government resumes operations. The notice listed 10 dockets with deadlines that are affected. “These actions are necessary to ensure the orderly processing of these applications and review of any comments that may be filed in opposition to these section 214 filings.”
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announces retirements: from the Wireline Bureau, Terrance Judge (34 years of service), Crystal Ceasar (33) and Alex Johns (29); from the Office of the Managing Director, Tim Dates (26) and Celia Lewis (25); from the Public Safety Bureau, Douglas Kyle (36) and Barbara Kunkel (3); Katura Jackson, Office of the Secretary (34); Mika Savir, Consumer Policy Division (32); Kamala Hart, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (29); Chief Information Officer Arecio Dilone (25); Bill Huber, Office of General Counsel (25); Traci Randolph, Disability Services/TRS Fund (23.5); Stephen Hanson, Spectrum Enforcement Division (23); Keith Morgan, Enforcement Bureau (8) ... Vodafone IoT appoints Dennis Nikles, ex-Deutsche Telekom IoT, as managing director of Vodafone IoT Americas … Mozilla taps Raffi Krikorian, formerly Emerson Collective, as chief technology officer, a newly created position ... Nexstar names Adam VerCammen, ex-Washington Times, as senior vice president of revenue for The Hill, a newly created position.
The FCC unanimously voted last week to change mobile support policies in Alaska enacted by the previous administration “to ensure efficient use of scarce universal service funds,” said an order released Friday. The order grants in part GCI Communications’ petition for reconsideration of the Alaska Connect Fund Order, approves portions of a waiver request from GCI, and makes other changes to the Alaska Connect Fund (ACF). “We are fine-tuning the Alaska Connect Fund to ensure that it is more appropriately tailored to the topography and needs of Alaska,” FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said in a statement.
FCC commissioners on Tuesday approved 3-0 a further NPRM seeking comment on whether correctional facilities should be allowed to jam cell signals, with an eye on curbing contraband phones. Commissioners also approved notices seeking comment on revamped wireless and wireline infrastructure rules and a direct final rule deleting other wireline rules.
The FCC voted unanimously Tuesday to seek comment on relaxing local broadcast-ownership limits, even as protesters at the crowded meeting called FCC Chairman Brendan Carr “the censorship czar” and he continued to deny that his recent comments about Jimmy Kimmel were a threat.
An FCC order expanding the reach of the do-not-originate lists and strengthening call-blocking capabilities is effective Dec. 15, said a Monday notice by the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau. Commissioners approved the order in February (see 2502270058).
Incarcerated people’s communications service (IPCS) provider Pay Tel asked the FCC for a waiver of a rule against charging prisoner families ancillary fees. The ban was adopted as part of the 2024 order (see 2407180039) implementing changes required by Congress in the Martha Wright-Reed Act. In late June, in a surprise move, the Wireline Bureau delayed some deadlines in the order until April 1, 2027 (see 2506300068).