The FCC Wireless Bureau on Wednesday granted five additional licenses in the 900 MHz broadband segment to PDV Spectrum, four in Texas and one in Missouri. The FCC approved an order in 2020 reallocating a 6 MHz swath in the band for broadband, while maintaining 4 MHz for narrowband operations (see 2005130057).
NAB pushed back Tuesday night against claims from Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., that broadcasters are using demands for free concerts to circumvent the FCC’s sponsorship identification rules ban on payola. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said Monday he asked the Enforcement Bureau to “examine” Blackburn’s claims (see 2502040062). NAB is “not aware of any specific complaint against any station or stations along” the lines of what Blackburn is describing, a spokesperson told us. “Those complaints are what trigger enforcement investigations. If anything, the most notable aspect of [Blackburn’s] letter is that it confirms the enduring promotional value of local radio, which listeners value greatly. We look forward to working with the Senator should any concrete issues arise.”
The FCC opened a docket on the news distortion complaint against CBS, and both the FCC and CBS have released the unedited transcript of the 60 Minutes interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris. Editing of the interview is also the subject of a suit that President Donald Trump brought against the network.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr names Jay Schwarz, Space Bureau chief, replacing Julie Kearney; Adam Jackman, formerly House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, director-strategic communications, Office of Media Relations ... GSMA names Marc Murtra, Telefonica, to its board, effective immediately, replacing Jose Maria Alvares-Pallete, who left Telefonica; deputy chair Gopal Vittal, Bharti Airtel Group, becomes acting chair, replacing Alvares-Pallete … Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday promotes Darryl Lawrence, assistant consumer advocate, to interim consumer advocate ... River Advisers promotes Alexis Martin, chief consulting officer, to CEO ... North American numbering plan administrator Somos names Shannon Donohue, Proximus Global, to its advisory board … Cato Networks taps Karl Soderlund, ex-Zscaler, as global channel chief, replacing Frank Rauch, retiring … Waxman Strategies names Sarah Morris, formerly NTIA, as managing director and leader-technology practice, new post … The Computer & Communications Industry Association appoints Karina Perez, ex-Aerospace Industries Association, as director-Space and Spectrum Policy Center, new post; Megan Stokes, formerly ACE-AFSCME, as state director, replacing Khara Boender; and Aneysha Bhat, ex-Small Business Association, as senior manager-federal affairs, new post.
The FCC Wireline Bureau on Tuesday sought comment by Feb. 19 on parts of AT&T's requests last week as it shutters more of its legacy copper network. The bureau created dockets for comments about moving customers off DS1 and DS3 services (docket 25-45) and retiring remote call forwarding services (25-46) and VoIP calling (25-47). AT&T plans to move aggressively in the new Donald Trump administration to cut costs by closing parts of its legacy network (see 2501310046).
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said Monday night that he has asked the Enforcement Bureau to “examine” claims made by Senate Commerce Committee member Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., last week about broadcasters circumventing the commission’s sponsorship identification rules ban on payola. Blackburn wrote Carr that “we have learned” broadcasters are pressuring musical artists to “perform ‘free radio shows’ -- also referred to as ‘listener appreciation shows’ or ‘charitable concert events’” in exchange for airtime. “There is often an implicit suggestion that declining to perform could result in reduced airplay,” Blackburn said. “This forced quid pro quo applies to essentially all artists,” and some “have told me that it is not unusual for them to perform anywhere from 10 to 50 such shows in any given year.” That “practice is exploitative and should not be tolerated,” she said: “Artists should not be extorted into providing free labor in exchange for airplay.” Carr said this “conduct hurts America’s songwriters [and] musicians,” and he plans to “provide an update” on the probe this week.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced more staff appointments to a number of agency offices, including the Space Bureau, in a release Tuesday. Jay Schwarz, who previously served as a wireline adviser to former Chairman Ajit Pai, will become the bureau’s second ever chief, replacing Julie Kearney. The release also included the announcement of former acting NTIA head Adam Candeub becoming general counsel, which Carr posted Monday on X (see 2502030063). Adam Jackman, former director-digital communications for the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, will serve as Carr’s director-strategic communications for the Office of Media Relations. Dana Howell, a former information resource manager in the FCC Office of the Managing Director, will serve as executive assistant in Carr's office, the release said. “Additional staff announcements will follow,” it added.
The Alaska Telecom Association urged the FCC to move with care as it considers how to implement parts of the Alaska Connect Fund (ACF), approved by FCC commissioners in November (see 2411050002). Comments were due Monday on a Further NPRM on mobile and fixed wireless under the fund in docket 23-238.
Senate Commerce Committee Democrats are already signaling that they're unlikely to give new NTIA administrator pick Arielle Roth a free pass through her confirmation process, particularly given their amplified doubts about how the agency-administered, $42.5 billion BEAD program will fare under Howard Lutnick, the commerce secretary nominee (see 2501290047). Several Senate Commerce Democrats are likely to vote against Lutnick at a Wednesday panel meeting, but lobbyists told us he is all but certain to advance to the floor with unified GOP support.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr names Adam Candeub, ex-Michigan State Law School, general counsel ... Julie Kearney steps down as chief, FCC Space Bureau; Kerry Murray becomes acting chief … Sinclair promotes Linda Greenwald and Matthew Diehlmann to directors of programming, replacing Dave Howitt, retiring March 31.