Chairman Ajit Pai will likely seek a vote at the July 10 FCC meeting on an order approving T-Mobile’s buy of Sprint, industry and agency officials said. Pai likely will first ask commissioners to vote electronically and then put the order on the agenda if he needs to force a vote, officials said. Other agency officials said they have heard nothing definitive on timing. Pai said Thursday (see 1906060056) he will circulate an order on the deal “in the coming weeks.” Friday, the agency declined comment.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is open to launching an investigation into tech industry competition, mirroring the House Judiciary Committee’s probe announced this week, Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told us Tuesday. Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and John Kennedy, R-La., told reporters they would welcome parallel efforts in the Senate. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., argued such matters are best handled by DOJ and the FTC.
The argument that changing technology has left FCC leased access rules at odds with the First Amendment rights of cable operators is seemingly a step toward axing those and other content carriage requirements, said the public, educational and government channel community and Democratic commissioners Thursday. Commissioners adopted the leased access item on their meeting agenda.
Regulators approved a declaratory ruling Thursday allowing carriers to block unwanted robocalls by default. Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Mike O’Rielly, who had signaled concerns (see 1906030008 and 1905310061), partially dissented. A Further NPRM asks about additional steps and was strengthened last week to add a proposal that the FCC mandate secure handling of asserted information using tokens and secure telephone identity revisited technology if major voice providers don’t comply with demands Shaken Stir be implemented by year-end.
Expect patent "reform" legislation by July, Senate Intellectual Property Subcommittee Chairman Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and ranking member Chris Coons, D-Del., told us Wednesday (see 1906040054). The subcommittee hosted its second hearing on the item Wednesday. The third and final hearing is Tuesday.
New York senators will soon study a net neutrality bill passed Tuesday by the Assembly, a Senate Majority spokesperson said Wednesday. The Assembly voted 109-37 Tuesday to pass A-2432 by Assemblymember Patricia Fahy (D). Alternative measures are pending in the Senate, but Fahy told us she hopes to corral support for her bill to limit state and local government contracts to ISPs that follow open-internet rules. Passing net neutrality in New York would be significant given its size and influence, said Northwestern University law professor James Speta Wednesday.
Regardless of the ultimate direction of the C-band clearing proceeding, it could be a precedent for how the FCC repurposes other contested spectrum bands such as the 5.9 GHz band, said C-Band Alliance (CBA) Head-Advocacy and Government Affairs Peter Pitsch Wednesday on a Technology Police Institute panel. CBA and T-Mobile butted heads over their rival plans, with little common ground beyond the need for 5G access to the 3.7-4.2 GHz band.
Ligado supporters see the 40 MHz of lower mid-band spectrum it wants to offer as the fastest path available for getting more mid-band spectrum in play for 5G. The company needs FCC help: an order modifying its license allowing it to deploy terrestrial equipment and services on what are now L-band frequencies. Time could be running out, industry officials said. The satellite firm exited bankruptcy in December 2015 and will soon need to start another round of financing to remain viable. It hopes for FCC action this summer.
The direction of Capitol Hill's debate on Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act reauthorization remains uncertain after two hearings this week, said members of the Senate Commerce Committee and House Communications Subcommittee in interviews. Few Senate Commerce members revealed clear positions on renewal during a Wednesday hearing. Questions showed divisions in both parties. House Communications members registered a range of opinions during a Tuesday STELA panel (see 1906040057).
Congress needs to amend patent law, which is outdated, overcomplicated and causing the U.S. to fall behind competitors in China and Europe, experts told the Senate Intellectual Property Subcommittee Tuesday.