The FCC is poised to send a message on China at the commissioners’ May 9 meeting, rejecting China Mobile’s application to provide telecommunications services in the U.S. A draft order circulated by Chairman Ajit Pai says granting China Mobile a Section 214 authorization wouldn’t be in the public interest due to national security and law enforcement risks that can’t be addressed through a mitigation agreement, a senior FCC official said Wednesday. Unlike some meetings under Pai, there isn't a broader meeting-wide theme. The FCC also will consider a previously promised FM translator interference item, revised video relay service (VRS) rules, a proposal for the 1675-1680 MHz band sought by Ligado and satellite and a toll-free number auction items.
Groups representing the deaf and hard of hearing raised concerns about FCC proposals they say could mean some who need the IP captioned telephone service (IP-CTS) will have a harder time enrolling. The FCC proposed in a Feb. 14 Further NPRM to require providers to add user account identifiers to call records submitted for compensation, and allow users to receive service for up to two weeks while their identities are verified (see 1902140032). Comments were posted Tuesday in docket 03-123.
Only two Democrats took the opportunity to question Facebook and Twitter at a recent hearing on Silicon Valley’s alleged anti-conservative political bias (see 1904100072). Senate Constitution Subcommittee ranking member Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, told us her colleagues weren’t necessarily sending a message they rejected the premise by not attending, though she considers the issue a “sham.”
Proposed California pilot programs meant to expand service for low-income households drew concerns from industry and consumer groups, in comments this week at the California Public Utilities Commission. The CPUC scheduled votes April 25 in its consent agenda on proposed decisions (PD) to establish a $5 million California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) line extensions program pilot and to authorize state LifeLine pilot programs by Boost Mobile and iFoster (see 1903270011 and 1903260051). The agency plans to vote the same day on proposed changes to the California Teleconnect Fund for schools and libraries that also got opposition (see 1904120037 and 1904110032).
The White House won't “provide the Committee with protected communications between [President Donald Trump] and his most senior advisors” related to the House Judiciary Committee's questions about whether the president pressured two now-former administration officials to ensure the DOJ filed a now-ended lawsuit to block AT&T's buy of Time Warner, Counsel Pat Cipollone wrote committee Democratic leaders. House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., and Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman David Cicilline, D-R.I., pressed the Trump administration in March for the documents amid reports that Trump in 2017 ordered then-National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn and then-White House Chief of Staff John Kelly to pressure DOJ into mounting the legal challenge to AT&T/TW (see 1903080044). DOJ said in February it wouldn't further appeal its challenge of the deal after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled against it (see 1902260040).
Questions continue about a $20.4 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) proposed in a Friday speech at the White House by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai (see 1904120065) and whether it will have much effect on closing the digital divide. Pai said the program would connect up to 4 million rural homes and small businesses to high-speed internet. Critics said the FCC appears to be rebranding the Connect America Fund, without any new proposed spending. Some hope the FCC won’t dig into funding for Lifeline and other USF programs.
EPA is targeting August for releasing the final version of the first Energy Star specification on smart home energy management systems (SHEMS), said the agency in a Friday stakeholder meeting webcast from CTA's Arlington, Virginia, headquarters. The Draft 1 comment period closes May 3, with Draft 2 scheduled for June, followed by a four-week comment period and the final draft in July. The specification, method and data template will be developed together, it said.
Colorado could follow multiple other states this year in empowering electric cooperatives to provide broadband in rural areas. But electric co-ops didn't support SB-107, as amended, at the Colorado Senate Business, Labor and Technology Committee's Monday hearing on the bill by Sen. Kerry Donovan (D). Colorado cable companies applauded the amended bill, while CenturyLink hasn't made up its mind but raised a concern about equal treatment for pole attachments. Local government representatives told us the policy could advance rural broadband though they're not taking a formal position on SB-107.
Since ATSC 3.0 won't be backward-compatible with 1.0, a big broadcast industry challenge is showing a clear transition plan to get TV manufacturers interested in turning out 3.0 TV sets, Sasha Javid, Spectrum Co. chief operating officer, said at an FCBA event Monday. That was a big motivator of the NAB Show announcement that 3.0 services will roll out to the top 40 U.S. TV markets by the end of 2020 (see 1904080071), he said.
The FCC’s final version of its order addressing 5G spectrum in the 37 GHz band includes numerous significant changes over the draft proposed by Chairman Ajit Pai, based on a side-by-side comparison. The final version, posted Monday, adds new paragraphs dealing mostly with industry concerns that DOD could ask for additional protection in the band beyond those areas already protected, following an auction later this year.