Officials in President Donald Trump's administration and the FCC spoke optimistically about the U.S. path forward on rural broadband and spectrum policy during a Monday NTCA event, citing 2018 successes and actions slated for this year. The FCC's plans to follow up the USF Connect America Fund with a new $20.4 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (see 1904120065) received some attention at the event, but more focus was on upcoming spectrum auctions and ways to increase rural broadband deployments.
Disney shares closed 12 percent higher at $130.06 Friday following its Thursday investor day event outlining plans for its direct-to-consumer (DTC) businesses, including the $69 annual Disney Plus over-the-top video service scheduled for U.S. launch Nov. 12. Disney expects Disney Plus to be profitable by FY 2024 on a 60 million-90 million subscriber count, said Chief Financial Officer Christine McCarthy. Analysts were generally upbeat Friday.
Commissioners approved 5-0 an NPRM that seeks to update FCC rule for over-the-air reception devices with an eye on spurring 5G deployment. The NPRM OK'd at Friday's commissioners' meeting hasn’t been controversial (see 1904110060).
It’s possible for the FTC to conduct multiple Section 6(b) studies at once, a spokesperson said Friday, noting it’s been done in the past.
Controversy over whether FCC advisory committees are stacked in favor of industry flared anew Friday. Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks hope for a Consumer Advisory Committee that's representative of consumers and diversity. They're concerned that's not the case with the CAC roster disclosed earlier last week (see personals section, April 11 and 1904100070), they told reporters after the commissioners' meeting. Commissioner Mike O'Rielly wants similar, saying that could include groups concerned about taxpayer spending, too.
The FCC approved a process for sharing in the upper 37 GHz band, despite complaints from Commissioners Mike O’Rielly, Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks (see 1904100071). The two Democrats partially dissented. Chairman Ajit Pai, meanwhile, announced that the 37, 39 and 47 GHz auction will start Dec. 10 -- the FCC's third high-band auction. Commissioners approved a public notice on rules for the auction amid complaints by Rosenworcel and O’Rielly. Agency members also approved telecom and cable items.
The White House's Friday push to highlight FCC actions to improve 5G deployments and rural broadband connectivity was more notable for giving President Donald Trump an opportunity to go on record as opposing 5G nationalization, industry officials and lobbyists told us. Concerns about the Trump administration's direction on 5G policy have continued for more than a year, including on Capitol Hill (see 1903050069).
The main message from senators working on privacy legislation is that “we need to do something,” European Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova told the Brookings Institution. She told reporters afterward she met with Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss.; Mike Crapo, R-Idaho; Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.; and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn. Jourova was also scheduled to meet with FTC Chairman Joe Simons Thursday.
Senate Communications Subcommittee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., said he's aiming for the chamber to pass the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act (S-151) by unanimous consent (UC) once Congress returns at the end of April from its two-week recess. Thune and other subcommittee members boosted the bill during Thursday's hearing on illegal robocalls. S-151 would increase FCC authority to act against robocalls violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. It would increase coordination between federal agencies and state attorneys general in a bid to increase criminal prosecution of illegal robocallers (see 1901170039). Other anti-robocall legislation is also coming, lawmakers said.
An NPRM set for a vote Friday on revised rules for over-the-air reception devices (OTARD) is expected to pass 5-0, industry and FCC officials said. Wireless carrier officials said the rule change is of most interest to and would most help wireless ISPs. The Wireless ISP Association initially sought the rulemaking.