A torrent of statements on FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's proposed net neutrality rulemaking notice started even before Pai spoke Wednesday at the Newseum (see 1704260054). Both those for and against the proposal have had years to practice for what's widely expected to be a repeat of the massive fight that led to the FCC approving its last net neutrality rules 3-2 in 2015 under former Chairman Tom Wheeler.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai seems to be pushing hard to begin to revisit net neutrality and broadband classification in the next month or two, parties told us Friday. One industry official said it looks like Pai is shooting to hold a vote on an item at the May 18 commissioners' meeting. The preliminary agenda for that meeting is due Thursday, though sometimes major initiatives are announced a day or two early.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai seems to be pushing hard to begin to revisit net neutrality and broadband classification in the next month or two, parties told us Friday. One industry official said it looks like Pai is shooting to hold a vote on an item at the May 18 commissioners' meeting. The preliminary agenda for that meeting is due Thursday, though sometimes major initiatives are announced a day or two early.
Though the FCC voted 2-1 Thursday to restore the UHF discount and re-examine the rule later this year along with the national broadcast ownership cap, both Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, who dissented from the vote, and Commissioner Mike O’Rielly said in news conferences after the meeting they believe altering the national cap is the province of Congress. “Something of that significance, I would appreciate additional guidance from Congress,” said Clyburn in response to a question from Communications Daily. O’Rielly reaffirmed his view the agency doesn’t have authority to change the cap, and said he's interested to see how the matter “gets litigated out.”
Broadcaster opposition mounted last week to Prometheus Radio Project’s (PRP) request for a stay of upcoming FM translator siting rules (see 1704040046). NAB now seeks to kill it on procedural grounds, said an opposition filing posted by the FCC Friday. And two broadcast lawyers opposed it earlier last week.
The FCC will vote whether to eliminate the UHF discount at commissioners' April 20 meeting, as expected (see 1703070055). They will take up two public media issues -- third-party fundraising, and reversing a rule approved under the previous FCC that would require public media board members to submit personal identification information, said the tentative agenda. Broadcasters anticipated UHF discount’s restoration since Ajit Pai took over the agency, and the item originally was expected in March (see 1703010074). In a blog post, Pai said one reason to restore the discount is that the way the FCC eliminated it is vulnerable to litigation, and he pledged to launch “a comprehensive review” of the national ownership cap “later this year.” The draft text of each item was released Thursday, in keeping with the chairman's transparency plans.
Entercom and CBS Radio filed applications with the FCC for approval of Entercom’s all-stock buy of CBS (see 1702020070), show FCC and SEC filings. As part of deal approval, Entercom agreed to divest stations in seven markets, and the companies are asking the FCC for a six-month waiver of the TV/radio cross-ownership rules to allow CBS CEO Les Moonves and CBS Chief Operating Officer Joseph Ianniello to sit on the Entercom board (see 1703210041), said an SEC filing. The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2017, Entercom said.
Congressional Democrats see no reason to back off in trying to get a more specific answer from FCC Chairman Ajit Pai about President Donald Trump's slamming certain outlets as “the enemy of the people” and a top administration adviser's saying media should "keep its mouth shut," lawmakers told us. Senate Commerce Committee Democrats raised the question during last week’s oversight hearing (see 1703080070), sent a letter to Pai demanding answers by Friday, and want a reconfirmation hearing to quiz Pai further. Observers laud Pai's record on free press, although public interest officials said he needs to speak definitively.
Congressional Democrats see no reason to back off in trying to get a more specific answer from FCC Chairman Ajit Pai about President Donald Trump's slamming certain outlets as “the enemy of the people” and a top administration adviser's saying media should "keep its mouth shut," lawmakers told us. Senate Commerce Committee Democrats raised the question during last week’s oversight hearing (see 1703080070), sent a letter to Pai demanding answers by Friday, and want a reconfirmation hearing to quiz Pai further. Observers laud Pai's record on free press, although public interest officials said he needs to speak definitively.
In early days for the new Ajit Pai chairmanship, Senior Counsel Nick Degani has emerged as a key player behind the scenes, with a hand in most important policy developments, said FCC and industry officials in recent interviews. Meanwhile, Pai is getting mostly high marks for taking a very detailed approach to the job, consistent with how his office operated before he was elevated to the chairmanship in January. Pai is a former associate FCC general counsel, while Pai Chief of Staff Matthew Berry was general counsel.