Brenda Villanueva, ex-The Utility Reform Network, named deputy division chief, FCC Telecommunications and Analysis Division ... Matthew Pearl announces his departure as National Security Council director-emerging technologies and special adviser (see 2408140044) ... Nexstar Media names Scott Weaver, ex-HSA Strategies, senior vice president, effective Sept. 5, to head broadcaster’s first government affairs office ... AI company Uniphore appoints Ravi Mayuram, ex-Luminary Cloud, chief technology officer ... Tamara Nolan, ex-KPMG, rejoins cybersecurity advisory firm MorganFranklin as lead-Cyber and Operational Resilience Practice.
SpaceX is facing opposition from wireless and satellite entities over its requested waiver that would allow relaxed out-of-band power flux density limits for the company's proposed supplemental coverage from space service, according to docket 23-135 filings Tuesday. In its June waiver request, SpaceX said its proposed PFD limits would protect adjacent band networks from interference while avoiding too-restrictive limits. Separately, Omnispace petitioned the FCC, urging denial of SpaceX's pending request to add the 340-360 kilometer altitude shells as a deployment option for its SCS service (see 2406210006).
Some states emphasize Buy American preference requirements more than others in their broadband equity, access and deployment plans, we found in our analysis of NTIA-approved BEAD volume 2 initial proposals. Whether Buy American provisions in state BEAD plans mean all the fiber optics and other materials used will be solely American-made is unclear. NTIA has signed off on 34 BEAD volume 2 plans so far, including Wyoming's on Thursday (see 2408080054).
Gogo Business Aviation asked the FCC to move forward on a rulemaking proceeding that considers revised rules for the 800 MHz commercial air-ground service to enable more flexible use of the spectrum. In June, the Wireless Bureau sought comment on Gogo’s request for an NPRM. Only APCO filed initial comments, Gogo noted in reply comments posted Wednesday in docket 24-184. APCO urged independent technical analysis of the interference potential of the rule change and a requirement for real-world testing, among its requests. While Gogo “disagrees with APCO’s proposals, each can be addressed and more deeply explored in the context of an NPRM,” the company said. Gogo “is developing a next-generation network to deliver higher capacity, higher quality broadband connectivity to aircraft operating in the United States,” Gogo said: “These network upgrades expand capacity and help Gogo BA more efficiently use its spectrum to meet aircraft operators’ ever-increasing demand for broadband data and new types of broadband services.”
Google has a monopoly over general search services and acted as a monopolist, defending its dominance in violation of U.S. antitrust law, a federal judge ruled Monday (docket 1:20-cv-03010-APM).
States are using several approaches to prevailing wages in their broadband equity, access and deployment (BEAD) state plans, we found in our analysis of BEAD volume 2 initial plans. How a state considers prevailing wages in application reviews could possibly affect providers' participation in BEAD (see 2309080027) and 2403060005). NTIA has signed off on 31 BEAD volume 2s so far.
Consumer advocates and industry officials disagreed Wednesday about the need for addressing junk fees in the broadband and communications marketplace. After noting that increased competition results in consumers getting faster speeds and better service, ACA Connects Chief Regulatory Counsel Brian Hurley said, "In this competitive marketplace, our members and providers have every incentive to avoid bill shock and other negative experiences that could compel their customers to take their business elsewhere." Addressing a Broadband Breakfast webinar, Hurley added there's "no finding that junk fees are prevalent" in the marketplace.
DOJ and the FTC on Thursday will co-host the first public meeting for President Joe Biden’s Strike Force, a multiagency effort to crack down on unfair and illegal pricing. Launched in March, the Strike Force includes the FTC, DOJ and the FCC. The agencies are focused on issues like high internet costs, junk fees and competition issues. FTC Chair Lina Khan and DOJ Antitrust Division Chief Jonathan Kanter are scheduled to speak at the meeting.
Charter Communications' internet subscriber numbers took a hit in Q2 from June's expiration of the affordable connectivity program, the company said Friday. It followed Comcast saying ACP wasn't a big weight yet but is expected to be a notable drag in Q3.
Direct-to-device (D2D) market annual revenue will exceed $17 billion by 2032, according to an ABI Research analysis Thursday (see 2403260063). Apple's iOS 18 and Android 15 will add satellite messaging as a core feature in the coming months, it said. Also driving growth is SpaceX's D2D Starlink network, expected to launch commercial service in the second half of the year, ABI said. These advances will push the combined D2D markets to a compound annual growth rate of 39.8%. The satellite communication market is moving from narrowband emergency services to two-way messaging and data services and “this competition is reducing overall cost to these services while increasing accessibility to more users,” said Andrew Cavalier, ABI senior analyst. Updates to cellular technology will be coupled with increased satellite launch capacity, potentially unlocking a new era of abundance in lower-cost satellite services, ABI said. "We anticipate the seamless access of Starlink and Apple Satellite connectivity on devices will attract new and existing customers to leverage this technology when outside terrestrial coverage,” Cavalier predicted.