The FCC Wireless Bureau on Tuesday approved 12 additional licenses in the 900 MHz broadband segment for PDV Spectrum, all in Texas. The FCC approved an order five years ago reallocating a 6 MHz swath in the band for broadband while maintaining 4 MHz for narrowband operations (see 2005130057).
Sytel, which sells dialer and contact center products, updated FCC Chairman Brendan Carr on its proposal (see 2502100021) that the agency rethink Telephone Consumer Protection Act rules to focus on “dialing outcomes” rather than the dialing method used. Automated dialing can be deployed without harming consumers, said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 02-278.
Verizon representatives urged the FCC to ignore the Coalition for IP Transition's March filing, which raised concerns about Verizon’s proposed acquisition of Frontier. The coalition complained that Verizon and other local exchange carriers “refuse to interconnect on an IP-basis, despite offering IP services to other customers.” The coalition said the transaction “would not yield direct benefits for access customers.”
Consumers’ Research has filed another challenge to the legality of the FCC’s USF contribution factor, this time for Q2 of this year, at the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The group chose what's likely the friendliest circuit for an appeal; the U.S. Supreme Court is currently considering an appeal of a 5th Circuit en banc decision last summer, which found that the USF contribution factor is a "misbegotten tax.” Justices heard oral arguments in that case last week (see 2503260061).
In comments posted Tuesday about competitive bidding procedures for the upcoming AWS-3 auction, CTIA opposed a tribal window that could allow tribes to obtain spectrum to serve some of the least connected communities in the U.S. The tribes pushed back firmly in their filings. Other commenters called for rules that would give smaller providers a better chance to succeed in the auction, which will offer licenses returned to the FCC by affiliates of Dish Network in 2023 and unsold licenses from the initial AWS-3 auction 10 years ago (see 2501230041). Comments were due Monday in docket 25-70 (see 2503110061).
T-Mobile and EQT closed a deal to buy stakes in fiber-to-the-home provider Lumos, the companies said Tuesday. The launch of the joint venture follows the FCC’s approval of the underlying transaction last week (see 2503280023). T-Mobile is investing $950 million for a 50% stake in the joint venture, with plans for an additional $500 million investment in 2027-28. T-Mobile said when the deal was announced last April (see 2404250047) that it hoped it could be finalized in late 2024 or early 2025.
Broadcasters attending the 2025 NAB Show in Las Vegas will be discussing industry competition, rising prospects for ownership deregulation, the potential of the FCC’s “Delete” docket, and their perennial hopes for monetizing ATSC 3.0, broadcasters, brokers and broadcast attorneys told us. The show runs from Saturday until Wednesday, April 9. There are “increasing drumbeats from every direction” pointing to ownership deregulation and the potential for station deals, Tideline Partners media broker Gregory Guy said in an interview. “I fully expect that 2025 will be the most important year this century for broadcast, radio and television.”
Top Senate Commerce Committee Democrats told us they are considering, but aren't yet committed to, scaling back or ceasing cooperation in advancing Republican nominees to federal entities ahead of a likely imminent panel confirmation hearing for GOP FCC nominee Olivia Trusty. Democrats are eyeing the tactic shift in response to President Donald Trump’s disputed March firing of Democratic FTC Commissioners Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter (see 2503190057) and other actions against independent agencies. Any roadblocks Democrats place against GOP picks would be largely symbolic and likely only delay Senate confirmations, given Republicans' 53-47 majority in the upper chamber, observers said.
Robert (Bob) McChesney, 72, academic and public intellectual known for his decades-long warnings about the threat that corporate ownership of media poses to democracy, passed away of brain cancer March 25 at his Madison, Wisconsin, home. Author or co-author of 27 books, including Rich Media, Poor Democracy, McChesney frequently appeared before the FCC. He was co-founder of Free Press, leading the organization as president during its early years and subsequently serving on its board. Survivors include his wife, Inger, and daughters Amy Martin and Lucy McChesney. A celebration of his life is planned for later this year.
Comcast wants to send the New York Yankees' regional sports network "to the Siberia of a tier and overcharge fans for it," while it carries its own SportsNet New York (SNY) in its expanded basic package, the Yankee Entertainment and Sports Network said Monday in a carriage complaint (docket 12-1). YES said Comcast's "my-way-or-the-highway demand" -- coming atop Comcast's previous dropping of MSG Networks -- looks to be part of a plot "designed to elevate the least popular of the three New York area regional sports networks into prime position." YES said Comcast is offering carriage only on its higher-priced, less-penetrated digital basic tier.