Charter, Cox and a number of groups supportive of the MVPDs’ $34.5 billion merger blasted a petition to deny the deal in replies filed in FCC docket 25-233 last week. The petition (see 2511190049) from Public Knowledge, the Communications Workers of America (CWA), the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society and the Center for Accessible Technology used old data and ignored the competitive landscape for MVPDs, said filings from the Free State Foundation, the Competitive Enterprise Institute, the Center for American Rights, the League of Latin American Citizens and others. The petition’s “portrayal of Charter and Cox as dominant Internet access ‘gatekeepers’ simply does not match today’s marketplace realities,” said a joint filing from the companies.
Netflix announced Friday an agreement to buy Warner Bros. for $82.7 billion after the latter company spins off Discovery Global, but the deal could face regulatory hurdles at the FTC or DOJ, and the combination has been criticized by lawmakers of both parties.
Comments are due Jan. 20 on a space modernization NPRM approved by FCC commissioners 3-0 in October (see 2510280024), said a notice for Friday’s Federal Register. Replies are due 30 days later in docket 25-69. To achieve its goals “and to be the nation of choice for space excellence,” the U.S. must “have a modern, efficient space licensing system that enables innovation and exploration,” the notice said.
Telnyx asked the FCC to strike from a draft robocall order any reference to a proposed $4.5 million robocall-related fine against the company (see 2503050026). The order is set for a vote at the Dec. 18 commission meeting (see 2511250078). The FCC should cut language “that falsely asserts or suggests that there has been a final adjudication concerning Telnyx, including that the Commission made any ‘finding’ against Telnyx or that Telnyx is a ‘bad actor,’” said a filing Wednesday in docket 13-97.
Comments are due Jan. 5, replies Feb. 3, on the FCC's caller ID NPRM, approved by commissioners unanimously in October (see 2510280024). The NPRM seeks comment on a number of issues, including whether to require terminating voice service providers to send verified caller name information to the called party when they transmit call authentication information and whether to require that originating voice service providers verify caller identity information, said a notice for Friday's Federal Register. It also seeks comment on requiring providers to use rich call data to transmit verified caller names on IP networks.
NCTA representatives spoke with FCC staff to urge the agency to impose a uniform 180-day handset-unlocking mandate on all carriers, according to a filing posted Thursday in docket 24-186. “In addition to increasing consumer choice and reducing consumer confusion,” an unlocking mandate would “promote affordability” by “reducing the artificial friction imposed on consumers seeking to switch to more competitive providers.”
The FCC moved quickly this week to seek comment on an NPRM about rules for an upper C-band auction, approved by commissioners 3-0 on Nov. 20. The NPRM includes questions on making spectrum available to tribes. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has acknowledged that the agency is under the gun to move forward on what would be the first major spectrum auction since the 3.45 GHz auction, which ended in 2022 (see 2511200046). Comments are due Jan. 5, replies Feb. 3, in docket 25-59, said a notice for Friday's Federal Register.
Salt Lake City-based NexTalk said Thursday that it was approved by the FCC as a provider of IP captioned telephone service. The approval was “a significant milestone in its mission to make communication more accessible for all,” the company said.
An October FCC order that will increase rates for incarcerated people’s communications services (IPCS) on an interim basis takes effect Friday, said a notice for that day's Federal Register. The agency approved the changes 2-1 with a dissent by Commissioner Anna Gomez (see 2510280045). The required compliance date is 120 days after publication.
The FCC will relinquish the third floor of its Washington headquarters and 33 parking spaces to be occupied by the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General, according to an internal email obtained by Communications Daily. An FCC spokesperson confirmed the move Thursday.