LAS VEGAS -- Broadcasters are optimistic about ownership deregulation and concerned about tariffs, while NAB is looking to broaden the NAB Show’s appeal, according to speeches and interviews at NAB Show 2025, which kicked off Saturday and runs until Wednesday. The show is set to feature almost no FCC presence compared with previous years, as only Commissioner Anna Gomez planned to attend.
The FCC's 2024 foreign-sponsored content rules are potentially "problematic" in how they put most advertising into the category of "leases," U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit Judge Gregory Katsas said at oral argument Monday. NAB is challenging the rules (docket 24-1296) (see 2501220078). During oral argument, the group repeatedly emphasized that there's a difference between leases and ad time. Meanwhile, Judge Karen Henderson seemed skeptical of NAB arguments that the order caught it unaware.
The FCC posted Monday draft items for the commission’s April 28 open meeting (see 2504040070), including rules for the lower 37 GHz band that would require nonfederal users to obtain a nationwide nonexclusive license before registering sites in the band. The decades-old geostationary orbit (GSO)/non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) spectrum-sharing regime in the 10.7-12.7, 17.3-18.6 and 19.7-20.2 GHz bands is “the single most constraining regulatory requirement on NGSO satellite systems currently deploying at breakneck speed,” the FCC said in a notice proposing to revisit those sharing rules.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said on X late Thursday that he met at DOJ headquarters with Gail Slater, the new DOJ Antitrust Division chief, and FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson. “The three of us got together to talk about the work that we are taking across government right now to smash the censorship cartel and restore free speech rights to everyday Americans,” Carr said. “Across government, we’re taking action.”
The Large Public Power Council filed Friday in support of a petition by the Edison Electric Institute asking the FCC to clarify that utilities have “prior express consent” under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act to send “demand response calls and texts” to their customers (see 2503100047). “LPPC agrees with EEI that there is good ground for the Commission to clarify that utility customers have implicitly granted prior consent to communications from utilities eliciting demand response, that these communications are closely related to utility service, and that these communications are in the public interest,” said a filing in docket 02-278.
The FCC Office of Inspector General released its inaugural strategic plan for 2025-29 on Friday, focusing on enhancing FCC oversight and safeguarding communications services from fraud and abuse. The plan emphasizes four priorities: OIG will conduct "impactful oversight" to protect FCC programs; build and maintain relationships with stakeholders to enhance public awareness; strengthen operations to ensure accountability on a timely basis; and enhance workforce capacity and engagement internally. "Our success in fulfilling our critical mission is dependent upon our ability to assess current and future priorities and challenges and marshal our resources and skills to best address them," said Inspector General Fara Damelin. She noted that the plan was based on "critical input from all FCC OIG professionals" and feedback from external stakeholders. "We are committed to engaging in ongoing assessments of our goals and objectives and to identifying and employing effective measures to hold ourselves accountable."
The FCC is no longer seeking an 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals en banc rehearing regarding the court's decision on a 2023 FCC robocall and robotext order, so allowing proposed intervenors to become parties would only keep litigation going that the government has decided to quit pursuing, the FCC told the court Friday in docket 24-10277. In an opposition to a motion to intervene, the FCC said allowing those parties to become intervenors "would undermine the government’s prerogative to direct the course of this case." The agency also argued that the motion to intervene, filed by the National Consumer Law Center and Public Justice (see 2503100070), was untimely. A three-judge 11th Circuit panel ruled earlier this year that the agency overstepped its statutory boundaries in part of its implementation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (see 2501240068).
GCI representatives met with FCC staff to explain the carrier’s request for clarification on the agency’s Alaska Connect Fund (ACF) order (see 2501310053). "Key changes" will make the order "more effective in serving rural Alaska," said a filing posted Friday in docket 23-328. The FCC should “clarify that the goal for all areas cannot reasonably be 5G at 35/3 or 7/1 Mbps” and “reconsider removing support and, instead, target ACF support to areas that need it,” GCI said: “Clarify the standards for being ineligible to participate in the ACF based on Alaska Plan performance. Reconsider and permit GCI to use its Anchorage consumer plans for comparable pricing.” The GCI representatives said they met with staff from the Wireless Bureau and Office of Economics and Analytics.
Comments are due April 21 on AT&T’s application to discontinue legacy voice services in eight wire centers in Oklahoma, said a public notice in Friday’s Daily Digest. The discontinuance application will be deemed granted automatically on May 5 unless the FCC notifies AT&T otherwise.
The FCC Wireline Bureau on Friday sought comment by May 5 on proposed changes to the 2026 annual telecommunications reporting worksheet, FCC Form 499-A, and the accompanying instructions for reporting 2025 revenue. It also sought comment on Form 499-Q, which is for reporting quarterly results. Comments are due in docket 06-122.