The FCC Space Bureau has signed off on SpaceX's first-generation Starlinks using parts of the 137-138 MHz unlink and 148-150.05 MHz downlink bands during launch, in early operations and in mobile satellite service, said a notice in Friday's Daily Digest. It said no more than 150 of SpaceX's Starlinks or Swarm satellites can operate in the bands simultaneously.
Some of the launch spectrum streamlining that Congress seeks can be achieved by consolidating in one place post-license site and station registration, per-launch coordination, and final launch registration, said SpaceX, Blue Origin and Firefly Aerospace. In a docket 13-115 filing Friday, the launch providers said information today is scattered across the universal licensing system and the frequency coordination system. Consolidating coordination data "would provide a one-stop-shop for launch coordination." They also urged a five- to 10-day window before launch for launch service providers to be required to submit per-launch coordination details, rather than a longer requirement of submitting 60 or even 30 days before launch. They said the shorter window would align with current coordination practices among launch service providers.
YouTube CEO Neal Mohan on Friday denied allegations that the video platform discriminates against Christian programmer Great American Media on its YouTube TV streaming service. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said earlier this month that the agency had received complaints from GAM and wanted YouTube to brief it on the YouTube TV carriage negotiation process, "including the potential role of viewpoint-based discrimination" (see 2503070052). "We don't discriminate on the basis of that sort of content," Mohan said during a Semafor podcast (see at the 31-minute mark). He said YouTube was "in productive conversations" with GAM. YouTube makes carriage decisions "the way you would imagine" -- based on business considerations and audience demand, he said, adding that the company will explain that "in detail" to the FCC. He said GAM has a YouTube channel, and the YouTube app has "orders of magnitude" greater reach than YouTube TV.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said he won’t scrap the news distortion proceeding against CBS despite a collection of conservative groups urging him to do so (see 2503200047). “With respect to their request that the FCC immediately dismiss the complaint against CBS, my answer is simple: no,” Carr said in a statement. “The FCC’s review of the complaint against CBS remains active and ongoing.” The Center for American Rights, which filed the complaint, also responded Friday to the conservative groups’ filing. "Conservatives have complained about media bias for decades, and today it's worse than ever before,” said CAR President Daniel Suhr in an email. “Rather than just grouse about it, we are committed to doing something about it: to protect consumers from broadcast stations that will slant and distort the news in violation of their legal obligations."
Any 988 text georouting requirement of the FCC should be a generalized obligation that lets the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline administrator still work with industry to develop a solution compatible with the existing lifeline architecture, Mosaicx said. In a docket 18-336 filing Friday recapping meetings with aides to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and Commissioners Anna Gomez and Nathan Simington, Mosaicx said any generalized text georouting obligation also should keep the 988 lifeline's centralized routing structure. Mosaicx, which is building a text-to-988 georouting offering, said the agency should focus on supporting such purpose-built georouting solutions that achieve those objectives.
A February FCC order expanding the reach of the do-not-originate lists and strengthening call-blocking capabilities will take effect March 24, 2026, said a notice for Monday’s Federal Register. Commissioners approved the order 4-0 (see 2502270058).
Opponents of T-Mobile’s proposed buy of wireless assets from UScellular met with FCC staff to explain their concerns. The groups at the meeting were the Rural Wireless Association, EchoStar, Communications Workers of America, Public Knowledge, New America’s Open Technology Institute, the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society and the Computer & Communications Industry Association. They met with staff from the Wireless Bureau and the offices of Economics and Analytics and General Counsel, according to a filing posted Friday in docket 24-286.
T-Mobile subsidiary Nextel West said it plans to transition 13 2.5 GHz licenses it bought from Central Texas Communications (CTC), which were still being used for video operations, to the wireless broadband use allowed by the FCC starting in 2004. “Transition to the new band plan will allow for deployment of innovative and efficient communications technologies and services in the 2.5 GHz band,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 06-136. Before consummating the assignment, “CTC will discontinue the video operations that used the old channels under the terms” of an “opt-out waiver,” the filing said: “CTC was the only licensee in the area still licensed on the ‘old’ band plan.”
The FCC was successful in clearing part of the C band for 5G by incentivizing satellite operators to clear out, and it should use that framework for clearing 3.98-4.2 GHz, Intelsat told FCC Chairman Brendan Carr's office, according to a docket 25-59 filing Friday. Intelsat said it supported again using accelerated relocation payments and reimbursement for reasonable transition costs.
The FCC Public Safety Bureau sought comment Friday on a proposal by Ipswich, Massachusetts, to use frequency 154.6725 MHz, which is primarily for state police use, for public safety communications. Ipswich seeks a waiver to use the frequency “since it contends it is necessary due to unique and unusual circumstances and lack of reasonable alternatives,” the bureau said. The Massachusetts State Police supports Ipswich’s request, the bureau said. Comments are due April 21, replies May 6, and should reference File No. 0011397610.