FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez and top Democrats on the House and Senate Communications subcommittees raised concerns Wednesday night and Thursday about a draft executive order that would direct NTIA to potentially curtail non-deployment BEAD funding for states that the Trump administration determines have AI laws that are overly burdensome (see 2511190069). Gomez questioned the legality of a provision in the draft order directing the FCC to consider adopting a national standard for AI models that preempts state laws.
Charter Communications' proposed acquisition of Cox Communications would mean more gatekeeper power over internet distribution, less competition, higher prices and unequal treatment of underserved communities, according to a petition to deny filed Tuesday (docket 25-233) with the FCC. Petitioners Public Knowledge, the Communications Workers of America, the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society and the Center for Accessible Technology laid out an array of criticisms of the deal, including over plans to cut Cox employees and their prediction of price hikes on consumers enabled by market concentration.
Small wireless interests are pushing back on plans by AST SpaceMobile, AT&T and Verizon to offer supplemental coverage from space service that doesn't reach the entire continental U.S. The requested CONUS coverage waivers could create interference risks for rural carriers and exclude them from SCS participation, the Competitive Carriers Association argued in its opposition to AST and the carriers' joint application. The group's filing, posted Wednesday (docket 25-201), said waiving the requirement that service cover all CONUS would force primary licensees to prove that it's causing them interference, instead of requiring the applicants to show how they will protect the primary service licensees.
Four major public safety groups on Wednesday opposed a NextNav proposal for the FCC to reconfigure the 902-928 MHz band to enable a “terrestrial complement” to GPS for positioning, navigation and timing (PNT).
The FCC Wireless Bureau on Wednesday extended the comment deadlines on the Alaska Connect Fund eligible-areas map and performance plan template. Comments were previously due Oct. 31, replies Nov. 14. The new deadlines are Dec. 4 for initial comments, Dec. 19 for replies, in docket 23-328.
CTIA told the FCC this week that the results of its recently released annual survey (see 2509080020) demonstrate that wireless voice and broadband service are “broadly available across the U.S.” The survey “aligns with the data” in the FCC’s national broadband map, said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 25-223. “The rigorous Broadband Data Collection reporting parameters and review processes for wireless availability data have improved the accuracy, precision, and consistency of the FCC’s wireless maps, and they are accurate and reliable for policymaking purposes.”
The Competitive Carriers Association, which represents wireless carriers, supported an FCC proposal to speed up copper retirements in comments posted Wednesday in docket 25-208. But, the group warned, that step will have only limited success unless the FCC also addresses the IP transition. “Without addressing how voice traffic is exchanged between networks, the transition to IP will remain incomplete and the public safety benefits of network upgrades will be unrealized.”
The White House took a swipe at ABC again Wednesday, just a day after President Donald Trump called for the FCC to revoke the network’s broadcast license during a press conference with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Trump responded to a question Tuesday from ABC News White House correspondent Mary Bruce by saying Carr “should look at” taking away the network’s license “because your news is so fake and so wrong” (see 2511180045).
Communications Daily is tracking the lawsuits below involving appeals of FCC actions.
The FCC continues to hear both opposition to and support for proposals in its notice of inquiry about changes to wireline infrastructure rules. Comments on the NOI, which commissioners approved 3-0 in September (see 2509300063), were posted Wednesday in docket 25-253. State and local government groups largely opposed changes that could take power away from their members (see 2511180033).