ATLANTA -- Spectrum experts at SCTE's 2024 TechExpo event Tuesday were upbeat about increased spectrum sharing but said that replicating the citizens broadband radio service (CBRS) sharing model in other bands will require better technology first. Some said that the U.S. needs a wholesale rethinking of its spectrum management approach. Also at TechExpo, CableLabs CEO Phil McKinney said the cable industry could face a labor crunch in coming years (see 2409240004).
The FCC lacks legal authority to impose handset unlocking rules on carriers and hasn’t done the economic work needed to justify a proposed 60-day unlocking mandate, the Phoenix Center said in reply comments about an NPRM commissioners approved 5-0 in July (see 2407180037). Republican attorneys general from five states said a mandate would be “a significant federal agency overreach.”
The FCC Consumer Advisory Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt recommendations on using AI to protect vulnerable populations from unwanted and illegal calls. CTIA abstained from the vote, held during CAC's final meeting of its current chapter (see 2408130057). The recommendations included nine from Working Group 1, which focused on technical issues. Working Group 2, which focused on outreach and consumer education, offered seven recommendations.
Former FCC Wireline Deputy Bureau Chief Adam Copeland joins Wilkinson Barker as partner … Mediacom Communications promotes Glenn Goldsmith to senior vice president-programming; Joe Appio, Kristi Salmon and Danny Williams to group vice presidents for, respectively, programming/distribution, acquisition marketing and IT-business solutions; and Camille Stevens to vice president-accounts payable … TextUs messaging platform hires Andrew Davis, ex-Fishbowl Inventory, as vice president-marketing.
OMB approved for three years information collection associated with an FCC order modifying the agency's rural healthcare program rules, the FCC said in a notice for Tuesday's Federal Register. Commissioners approved the associated order in December that gives certain healthcare providers the ability to request funding prior to their conditional approval and simplify urban rate calculations (see 2312130019).
Top executives at Anterix spoke with aides to FCC Commissioner Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel on the broad support they see for a proposed rulemaking authorizing 5/5 MHz broadband deployments in the 900 MHz band (see 2405210041). In 2020, the FCC authorized 3/3 MHz broadband in the spectrum (see 2005130057). “The FCC decision to create a 900 MHz broadband segment has already enabled utilities across the nation, including rural areas, to design, deploy, and operate private broadband networks tailored to their highly demanding specifications,” said a filing posted Monday in docket 24-99. “These networks are supported by an ecosystem of more than a hundred equipment vendors and other suppliers, an ecosystem launched in response to the FCC’s action and essential for addressing the nation’s need for a reliable, efficient, secure electric grid," Anterix said.
CTIA filed at the FCC results of its recent annual survey, which showed rapid wireless industry growth. “In 2023, wireless data traffic reached an extraordinary 100.1 trillion megabytes, marking the biggest year-over-year increase in history and nearly double the data used just a few years ago,” said a filing posted Monday in docket 24-119. As of the end of last year, “nearly 40% of wireless connections are 5G, and more than 330 million Americans are covered by one or more 5G networks,” CTIA said: 5G networks provide “a platform for other services and industries, including competitive and affordable 5G home broadband, which accounted for 95% of all new fixed broadband subscriptions over the past two years, underscoring 5G’s role in helping to close the digital divide and expand consumer choice.”
The FCC should complete its review of T-Mobile’s proposed buy of UScellular within the commission’s informal 180-day shot clock and finalize a decision on the deal (see 2409160029), Free State Foundation Director-Policy Studies Seth Cooper blogged Monday. “Delays in merger reviews can accelerate subscriber losses in small providers and have other harmful impacts,” he said. If approved, the deal would likely "produce pro-competitive results,” Cooper wrote: “On its face, the proposed combination does not appear to pose any significant competitive harm.”
Wide Voice meeting with FCC Wireline Bureau staff raised "grave concern" about "imminent" time division multiplexed (TDM) voice service discontinuance. The company said Verizon discontinued live service-affecting TDM services after the meeting, per an ex parte filing Monday in docket 21-17 (see 2010200052). Wide Voice said no alternative options are available from any other provider and local end user calls from incumbent local exchange carriers (ILEC) to Wide Voice can be delivered. "All of the major ILECs have made it clear that these circuits are coming down ... with no substitute service in the foreseeable future," the company said. Wide Voice noted that "a solution exists right now to route this traffic to Wide Voice over existing arrangements" and it's "unreasonable" for a provider to "use outdated local/non-local traffic distinctions to allow this traffic to fail."
Former President Donald Trump appeared again to threaten ABC's “license.” In an interview on Fox News after a campaign rally on Saturday, the Republican presidential nominee was asked about his ABC News debate earlier in the month with Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democrats' presidential nominee. Trump said the moderators were unfairly biased against him and that ABC should be investigated. “And, you know, they have to get a license from the federal government,” Trump added. Programming networks aren’t licensed by the FCC; individual broadcast stations are. Previously, Trump called for ABC to lose its “license” immediately after the debate with Harris and issued similar threats against NBC, CNN and other outlets earlier in his campaign and as a sitting president. In letters to Congress last week (see 2409190063), FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said the agency “does not revoke licenses for broadcast stations simply because a political candidate disagrees with or dislikes content or coverage.” ABC didn't comment.