Recent FCC changes to the U.S. table of frequency allocations, released last month, take effect Feb. 13, said a notice for Wednesday’s Federal Register. The changes implement actions of the World Radiocommunication Conference in 2015, including those affecting amateur radio, satellite and aural broadcast auxiliary and TV broadcast auxiliary stations, the notice said. The FCC said in a second notice that comments on an NPRM regarding changes tied to the WRC in 2019 are due Feb. 13, replies March 16, in docket 23-121.
The FCC Wireline Bureau sought comment Tuesday on a proposal to transfer control of Codecom from the Luis G. Romero Trust to Jose Romero. Codecom provides telecom services primarily to businesses in Puerto Rico, the bureau said. Comments are due Jan. 27, replies Feb. 3, in docket 25-345. In a filing last month, Codecom said it’s seeking a “simple transfer of control between two brothers that make up the entirety of the membership of a privately held company.”
Center for American Rights President Daniel Suhr wouldn’t confirm or deny Monday night whether he will be among the witnesses at a yet-to-be-scheduled Senate Commerce Committee hearing on the FCC’s 39% national TV station audience reach cap (see 2601120064). Earlier, Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy confirmed he will be testifying in opposition to proposals for the FCC to eliminate or ease the cap (see 2512150046). Senate Commerce is looking at late January for its hearing, but lobbyists said the panel may delay it until February.
Two bar complaints against FCC Chairman Brendan Carr have been denied, according to letters from the Attorney Grievance Commission (AGC) of Maryland and the D.C. Office of Disciplinary Counsel.
Wireless carriers aren’t unique in raising concerns about an FCC proposal to allow correctional facilities to jam cell signals in an effort to curb contraband phones, CTIA said in reply comments posted Tuesday in docket 13-111. Public interest groups, often at odds with the wireless industry, and other commenters also called on the FCC to think twice before steaming forward on rules that some states and corrections officials are pushing (see 2512300043).
States have good ideas about AI regulation that the federal government shouldn’t try to block, said two state officials and a U.S. Senate Democratic staffer during a Federal Communications Bar Association panel Tuesday. In a separate session, however, telecom industry officials suggested that a “patchwork” of state AI requirements could be more difficult for businesses than dealing with today’s array of state privacy laws.
Crown Castle said Monday that it had terminated its wireless infrastructure agreement with Dish after the latter company defaulted on payment obligations. Meanwhile, Fujitsu has joined the ranks of companies and groups urging the FCC not to approve transfers of EchoStar spectrum licenses until Dish's parent company makes good on contracts tied to its now-abandoned terrestrial wireless network buildout. MoffettNathanson told investors Tuesday that there's "a decent chance" the FCC could step in and try to force EchoStar to make good on its contracts with the tower companies.
The House Communications Subcommittee’s FCC oversight hearing Wednesday is highly likely to echo the dynamics and most of the same topics that dominated an identical Senate Commerce Committee panel last month (see 2512170067 and 2512170070), lawmakers and lobbyists said in interviews. Democrats are expected to again place a major emphasis on castigating FCC Chairman Brendan Carr over his media regulatory actions, while Republicans are likely to defend Carr even more strongly than Senate Commerce GOP members and steer the hearing’s focus toward less controversial matters.
The FCC Enforcement Bureau has proposed $20,000 forfeitures for each of three pirate radio operators in the New York market, said notices of apparent liability in Monday’s Daily Digest. One of the proposed penalties, against Robert Bekune in Irvington, New Jersey, goes back to violations found in 2018, when bureau agents tracked an unauthorized signal to an industrial property with a large sign advertising “PowerHouse Radio 98.5 FM” and “Founder Rev. Prophet Robert Bekune.” Agents found the station operating again in 2023, with the same sign in place, said the notice. Two other NALs were issued to pirates in Spring Valley, New York. Jean Boncoeur and Etzer Toussaint were found allegedly operating unauthorized stations called "Radio Gold Stars" and "Radio Tele Model," respectively, in January 2025.
Free State Foundation President Randolph May laid out in a filing Monday the case for a pilot program before the FCC approves an order allowing prison officials to more broadly jam cellphone signals. Industry experts say a pilot may be the FCC’s best option, given the level of concern raised by the wireless industry (see 2601020006). Reply comments were due Monday in docket 13-111.