The FCC approved, on a 3-0 vote Thursday, launching a rulemaking aimed at cutting red tape on deployment of distributed antenna systems and small cells and allowing for faster deployment of temporary cell towers. The NPRM was the only item to get a unanimous vote Thursday.
FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai will vote against an NPRM seeking comment on eliminating the UHF discount on TV station ownership at the commission’s open meeting Thursday, a spokesman for his office told us. The item will likely still be approved on the strength of votes from Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel and acting Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn, said an FCC official. Neither commissioner’s office commented.
Nominees for the FCC and FTC advanced a step in the Senate this week, but it remains unclear when the agencies will get new commissioners. The Senate Commerce Committee set its hearing on FCC nominee Mike O'Rielly and FTC nominee Terrell McSweeny for 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in 253 Russell (CD Sept 12 p1). Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., “is going to want to move all of them together,” Public Knowledge Senior Vice President Harold Feld told us, referring to the FCC nominees being paired and put forward with McSweeny. “That could conceivably happen at any time.” Observers were optimistic about how fast Congress might advance the FCC nominees while remaining cautious on the FTC nominee.
Nominees for the FCC and FTC advanced a step in the Senate this week, but it remains unclear when the agencies will get new commissioners. The Senate Commerce Committee set its hearing on FCC nominee Mike O'Rielly and FTC nominee Terrell McSweeny for 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in 253 Russell. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., “is going to want to move all of them together,” Public Knowledge Senior Vice President Harold Feld told us, referring to the FCC nominees being paired and put forward with McSweeny. “That could conceivably happen at any time.” Observers were optimistic about how fast Congress might advance the FCC nominees while remaining cautious on the FTC nominee.
All three FCC commissioners told Congress the agency’s priorities range from spectrum auctions to the Internet Protocol transition to a forthcoming order to be circulated on rural call completion. They testified Wednesday before the Senate Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee, in a hearing that ranged well beyond the FY 2014 budget slated for discussion.
The FCC’s role in encouraging Time Warner Cable and CBS to reach a retransmission consent agreement was likely very minimal, said consumer advocates and cable industry professionals in interviews Tuesday. The agreement disclosed Monday between the companies ended a month-long blackout of CBS programming to Time Warner Cable customers in eight markets. Acting FCC Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn urged media companies on both sides of retrans deals to accept shared responsibility when disputes affect customers (CD Sept 2 Special Report). The resolution shows that the FCC shouldn’t intervene in such disputes, a broadcast attorney said.
The Senate Commerce Communications Subcommittee field hearing will feature FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel among its witnesses. The group includes representatives from AT&T, Comcast, CenturyLink, Cox Communications, the Arkansas Educational Television Network, Windstream, SuddenLink, Arkansas Broadcasting Association, Arkansas Economic Development Commission, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Farm Bureau, Fast Access for Students, Teachers and Economic Results and Arkansas Research and Educational Optical Network. Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., the subcommittee’s chairman, released the list of witnesses Thursday (http://1.usa.gov/1cQzv8e). The hearing will take place in Little Rock’s Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas board room Monday at 9 a.m. CDT. Arkansas “has stepped up when it comes to broadband deployment, but we need to continue the momentum,” Pryor said in a statement. “I'm looking forward to hearing directly from businesses and officials about how we can work together to connect Arkansans to the Internet and all the benefits that come with it.” The subcommittee will approach these witnesses in three panels, said its website (http://1.usa.gov/16f2Rbe).
The Senate Commerce Communications Subcommittee field hearing will feature FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel among its witnesses. The group includes representatives from AT&T, Comcast, CenturyLink, Cox Communications, the Arkansas Educational Television Network, Windstream, SuddenLink, Arkansas Broadcasting Association, Arkansas Economic Development Commission, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Farm Bureau, Fast Access for Students, Teachers and Economic Results and Arkansas Research and Educational Optical Network. Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., the subcommittee’s chairman, released the list of witnesses Thursday (http://1.usa.gov/1cQzv8e). The hearing will take place in Little Rock’s Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas board room Monday at 9 a.m. CDT. Arkansas “has stepped up when it comes to broadband deployment, but we need to continue the momentum,” Pryor said in a statement. “I'm looking forward to hearing directly from businesses and officials about how we can work together to connect Arkansans to the Internet and all the benefits that come with it.” The subcommittee will approach these witnesses in three panels, said its website (http://1.usa.gov/16f2Rbe).
Acting Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn’s affirmation she might consider FCC involvement in the retransmission dispute between Time Warner Cable and CBS could add pressure to the parties to reach a resolution that would restore the broadcaster’s stations to the operator’s lineup, said some consumer advocates and broadcast attorneys in interviews Monday. Clyburn and Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel expressed their concern for the affected customers after Friday’s FCC monthly meeting (CD Aug 12 p1). The statement from Clyburn counters the stance that previous chairmen have taken on the commission’s authority to act, said consumer groups that want retrans rules changed. NAB opposed further government involvement in the retrans consent process.
By a 2-1 vote, the FCC adopted an interim prison phone rate cap of 21 cents a minute for debit and pre-paid calls, and 25 cents a minute for collect calls -- reducing the cost of a 15-minute call from as much as $17 to less than $4. “A change has finally come,” said acting FCC Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn. Rates weren’t made as low as the petitioner sought, and the order had aroused controversy within the agency before it was adopted, with Commissioner Ajit Pai dissenting, as expected (CD Aug 9 p1).