Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel slammed FCC direction on media consolidation and Sinclair's planned buy of Tribune Media, the proposed ATSC 3.0 transition and rolling back Title II net neutrality regulation under the Communications Act. Her speech drew NAB and 3.0 supporter pushback, as well as some plaudits from other Democrats. “This is the first time I’ve seen that she’s been willing to be very vocal about her disagreements with her colleagues," said Gigi Sohn, an Open Society Foundations fellow and former aide to previous Chairman Tom Wheeler, a Democrat. Rosenworcel said she wanted "to make a little ruckus" and believes in fighting to make the "future work for all," according to her prepared remarks to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Thursday (see 1710120012).
The National Hispanic Media Coalition and other public interest groups urged the FCC to do more to address the communications meltdown in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (see 1710040046). Chairman Ajit Pai, meanwhile, said he appointed a staff task force on hurricane recovery. Addressed to Pai, the letter also was signed by the Center for Media Justice, the Color of Change, Free Press and Public Knowledge.
FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said she has named Travis Litman, who has worked as her aide before and was Wireline Bureau Telecom Access Policy Division assistant chief, as chief of staff and senior legal adviser-wireline and public safety issues; Kate Black, ex-Emily's List, as policy adviser-media issues; and from Office of Managing Director Lashion Pratt as staff assistant ... Marni Walden, Verizon executive vice president/president-global media, leaves company, effective in February, and effective Dec. 31, moves to strategic adviser and continues reporting to CEO Lowell McAdam until departure; after that, Oath CEO Tim Armstrong continues, reports directly to McAdam; and telematics organization reports to John Stratton, executive vice president/president-global operations.
The full FCC unanimously approved a notice of apparent liability for a $144,344 fine for a repeat offender North Miami, Florida, pirate radio operator and his landlords at Tuesday’s meeting. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said the fine is the first commission-level NAL for a pirate radio operator. The fine is the maximum amount allowable by statute, Enforcement Bureau staff said. Fabrice Polynice and landlords Harold and Veronise Sido will have an opportunity to respond to the NAL before the FCC votes on a final forfeiture order, bureau Chief Rosemary Harold said in a later news conference. She said she hopes other pirate radio operators will learn of the fine on social media.
Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel slammed the 2017 version of the FCC’s mobile wireless competition report, approved 3-2 Tuesday in a party-line vote. Both questioned whether wireless in parts of the U.S. is genuinely competitive. During the Obama administration, the FCC repeatedly declined to determine there's effective competition in the U.S. wireless market. The new report says there is. The disagreement was expected and has been a topic of contention between Republicans and Democrats (see 1709220049).
Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel slammed the 2017 version of the FCC’s mobile wireless competition report, approved 3-2 Tuesday in a party-line vote. Both questioned whether wireless in parts of the U.S. is genuinely competitive. During the Obama administration, the FCC repeatedly declined to determine there's effective competition in the U.S. wireless market. The new report says there is. The disagreement was expected and has been a topic of contention between Republicans and Democrats (see 1709220049).
A pending FCC spectrum frontiers order is widely expected to resolve issues teed up in a July 2016 Further NPRM, while authorizing additional bands for 5G, industry officials agree. Chairman Ajit Pai promised the order was on its way, at CTIA last week (see 1709120058). The FCC likely also will propose rules for spectrum above 95 GHz in another FNPRM, we're told.
A pending FCC spectrum frontiers order is widely expected to resolve issues teed up in a July 2016 Further NPRM, while authorizing additional bands for 5G, industry officials agree. Chairman Ajit Pai promised the order was on its way, at CTIA last week (see 1709120058). The FCC likely also will propose rules for spectrum above 95 GHz in another FNPRM, we're told.
A pending FCC spectrum frontiers order is widely expected to resolve issues teed up in a July 2016 Further NPRM, while authorizing additional bands for 5G, industry officials agree. Chairman Ajit Pai promised the order was on its way, at CTIA last week (see 1709120058). The FCC likely also will propose rules for spectrum above 95 GHz in another FNPRM, we're told.
The FCC addressed questions it raised in June when it approved rules for states to opt out of FirstNet (see 1706220019). Friday's order largely adopts what FirstNet requested (see 1707190017) and was a win for the nascent network, public safety officials said. The FCC said it would adopt recommendations from FirstNet on the use of access point names (APNs). These “requirements are consistent with industry standards for LTE deployment, resulting in an understandable and achievable benchmark,” the order said. “No party disputes FirstNet’s arguments or proposes a viable alternative standard … in response to FirstNet’s proposal.” Chairman Ajit Pai said the FCC made the right moves. “As communities devastated by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma begin the hard work of rebuilding, our work at the Commission to promote public safety continues,” Pai said. “We take another step towards the creation of a nationwide interoperable public safety broadband network.” Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel noted the order was her first recorded vote as a returning commissioner.