With approval of four non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite applications on the agenda for Thursday's commissioner meeting (see 1810240030), the FCC is seen proceeding at a relatively good clip as it goes through Ku- and Ka-band constellation plans and now launches into V-band applications. "Our hope is to be able to approve [the remaining applications] with relative dispatch," Chairman Ajit Pai said in a brief interview after a Thursday event on the agency's space month (see 1811080034).
It’s “not resolved” whether CTA members have the will to file a lawsuit blocking the Trade Act Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports before they rise to 25 percent, as scheduled for Jan. 1, CTA President Gary Shapiro told us at CTA Unveiled New York Thursday. CTA hired Akin Gump to draft a court complaint to block the tariffs and is shopping the draft around to other trade groups seeking their legal and financial support (see 1810290019).
Voters delivered a split decision Tuesday in elections to Congress, as expected (see 1811050050 and 1811070002). The division between a Democratic House and Republican Senate reduces the likelihood for legislative progress on some divisive telecom issues but possibly opens up opportunities for compromise on others, officials and lobbyists said in interviews. The election resulted in turnovers to leadership of House and Senate telecom-focused committees. Many said they are now watching the tight race between Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and Republican Gov. Rick Scott.
Voters delivered a split decision Tuesday in elections to Congress, as expected (see 1811050050 and 1811070002). The division between a Democratic House and Republican Senate reduces the likelihood for legislative progress on some divisive telecom issues but possibly opens up opportunities for compromise on others, officials and lobbyists said in interviews. The election resulted in turnovers to leadership of House and Senate telecom-focused committees. Many said they are now watching the tight race between Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and Republican Gov. Rick Scott.
Two tech trade group representatives played down the value of consumer data during Tuesday’s FTC policy hearing (see 1810310052). Another industry official argued too much focus is on drawbacks of big-data collection, not enough on benefits.
The de minimis footnote within the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement is cause for "serious concerns" for the Customs Matters and Trade Facilitation Industry Trade Advisory Committee (ITAC 12), the committee said in an addendum to its report on the trade deal. The addendum, which is dated Oct. 24 but was released by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative this week, is among multiple reports updated after Canada agreed to join the deal between the U.S. and Mexico. While the main advisory committee offered some light criticism in its support of the deal (see 1811060023), individual ITACs included some more pointed concerns.
A consolidated appeal of the FCC’s September wireless infrastructure order on state and local barriers to siting small cells will be heard by the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, not the 9th Circuit, as sought by local governments, and that could be positive for the FCC, court observers said. The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation randomly picked the 10th Circuit Friday (see 1811020061). AT&T, Sprint and the Puerto Rico Telephone Company also appealed the order, forcing a lottery. AT&T’s appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit was left out of the lottery.
Two tech trade group representatives played down the value of consumer data during Tuesday’s FTC policy hearing (see 1810310052). Another industry official argued too much focus is on drawbacks of big-data collection, not enough on benefits.
LAS VEGAS -- CLEC executives at the Incompas Show mixed optimism and hope that the FCC won't grant a USTelecom bid for ILEC relief from wholesale duties to share networks with rivals. They told show attendees that competitor ability to lease access to discounted copper unbundled network elements (UNEs) of large incumbents encourages both sides to deploy fiber. Some cited the importance of maintaining "avoided-cost resale" requirements also targeted by a USTelecom forbearance petition.
LAS VEGAS -- CLEC executives at the Incompas Show mixed optimism and hope that the FCC won't grant a USTelecom bid for ILEC relief from wholesale duties to share networks with rivals. They told show attendees that competitor ability to lease access to discounted copper unbundled network elements (UNEs) of large incumbents encourages both sides to deploy fiber. Some cited the importance of maintaining "avoided-cost resale" requirements also targeted by a USTelecom forbearance petition.