The expected unraveling of Sinclair buying Tribune isn’t likely to deter future deals, said broadcast executives, brokers, analysts and attorneys in interviews (see 1807190060). Sinclair’s deal included circumstances that are unlikely to apply to other transactions, even those with sidecar companies, industry officials said. But continued uncertainty about the ownership cap and a lack of buyers still means dealmaking will be slow, said analysts. With the future of the UHF discount and the cap unclear, companies “can’t be sure what they’re buying,” said Wells Fargo analyst Marci Ryvicker.

Ligado bashers and backers continue to clash over its license modification application amendment for its proposed ancillary terrestrial component (ATC) broadband network (see 1807100046), in replies in FCC docket 11-109 that were due Thursday and posted through Friday. NTIA didn't comment on when it expects to have its own recommendation to the FCC. Ligado supporters noted the need for spectrum for mobile and 5G uses. "Seize this opportunity to promote more efficient use of spectrum," the Competitive Carriers Association asked. L-band user Inmarsat said Ligado's proposed operations in the band will comply with rules and there's an inter-operator cooperation agreement between the companies on interference concerns for Inmarsat transceivers. Ligado has made "extraordinary efforts" to keep its commitments to address potential interference to neighboring services, and acted to address concerns, said the Wireless Infrastructure Association. The record's clear that GPS devices, including certified aviation ones, will be protected, and other stakeholders won't face harmful interference from the ATC deployment, Ligado said. Arguments that unmanned aircraft operating within a 250-foot cylinder of a Ligado transmitter might lose some navigational accuracy aren't backed by data, it said. Ligado said outside analysis shows Iridium won't have harmful interference from Ligado activity in the 1627.5-1637.5 MHz band. Weather and aviation interests said industry concerns about Ligado's ATC "have only intensified" over the past year. They said changes to the ATC proposal made to address the concerns of aviation interests don't address interference concerns involving uncertified GPS systems, satellite communication services or the concerns of the weather data community. They said aside from the harmful effects to a variety of GPS receivers, planned Ligado operations in the 1672.5-1637.5 MHz band also raise red flags about interference to mobile satellite systems. The 27 signers included AccuWeather, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the American Meteorological Society, Iridium, Lockheed Martin, the National Weather Association and Rockwell Collins. The Free State Foundation, which backed Ligado's application (see 1803140014), said since the license modification was filed in December 2015, the mid-band spectrum has gone unused, and once NTIA weighs in on Ligado's network proposal, the FCC should move quickly.

A longtime North Miami pirate radio operator and the couple who owned the shack he broadcast from were fined $144,344 by the full FCC, said a forfeiture order in Friday’s Daily Digest. “Today’s item will set clear Commission precedent going forward that landlords who materially assist with unlawful pirate operations can be held jointly and severally liable,” said Commissioner Mike O’Rielly in a statement that said if anything, he wishes the penalty were greater. Fabrice Polynice, also known as DJ Paz, and his landlords Harold and Veronise Sido argued against the fine but the FCC found the three -- with a history of unlicensed operation citations -- liable for the full amount allowed by statute. Without the statutory cap, the fine would have been $710,000, the order said. The statutory maximum for unlicensed operations “pales in comparison to penalties for other violations of Commission rules and is simply not enough to serve as a sufficient deterrent against operating pirate radio stations,” said O’Rielly. He endorsed the House Pirate Act (see 1807190055), which would raise the number to $2 million and toughen other piracy rules. Though Polynice argued that the agency needed to send him a citation before issuing a notice of apparent liability, O’Rielly and the agency disagreed. NALs “can be counterproductive,” O’Rielly said. “Warning enterprising pirates that you are on to them can send them underground, or onto another frequency, increasing the time it takes to get the pirate off the air.” Polynice was said to argue the FCC was selectively targeting him, and that the pirate radio enforcement was intended to hurt Haitian immigrants. Polynice “sees this Commission’s actions as a way to keep the Haitian community in a weak position and without the necessary information they need to succeed,” the order said. “Nothing in the Commission’s rules prevents someone who wants to serve an underserved community from providing programming legally.” Polynice and the Sidos couldn't be reached for comment.

Ligado bashers and backers continue to clash over its license modification application amendment for its proposed ancillary terrestrial component (ATC) broadband network (see 1807100046), in replies in FCC docket 11-109 that were due Thursday and posted through Friday. NTIA didn't comment on when it expects to have its own recommendation to the FCC. Ligado supporters noted the need for spectrum for mobile and 5G uses. "Seize this opportunity to promote more efficient use of spectrum," the Competitive Carriers Association asked. L-band user Inmarsat said Ligado's proposed operations in the band will comply with rules and there's an inter-operator cooperation agreement between the companies on interference concerns for Inmarsat transceivers. Ligado has made "extraordinary efforts" to keep its commitments to address potential interference to neighboring services, and acted to address concerns, said the Wireless Infrastructure Association. The record's clear that GPS devices, including certified aviation ones, will be protected, and other stakeholders won't face harmful interference from the ATC deployment, Ligado said. Arguments that unmanned aircraft operating within a 250-foot cylinder of a Ligado transmitter might lose some navigational accuracy aren't backed by data, it said. Ligado said outside analysis shows Iridium won't have harmful interference from Ligado activity in the 1627.5-1637.5 MHz band. Weather and aviation interests said industry concerns about Ligado's ATC "have only intensified" over the past year. They said changes to the ATC proposal made to address the concerns of aviation interests don't address interference concerns involving uncertified GPS systems, satellite communication services or the concerns of the weather data community. They said aside from the harmful effects to a variety of GPS receivers, planned Ligado operations in the 1672.5-1637.5 MHz band also raise red flags about interference to mobile satellite systems. The 27 signers included AccuWeather, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the American Meteorological Society, Iridium, Lockheed Martin, the National Weather Association and Rockwell Collins. The Free State Foundation, which backed Ligado's application (see 1803140014), said since the license modification was filed in December 2015, the mid-band spectrum has gone unused, and once NTIA weighs in on Ligado's network proposal, the FCC should move quickly.

Sinclair told FCC Chairman Ajit Pai it didn’t have the time or authority to withdraw the deal to buy Tribune after a hearing designation order (HDO) circulated, said an email from General Counsel Barry Faber to Pai Wednesday. It was filed the next day and posted Friday in docket 17-179 as an ex parte by Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel’s office. The email mentions a Tuesday call between Faber and Pai. The draft HDO was announced July 16 (see 1807190060) and released Thursday.

Sinclair told FCC Chairman Ajit Pai it didn’t have the time or authority to withdraw the deal to buy Tribune after a hearing designation order (HDO) circulated, said an email from General Counsel Barry Faber to Pai Wednesday. It was filed the next day and posted Friday in docket 17-179 as an ex parte by Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel’s office. The email mentions a Tuesday call between Faber and Pai. The draft HDO was announced July 16 (see 1807190060) and released Thursday.

It's "extremely troubling" the FCC proposed a 15-year telco separations freeze "without any consideration of the recommendation" from federal-state joint board members, emailed Colorado Public Utilities Commissioner Wendy Moser, the state member who sponsored a NARUC-passed resolution backing a two-year freeze (see 1807180018). “Given that the majority of the Joint Board rests with the state members, and all that is needed for a recommended decision is a majority, the FCC should take the Joint Board recommended decision as submitted by the states. The FCC can then decide whether to adopt it or explain why not. ... Given the simplicity of the process, one has to wonder what the FCC is trying to accomplish in acting contrary to Congress' intent of having a Joint Board in the first place.”

Congressional Black Caucus members Reps. G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C., and Barbara Lee, D-Calif., emphasized during a Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council event they intend to continue pressuring companies at all levels in the tech sector to increase hiring of racial minorities. Butterfield launched the CBC's Tech 2020 initiative more than three years ago to improve diversity in the industry, including setting clear, public goals to measurably increase the number of African-Americans at all levels within tech companies (see 1505200007). Others from Capitol Hill and state legislatures also emphasized the importance of increasing diversity in tech, highlighting interest in Hill work on net neutrality and privacy. MMTC also heard about FCC issues (see 1807190055).

Congressional Black Caucus members Reps. G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C., and Barbara Lee, D-Calif., emphasized during a Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council event they intend to continue pressuring companies at all levels in the tech sector to increase hiring of racial minorities. Butterfield launched the CBC's Tech 2020 initiative more than three years ago to improve diversity in the industry, including setting clear, public goals to measurably increase the number of African-Americans at all levels within tech companies (see 1505200007). Others from Capitol Hill and state legislatures also emphasized the importance of increasing diversity in tech, highlighting interest in Hill work on net neutrality and privacy. MMTC also heard about FCC issues (see 1807190055).

FTC Consumer Protection Bureau Director Andrew Smith worked with 54 clients that could trigger his recusal, including Equifax, PayPal and Uber, according to agency records we obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request. The clients paid Smith $5,000 or more in a given year dating back two years from his May 21 appointment. By signing President Donald Trump’s ethics pledge, Smith for two years after his appointment can't participate “in any particular matter involving specific parties that is directly and substantially related to [a] former employer or former clients, including regulations and contracts.”