John Deere and LightSquared came to agreement on their mutual L-band use. LightSquared said Tuesday it will forego use of 1545-1555 MHz to end some disputes with Deere over its planned ground-and-satellite-based LTE broadband network. The Deere agreement "sets the framework for broadband/GPS compatibility," LightSquared President Doug Smith told us Tuesday. "The two services can coexist peacefully. This will be a good step forward." The CEO had set out to reach such deals (see 1512040039).

National security concerns from a host of stakeholders delayed for a second time the Senate Commerce Committee markup of the wide-ranging package of spectrum and broadband deployment measures known as Mobile Now, senior senators involved in the negotiations told us Tuesday. Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., wrote the spectrum package and had hoped to mark it up in November and then again as part of this week's Wednesday markup. But there’s bipartisan belief that the measure can advance early in the new year.

Tech Freedom will appeal to the Supreme Court if it loses its challenges to the FCC net neutrality and broadband reclassification order at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, said Berin Szoka, president of the group, which intervened in the litigation. “I am chomping at the bit to get this case before the Supreme Court,” he said on a panel organized by Tech Freedom that had both critics and supporters of the order. Other critics, citing comments by three D.C. Circuit judges at Friday’s oral argument (see 1512040058), voiced hope the court would rule against the FCC on at least parts of its order.

National security concerns from a host of stakeholders delayed for a second time the Senate Commerce Committee markup of the wide-ranging package of spectrum and broadband deployment measures known as Mobile Now, senior senators involved in the negotiations told us Tuesday. Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., wrote the spectrum package and had hoped to mark it up in November and then again as part of this week's Wednesday markup. But there’s bipartisan belief that the measure can advance early in the new year.

FCC supporters, critics and others continue to offer different takes on Friday’s net neutrality oral argument heard by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (see 1512040058). The supporters believe Judge David Tatel’s focus on the Supreme Court’s 2005 Brand X ruling and the discretion it gave the FCC bodes well for the agency’s broadband reclassification under Title II of the Communications Act and its net neutrality rules. Even one critic of the order suspects Title II reclassification of wireline ISPs could be upheld. But some on all sides said the agency’s reclassification of mobile broadband was at risk, with FCC critics saying other aspects were also vulnerable. A two-part audio recording of the argument is available here (USTelecom vs. FCC, No. 15-1063).

FCC supporters, critics and others continue to offer different takes on Friday’s net neutrality oral argument heard by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (see 1512040058). The supporters believe Judge David Tatel’s focus on the Supreme Court’s 2005 Brand X ruling and the discretion it gave the FCC bodes well for the agency’s broadband reclassification under Title II of the Communications Act and its net neutrality rules. Even one critic of the order suspects Title II reclassification of wireline ISPs could be upheld. But some on all sides said the agency’s reclassification of mobile broadband was at risk, with FCC critics saying other aspects were also vulnerable. A two-part audio recording of the argument is available here (USTelecom vs. FCC, No. 15-1063).

Rep. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., introduced the Fair and Clear Campaign Transparency Act (HR-4179) Thursday with the backing of several other Commerce Committee Democrats. “While certain information about political ad buying is part of the public file with the FCC, that information is not available in a very usable way,” said Luján, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, in a statement. “This commonsense legislation calls on the FCC to take steps to make this information available and more accessible. If we are going to require this material to be publicly available -- as we should -- it should also be available in a way that allows the public to actually use it and evaluate who is trying to influence their vote.” The bill has seven co-sponsors, all Democrats and many prominently pushing for a bigger FCC role in political ad disclosure. Backers include Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J., Communications Subcommittee ranking member Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., and Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Ky. Pallone raised the issue during Thursday’s hearing on broadcast ownership (see 1512030046). The legislation is referred to Commerce. “Congressman Luján’s proposed legislation simply requires that the FCC disclosure rule conform to today’s digital standards of full transparency,” Public Citizen Government Affairs Lobbyist Craig Holman said in a statement. “This legislation should win the support of every member of Congress who believes in removing barriers to online access to public information.” Luján's news release also showed backing from the New Mexico chapter of Common Cause.

Rep. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., introduced the Fair and Clear Campaign Transparency Act (HR-4179) Thursday with the backing of several other Commerce Committee Democrats. “While certain information about political ad buying is part of the public file with the FCC, that information is not available in a very usable way,” said Luján, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, in a statement. “This commonsense legislation calls on the FCC to take steps to make this information available and more accessible. If we are going to require this material to be publicly available -- as we should -- it should also be available in a way that allows the public to actually use it and evaluate who is trying to influence their vote.” The bill has seven co-sponsors, all Democrats and many prominently pushing for a bigger FCC role in political ad disclosure. Backers include Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J., Communications Subcommittee ranking member Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., and Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Ky. Pallone raised the issue during Thursday’s hearing on broadcast ownership (see 1512030046). The legislation is referred to Commerce. “Congressman Luján’s proposed legislation simply requires that the FCC disclosure rule conform to today’s digital standards of full transparency,” Public Citizen Government Affairs Lobbyist Craig Holman said in a statement. “This legislation should win the support of every member of Congress who believes in removing barriers to online access to public information.” Luján's news release also showed backing from the New Mexico chapter of Common Cause.

Lawmakers may still try to take a stab at legislation reauthorizing the FCC next year, in addition to a bill involving broadcast exclusivity rules and the compulsive copyright regime, said Senate Commerce Committee GOP telecom policy director David Quinalty Thursday at a Practising Law Institute event. He and other Commerce Committee counsels are committed to advancing the wireless broadband legislation already under consideration, and some weighed possible net neutrality compromise legislation.

Commissioner Ajit Pai blasted FCC enforcement for what it's doing and for what it's not doing. Pai said the Enforcement Bureau is pursuing big “headline-grabbing fines regardless of the law,” has the wrong priorities and is no longer accountable even to commissioners. He said the result has been fewer enforcement actions and those that are taken at the commission level have become more partisan. “Things have gone seriously awry,” he said in a speech at the Practising Law Institute conference Thursday.