A program carriage proceeding may be in play at the FCC, with career staffers and commissioners likely to consider changes to an order and further rulemaking notice (CD May 17 p7) before they're voted on, agency and industry officials said. They said it’s unclear whether the Media Bureau and office of Chairman Julius Genachowski will end up making all, or even some of the changes many multichannel video programming distributors seek. Genachowski and some of the other FCC members seem likely to consider making changes, agency and industry officials said. Much of what will end up in play will be based on what changes Genachowski and the General Counsel’s office seek, if any, after reviewing cable, DBS and telco-TV concerns, commission officials said.

Pay-TV networks’ plans to distribute video online seem more aggressive outside the U.S., where executives said at an investor conference they're seeking to preserve the status quo and work with incumbent distributors. At the Nomura Media Summit in New York Thursday, executives from Discovery Communications, HBO and Viacom discussed their approaches to online video in the U.S. and elsewhere. HBO has the rights to distribute its network on its HBO GO smartphone and tablet product directly to consumers if it wanted to, CEO Bill Nelson said. If tablet PC penetration increases globally as projected, “we are going to move swiftly and aggressively to take advantage of that, either from a wholesale standpoint, or if the devices allow, in a direct to consumer product.” Nelson noted it could be years before that happens.

TORONTO -- Even with numerous technical, operational and financial hurdles still standing in its way, LTE will become a dominant wireless technology, if not the dominant wireless technology, globally by the end of the decade, industry experts predicted this week at the Canadian Telecom Summit.

The Senate Commerce Committee filed the bipartisan substitute amendment for the Senate spectrum bill by Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., and Ranking Member Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas. The 119-page amendment will be used as the base bill when the committee marks up S-911, a Senate aide said. The committee scheduled a June 8 markup, but no agenda has been announced, the aide said. Senate Communications Subcommittee Chairman John Kerry, D-Mass., said he supports the latest version of the bill. Committee Republicans met to discuss the bill Wednesday afternoon, a GOP aide said.

The NAB and NCTA opposed an application by Digital Broadcasting OVS to operate an online open video system in the top 50 U.S. TV markets (CD June 1 p9). The NAB also asked for more time to comment on the application because it wasn’t initially available on the FCC’s website and the public notice soliciting comments was published directly before a federal holiday, and the deadline for comments was immediately following it (CD May 31 p17). Under OVS rules, the agency must act within 10 days on certification applications. The commission should reject the application because Digital Broadcasting OVS failed to establish that it’s a local exchange carrier under the Telecom Act, the NAB said.

Many TV stations probably won’t be able to broadcast to mobile devices anytime soon, because of an FCC action Tuesday (CD June 1 p20), industry lawyers and executives said in interviews. They said the Media Bureau decision to stop accepting applications to change TV channels means the several hundred broadcasters using VHF channels must stay there for the foreseeable future. The so-called freeze starting Tuesday on petitions to substitute digital channels was long awaited by some, but surprising to others, they said. Broadcasters who hadn’t sought moves can’t, foreclosing moving to the UHF band where it’s much easier to do mobile DTV, industry executives and lawyers said. More stations sought to move to UHF last week, citing mobile DTV.

The FCC has tallied, at our deadline, nearly 36,000 comments on AT&T’s proposed buy of T-Mobile, mostly short, from hard to verify sources, but overwhelmingly opposed to the deal. But numerous groups and companies also filed, sending a mixed message to the commission, with groups like the Media Access Project and the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council taking opposing views (CD June 1 p1). AT&T said support for the merger is growing.

TORONTO -- With the Canadian government gearing up for an expected sale of valuable 700 MHz spectrum to wireless carriers next year, the nation’s large and small wireless providers are openly battling over the rules for that auction. Speaking at the Canadian Telecom Summit, Rogers Communications pressed for “a fair and open auction” of 700 MHz spectrum, with the same rules for all bidders and no set-asides for newer players.

The House Communications Subcommittee moved a step closer to wireless legislation, holding Wednesday what’s likely their last hearing in a series on spectrum. Subcommittee Democrats and Republicans supported authorizing the FCC to conduct voluntary incentive auctions. Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., suggested additional incentives for broadcasters.

Congressional interest in LightSquared’s coming service doesn’t impede the company’s ongoing review of interference with GPS services, Executive Vice President Jeff Carlisle said in an interview Wednesday. “The important thing is to recognize Congress’ authority here,” he said. “Congress is an avenue for expressing concern about the issue, and we know it’s a real issue.” LightSquared has faced controversy throughout the process, with its service at the focus of several congressional statements and letters. Last week, a defense bill passed by the House included language that would require resolution of interference with GPS devices used by the Defense Department before the FCC can give the service its final OK (CD May 31 p14). “To the extent that those letters and activity reflect sincere concern, we are willing to work with the members and staff to make sure they understand what we are doing,” said Carlisle, head of regulatory affairs.