Responding to a spate of reported 911 dispatching issues, a Washington, D.C., auditor might conduct a long-awaited probe of the Office of Unified Communications next year. Alleged OUC incidents -- including sending first responders to the wrong address or multiple responders to the same place -- could show a systemic problem, said a neighborhood commissioner and firefighter union president in interviews last week.
Rules for the 70/80/90 GHz bands should be optimized for wireless backhaul and compatible applications, said T-Mobile and other carriers in comments posted Thursday in docket 20-133, in response to a June NPRM (see 2008050058). Others sought broader use.
The FCC approved rules for a C-band auction starting Dec. 8 as circulated, with the general approval of all five commissioners (see 2007280063). Jessica Rosenworcel partially dissented because of concerns about the approach on the C band approved 3-2 in February (see 2002280044). Geoffrey Starks also partially dissented, saying his earlier concerns remain. Chairman Ajit Pai announced the agency plans the next mid-band auction, of 2.5 GHz spectrum, in the first half of next year (see 2008060017).
The FCC approved eliminating rules restricting same-market, commonly owned radio stations from airing duplicate programming, 3-2 Thursday. It eliminated restrictions for both bands, as expected (see 2008040063). The draft applied only to AM.
The FCC approved 5-0 an order on remand and Further NPRM on rates for interstate inmate calling services, with ICS changes sought by overhaul proponents (see 2008040056). Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks said the agency should have acted much earlier. As on other items, Commissioner Mike O’Rielly voted yes but didn’t have a statement (see 2008060062).
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and other GOP lawmakers are pressing President Donald Trump to reverse course and reinstate his renomination of FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly, officials told us. Trump abruptly withdrew O’Rielly’s renomination Monday (see 2008030072). The decision drew significant scrutiny amid perceptions it’s tied to O’Rielly’s reluctance to say he wants the FCC to clarify its rules in response to Trump’s May executive order on Communications Decency Act Section 230. Senate Republicans are making their case for O’Rielly partly because they think it would be difficult for the Senate to confirm a replacement this year (see 2008040061).
The FCC got broad opposition to a proposal for deregulating telephone access charges in an April NPRM (see 2007070025), in comments posted through Wednesday in docket 20-71. The agency cast the TAC NPRM as a bid to “eliminate outdated and unnecessary regulations” and simplify bills for consumers.
Some broadcasters are seeing signs the downturn in advertising caused by the pandemic is slowly improving. Others remain uncertain, based on earnings releases and quarterly investor calls this week. Sinclair stock closed down 10% Wednesday at $19.32. Fox fell 7.3% to $24.73.
Policing political content curation by platforms like Facebook and Twitter isn’t within FTC jurisdiction, Chairman Joe Simons said Wednesday at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing. Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., asked the commission about President Donald Trump’s social media executive order (see 2008040059).
President Donald Trump's surprise decision to withdraw Mike O’Rielly's nomination to another term on the FCC (see 2008040061) could hurt Republicans immediately, observers noted in interviews this week. If O’Rielly follows the example of others, he could begin recusing himself immediately. That would mean Chairman Ajit Pai loses a generally reliable third vote when there's a split with Democrats.