Two FCC commissioners expressed doubts Thursday about a $12.9 million fine proposed against Scott Rhodes for apparently making thousands of spoofed, racist robocalls. A notice of apparent liability was approved 4-1 at the commissioners' meeting. Comments answering an FCC request for proposals to stop robocalls posted through Thursday in docket 17-59. Some comments were posted earlier (see 2001290024).
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo played down concerns Thursday about potential strain in the U.S. intelligence sharing relationship with the U.K. after that country’s decision to allow equipment from Chinese telecom equipment manufacturer Huawei on “non-core” parts of its communications infrastructure (see 2001280074). House Commerce Committee ranking member Greg Walden, R-Ore., meanwhile, told reporters he believes the decision should put pressure on Congress to reach a deal on legislation to provide funding to help U.S. communications providers remove from their networks equipment determined to threaten national security.
The FTC will review social media advertising guidance in 2020, the agency confirmed (see 2001300032) Thursday. It will consider updating ad endorsement and testimonial guidance involving unfair and deceptive ad laws the FTC polices.
The FCC must get accurate wireless coverage maps for its proposed 5G fund that’s to replace the terminated Mobility Fund Phase II, said sponsors of a NARUC draft resolution up for vote at state utility commissioners’ Feb. 9-12 meeting in Washington. First fund areas with no wireless service, urged lead sponsor and South Dakota Public Utilities Commissioner Chris Nelson (R). The resolution asks the commission to require current and accurate wireless coverage maps before awarding support, and to prioritize areas without at least 5 Mbps speeds (see 2001280045).
FCC commissioners will vote on a C-band item at their Feb. 28 meeting, Chairman Ajit Pai confirmed Thursday. Pai said he will circulate an order next week (see 2001300035). Commissioner Mike O’Rielly said the FCC needs to work with industry and raised concerns about forcing a solution. Other commissioners said they're waiting to see the details. Meanwhile, the FCC said Thursday the clock phase of the FCC’s third high-band auction had just ended.
States with their own broadband subsidy programs or partnered with federal programs could face reduced funding opportunities through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, after language was added to an order Wednesday, Democratic commissioners told reporters Thursday. Commissioners voted along party lines to approve the order for the $20.4 billion program. Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks approved in part and dissented in part.
Apple stock reached a 52-week high Wednesday after a December quarter earnings report Tuesday showing iPhone, wearables and services growth. IPhone sales rose 8 percent to $56 billion. Shares closed 2.1 percent higher Wednesday at $324.34. Quarterly revenue was a record $91.8 billion, 9 percent above a year ago, said CEO Tim Cook on the call for Q1 ended Dec. 28. International sales generated 61 percent of revenue.
The many complicated “provisions” for implementing the U.S.-Canada-Mexico Agreement on free trade plausibly means July 1 is the “absolute earliest” it can “enter into force,” Nicole Bivens Collinson, international trade expert with Sandler Travis, told a Sports & Fitness Industry Association webinar Wednesday. President Donald Trump signed USMCA’s enabling legislation Wednesday, saying the agreement “contains critical protections for intellectual property, including trade secrets, digital services and financial services.”
5G smartphone customers attending Sunday's Super Bowl at Verizon 5G Stadium in Miami will get access to a multi-camera live-view feature via the NFL OnePass app, said the carrier and the NFL Wednesday. Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband service is available in parts of the stadium, where demos are planned.
The FCC’s new political ad file rules would burden broadcasters, swamp transparency advocates in irrelevant disclosures, and may be unconstitutional, said NAB, America's Communications Association, state broadcast associations and station groups. Their replies were filed in docket 19-363 by Tuesday night’s deadline in support of NAB’s petition for reconsideration. The rules cross “a constitutional line,” said Tech Freedom, comparing them to the fairness doctrine.