The 1 dB standard for determining harmful interference to GPS, pushed by the GPS industry and others opposed to Ligado's planned low-power terrestrial L-band network plans, doesn't assess harmful interference and isn't directly correlated with it, the FCC said in its 74-page Ligado order adopted Sunday (see 2004200011) and released Wednesday.
Commissioners approved an NPRM Thursday on the proposed 5G Fund over partial dissents by Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks, as expected (see 2004200063). Both said the NPRM offers a false choice and the FCC can’t rely on bad maps or wait until 2023 or later to start offering support. Commissioner Mike O’Rielly supported the NPRM, but also had concerns. Members met via teleconference, for the second month during COVID-19.
With the Google antitrust probe ongoing, there are reasons to be concerned about a monopoly in advertising tech and its harm to competition, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) said Wednesday. Depriving rivals access to necessary data inputs is potentially anticompetitive, he said. “Competitors that hope to compete with Google in the online digital marketplace may not be able to do so if Google maintains a strategic bottleneck on access to critical user data,” he told the American Bar Association. He noted he wasn’t speaking directly about the ongoing Google probe (see 1909090060).
The first of the major wireless carriers to report since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, AT&T's took a hit. Executives said the full effect is expected in Q2. The telco withdrew guidance for 2020 because of COVID-19 uncertainty. It reported a $605 million hit to Q1 revenue and $433 million to EBITDA. Bad debt, cutting some customers a break on payments and production shutdown costs meant lower earnings, AT&T said. Verizon reports Friday.
Lawmakers and groups drilled down Wednesday on tech and telecom provisions in an anticipated fourth major COVID-19 legislative package, including broadband funding and aid for local media. President Donald Trump renewed his interest Tuesday in including connectivity money in future pandemic-related bills (see 2004210060). He previously cited interest in pursuing $2 trillion in infrastructure spending as part of future aid legislation (see 2003310070).
The FCC approach to a proposed 900 MHz realignment relies on negotiations between licensees to make 6 MHz available for broadband services and technologies, according to the May meeting item draft released Wednesday. The draft order and NPRM on regulatory fees meantime said foreign-licensed satellite operators argued a "parade of horribles" if the FCC begins charging them regulatory fees, but they were unconvincing. Also released were orders on ending the requirement broadcasters publish application notices in local newspapers and allow for online notice though links to actual FCC databases, and expanding use of earth stations in motion (ESIM).
Federal appellate judges were skeptical Wednesday of math the Independent Producers Group used to assert an arbitrary and capricious Copyright Royalty Board decision cost video content producers $28 million in MVPD retransmission royalties. Appellant counsel and appellee intervenor counsel told us the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit could rule in a month or two. They said IPG challenging a CRB 2019 order on distribution of cable and satellite royalties (docket 18-1337) doesn't have broader copyright royalty implications.
The Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee’s Spectrum Strategy Governance Subcommittee plans to release this summer a report on potential major changes to federal oversight of spectrum (see 2001270046), members said Wednesday. One focus remains combining the FCC and NTIA. The meeting was delayed 30-plus minutes as members struggled to get online during the group’s first meeting in the COVID-19 era.
Commissioners are expected to unanimously approve before Thursday’s meeting an order relaxing low-power FM technical restrictions and an NPRM on expanding video descriptions, FCC officials told us. The video description draft isn’t expected to undergo much change. The LPFM order's final version is expected to include changes to the section on waivers for channel 6 interference and possible changes on directional antennas.
States are directing broadband funds to COVID-19 response, but many others lack that ability, said state commissioners, legislators and broadband officials in recent interviews. The pandemic increased states’ urgency to close broadband gaps and could lead to policy changes, they said.