FCC commissioners finished OK'ing an emergency COVID-19 telehealth program Tuesday (see 2004010032) that directs $200 million from the Cares Act to healthcare providers to treat patients at home. Chairman Ajit Pai circulated the item Monday (see 2003300048) and Commissioner Brendan Carr voted then. Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said Tuesday morning he voted yes. At that day's FCC meeting, Commissioner Mike O'Rielly asked that the item, which attached a three-year, $100 million USF Connected Care pilot long in the works (see 2003120002), be split in two so commissioners could deliberate on them separately.
Updated orbital debris rules for satellite operators and possibly expanding video description requirements to other markets will be among the topics on April 23's FCC agenda, Chairman Ajit Pai blogged Wednesday. The items are expected to be released Thursday. Pai will also seek a vote on Wi-Fi in the 6 GHz band and on a 5G Fund for Rural America (see 2004010065).
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said Wednesday he will seek a vote at the April 23 commissioners' meeting on opening the 6 GHz band to sharing with Wi-Fi unlicensed (see [Ref2004010053]). Some consider it a capstone to his legacy. A few key details remain unclear. More will be revealed Thursday when the draft is released.
T-Mobile US said Wednesday it “officially completed” buying Sprint and its CEO transition, with Mike Sievert replacing John Legere ahead of schedule. Analysts expect a relatively smooth transition, much quicker than that which followed Sprint/Nextel 15 years ago. The deal got final federal signoff with the Tunney Act clearance by the U.S. District Court in Washington, hours after the carriers said they finished combining (see 2004010018). DOJ welcomed the decision.
President Donald Trump said Tuesday he’s interested in pursuing $2 trillion in infrastructure spending as part of the next bill addressing COVID-19. Congressional Democrats have been pushing for future COVID-19 legislation to tackle infrastructure issues since Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (HR-748) last week (see 2003260063). Trump and other administration officials spoke with major U.S. ISPs about the providers’ efforts to increase network capacity to accommodate increased telework and distance learning use.
COVID-19 highlights the need for the FTC to scrutinize children's data collection, advocates repeated this week as privacy attorneys dismissed calls for industry to alter regimes. The agency should compel information from technology, media and educational tech companies collecting kids' data, the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood and Center for Digital Democracy wrote the agency Thursday (see 2003260011). The commission received the letter.
Commissioners voiced support Tuesday for two telehealth items Chairman Ajit Pai announced Monday (see 2003300048). Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said he voted yes before Tuesday's meeting. Brendan Carr had previously said similar. To be approved, FCC actions need three votes. When a chairman circulates an item, it usually signals the chair has voted yes.
Commissioner Mike O’Rielly vowed to prevent broadcast ownership regulations from applying to ATSC 3.0, in his written remarks Tuesday on the FCC NPRM on distributed transmission systems. That NPRM and media items on program carriage and significantly viewed stations were, as expected (see 2003300054), approved unanimously before a brief teleconference-only commissioners’ meeting Tuesday. Commissioners mostly held off on comments (see 2003310067). Telecom items also were OK'd (see 2003310039).
Commissioners approved secure telephone identity revisited and secure handling of asserted information using tokens call authentication rules electronically before their abbreviated meeting Tuesday (see 2003310012). No items were discussed in detail. Commissioners released statements expressing some concerns about Stir/Shaken authentication rules and urging more action in response to COVID-19. The meeting lasted about 14 minutes.
T-Mobile/Sprint opponents rang alarm bells after the carriers laid the foundation to possibly close their deal without California OK (see 2003310017). Sprint advised the California Public Utilities Commission Monday evening it's relinquishing its state certificate. The two carriers moved to withdraw their wireline transfer-of-control application. It could mean the companies close the multibillion-dollar combination as soon as Wednesday, analysts said.