If the FTC seeks to block Facebook from integrating its messaging platforms, it’s likely a justified decision backed by antitrust standards, various lawmakers told us in recent interviews. The New York Times quoting unnamed sources reports that the agency is considering seeking a preliminary injunction to block Facebook from integrating messaging services across Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp. Neither the FTC nor the company commented.
It's difficult to gauge how the citizens broadband radio service launch has gone so far. In September, the FCC, in docket 15-319 cleared Amdocs, CommScope, Federated Wireless, Google and Sony to start initial commercial deployment (ICD) in the 3.5 GHz band, but the companies aren’t required to publicly report numbers. CBRS Alliance President Dave Wright of CommScope told us initial numbers are proprietary, but CBRS is moving forward as expected with full-scale launch imminent. “I continue to be extremely excited,” Wright said.
House and Senate Commerce Committee leaders told us they’re aiming to return after the holiday recess to talks on legislation aimed at allocating proceeds from a pending FCC spectrum auction of in the 3.7-4.2 GHz C band. Senate Commerce Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., wasn’t able to reach an agreement with Democratic lawmakers (see 1912160061) to attach language from his C-band-centric 5G Spectrum Act (S-2881) to one of two FY 2020 minibus appropriations bills (HR-1158/HR-1865) that President Donald Trump signed last week. Some officials and lobbyists we spoke with are skeptical the lawmakers can reach an agreement that will bridge the divide that prevented a deal on S-2881.
Higher international average revenue per user forecasts in Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East led Pivotal Research Group to raise its year-end 2020 target price for Netflix to $425 from $400. For Q4, it’s forecasting 600,000-plus net new U.S. subscriber additions and more than 8 million internationally, ahead of guidance, wrote analyst Jeffrey Wlodarczak in a Thursday investor note.
ISPs expect wide participation in the first phase of the $20 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund auctions FCC Chairman Ajit Pai signaled he wants in 2020, they said in interviews this month. RDOF replaces the Connect America Fund phase II USF program that supports deployment in high-cost, sparsely populated areas (see 1907110031). "We'll start to see the pace of things quicken in 2020," said Mike Saperstein, USTelecom vice president-policy and advocacy.
Massachusetts is challenging the FCC's order that Charter Communications faces effective competition in parts of the state and Hawaii from the AT&T TV Now streaming service (see 1910250036). Similar Cox Communications and Comcast petitions with the agency for similar determinations (see 1912190070) will likely also get state and locality opposition there, we were told. Hawaii didn't comment when asked if it would also appeal.
Cincinnati Bell agreed to sell its telecom company, with a network footprint of more than 1.3 million homes in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Hawaii, to Toronto-based Brookfield Infrastructure in a deal announced Monday valued at $2.6 billion, including stock purchase and the assumption of the telco's debt. "The transaction strengthens our financial position, enabling accelerated investment in our strategic products that is not presently available to Cincinnati Bell as a standalone company," said Leigh Fox, president-CEO of Cincinnati Bell, in a statement. "This will allow us to drive growth and maximize value over the long term," he said. Brookfield Infrastructure CEO Sam Pollock said the company will leverage its operating expertise to help Cincinnati Bell management "complete its industry-leading fiber optic roll-out plan."
As the clamor over the proposed sale of the Public Interest Registry to a private equity firm grows, stakeholders said the deal is unlikely to be stopped via antitrust or other legal avenues, but ICANN could force concessions from the buyer. The transaction, announced Nov. 13, involves the sale of PIR's assets to Ethos Capital. Despite assurances from the buyer and the seller, the Internet Society (ISOC), opposition continues to grow (see 1912090002), with several Democratic members of Congress seeking answers Monday to a lengthy list of questions by early next year. In his year-end blog, ICANN Board Chair Maarten Botterman stressed the organization "takes its responsibility in evaluating this proposed transaction very seriously" and again urged the parties to behave openly and transparently.
The California Public Utilities Commission received final arguments for and against the T-Mobile/Sprint deal, before a possible vote in early February. T-Mobile and Sprint said FCC and DOJ orders add to the deal’s public-interest benefits. That pact's plan to add Dish Network as a fourth national carrier didn’t persuade consumer advocates or the Communications Workers of America to support the deal, though they appeared open to strict CPUC conditions. The California commission is the last state agency OK the carriers need.
CTIA and carriers are pushing the FCC to move some 6 GHz incumbents to spectrum above 7.125 GHz, but it’s unclear that approach will work. NTIA has been scoping the 7125-8400 MHz band since the summer (see 1908010065). NTIA officials now say they think federal agencies, particularly DOD, are active in the band and their systems would be difficult to relocate, said industry officials active in the proceeding. Some uses of the band are classified.