Univision’s acquisition by two investment firms in the wake of Apollo Global Management’s Terrier deal isn’t a sign of investor cash heading into broadcasting, industry analysts told us this week. The purchase of a majority stake in Univision by Searchlight Capital Partners and Forgelight, announced Feb. 25 (see 2002250053), isn’t expected to hit regulatory snags at the FCC or DOJ. The Univision deal “isn’t a bellwether of a flow of private equity into broadcasting,” said Patrick Communications media broker Gregory Guy.
There's a need for a new federal broadband plan, with different metrics and tasked outside the FCC, panelists said Tuesday during the Incompas Policy Summit. They commented on the 10-year-old FCC National Broadband Plan.
In an unusual collaboration, Verizon joined with the National Consumer Law Center and Consumer Federation of America to urge the Supreme Court to preserve the Telephone Consumer Protection Act when it decides later this year on Barr v. American Association of Political Consultants. To be heard April 22, the case could have big implications for the FCC and companies concerned about enforcement (see 2001130044). Verizon and the consumer groups filed an amicus brief in docket 19-631. Members of Congress and states supported the importance of preserving the TCPA. Retailers said TCPA is leading to lawsuits never envisioned by Congress, and should be reined in.
House Commerce Committee ranking member Greg Walden, R-Ore., expressed some doubt about reaching a deal on legislation to allocate proceeds of a coming FCC auction of spectrum of the 3.7-4.2 GHz C band (see 2002070044), amid ongoing talks with committee Democrats. Senate Appropriations Financial Services Subcommittee Chairman John Kennedy, R-La., finalized plans for a hearing on his concerns with the FCC’s plan for the C-band auction.
Tentative plans by DOJ's Antitrust Division and the FTC not to challenge a vertical transaction if the parties have a share of less than 20% of a relevant market raised several red flags in comments submitted last week. The agencies got several recommendations that we received earlier (see 2002270043). We asked both Wednesday for all the submissions, and received a link from the FTC. Last week, we had filed a Freedom of Information Act request for them, which we are seeking on Monday to withdraw.
Privacy advocates differed in interviews Monday if the FCC’s $208 million in proposed fines against the four national carriers for failing to safeguard data (see 2002280065) was adequate, given the consumer impact and how its calculated. Friday, Commissioner Geoffrey Starks questioned whether the agency failed to properly calculate consumer harm in reaching the fine amount. Commissioner Mike O’Rielly suggested the agency should have considered more information from the companies.
New Jersey regulators continue looking at potentially statewide service problems with Verizon and other ILEC networks, said Board of Public Utilities officials in interviews. Asserting state power to protect consumers, the board is fighting lawsuits by cable operator Altice on a prorating rule. The Rate Counsel Division supports public hearings about telecom problems but worries the agency won’t aggressively respond, Director Stefanie Brand told us.
Concerns over payments for satellite operators dominated discussions Friday as the FCC approved an item (see 2002280044) on a C-band auction. Democrats Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks mentioned competition issues, focused on concerns payments to incumbents won’t survive legal challenge.
The FCC unanimously approved an NPRM Friday seeking comment on proposals to allow devices that use the TV white space to operate with higher power in less-congested areas. The item’s final text hadn’t been released, but the final notice was little changed from the draft, said Office of Engineering and Technology staff. That was as expected (see 2002250084).
The FCC approved 5-0 draft bidding procedures for the 3.5 GHz citizens broadband radio service band, which formally schedules a June 25 auction of CBRS licenses. Unlike the C band (see 2002280044), this second mid-band item was approved after a relatively brief discussion without similar political fireworks. Commissioner Mike O’Rielly and Jessica Rosenworcel agreed the process has taken too long. The licenses will be the first mid-band spectrum the FCC has offered for 5G.