FCC Media Bureau approval of Apollo Global Management-related Terrier Media’s buy of Cox Media Group and Northwest’s stations (see 1911220069) is another indication the FCC isn’t likely to approve deals with complications testing the limits of existing broadcast rules, attorneys, broadcasters and brokers said in interviews this week. “If it pushes the envelope, they’ll slow your deal up,” one broadcaster said.
House Commerce Committee ranking member Greg Walden of Oregon is the most recent in a string of six Communications Subcommittee Republican members who say they won't seek re-election in 2020 (see 1910280020). At the least, just less than half of the subcommittee's GOP roster is leaving at the end of this Congress. That turnover could present opportunities for remaining Republican veterans like House Communications ranking member Bob Latta of Ohio to have even more influence over telecom policymaking beginning in 2021. Some officials and experts we interviewed question how that will change the process.
Report ISPs are deploying broadband to all Americans "in a reasonable and timely fashion," industry told the FCC in comments posted through Monday in docket 19-285 on a notice of inquiry for the 15th annual Communications Act Section 706 report (see 1910230065). Critics said the last report overstated broadband deployment (see 1905290017).
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker doesn’t think Democrats will insist on including a private right of action in bipartisan privacy legislation, he told reporters last week. The Mississippi Republican noted California’s privacy law limits private right of action. “I don’t think Democrats will insist on that in a final bill,” he said. “I don’t expect this Congress to move to the left of the California initiative.”
Texas and Nevada settlements with T-Mobile buying Sprint won’t stop state attorneys general from going to trial in less than two weeks, New York and California AGs said Monday. States challenging the takeover lost Texas' Ken Paxton, the only Republican colleague who had joined them in challenging the transaction. Democratic AGs from Colorado and Mississippi had made similar pacts to withdraw from the suit (see 1910210053). Fourteen AGs remain. Observers gave to us high odds to the trial opening Dec. 9 at U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Commissioners voted 3-2 along party lines to issue an NPRM in FCC docket 19-308 on eliminating regulations on certain unbundling and resale requirements for ILECs to make parts of their facilities-based networks available to CLECs that want to use the unbundled network elements (UNEs) to sell voice and broadband services (see 1911190009). Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks dissented. The new rules would eliminate most requirements for ILECs to unbundle and resell certain voice-grade and DSL loops except for residential use in certain rural areas. The NPRM proposes a three-year transition.
New York should pass a state privacy law to set proper standards and push federal legislators to take action, Senate Democrats told a hearing. Industry opposed including a private right of action. Consumer advocates applauded the provision.
The FCC approved national security supply chain rules Friday, barring equipment from Chinese vendors Huawei and ZTE from networks funded by the USF and establishing rules that could block other providers (see 1910290054). Commissioner Mike O’Rielly voted yes, with reservations. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said the FCC needs to do more and should have acted more quickly. Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said smaller carriers using USF should be reimbursed for ripping Chinese gear out of their networks. Officials acknowledged the item got late changes sought by commissioners (see 1911200030).
President Donald Trump asked for nothing on the C band (see 1911180065) when he called Oct. 30, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai told reporters. “The president called me and told me that Sen. [John] Kennedy had called him and he was just calling to ask what the issue was.” Pai recounted after Friday's commissioners meeting that Trump “did not express a view on the merits of the proceeding at all. It did not affect our decision.”
FCC staff approved about $3.5 billion worth of broadcast deals, over opposition from some opponents of media consolidation. A company affiliated with Apollo Global Management is buying what stakeholders have said are all of Cox Enterprises' TV stations and most of its radio stations. Also being purchased are apparently all of Northwest's TV stations (see 1910180027).