Technology neutrality and convincing regulators about spectrum needs are among challenges the commercial satellite communications industry faces, satcom regulatory officials said at a University of Nebraska space law conference Friday. Lack of regulatory certainty for new space ventures was bemoaned.
FTC Commissioner Rohit Chopra warned Congress about the threat of regulatory capture Friday, contending data-rich tech companies wield excessive power. “All too often, the government is too captured by those incumbents who use their power to dictate their preferred policies,” he told the House Antitrust Subcommittee.
Nebraska will join other states seeking waiver of Wednesday's Lifeline national verifier start in many places, Public Service Commissioner Crystal Rhoades (D) told us Friday. Connecticut and Georgia sought waiver, too. Five states so far have sought delay, raising concerns about state database access for eligibility verification. Many are concerned the NV will incorrectly cause eligible poor consumers to be dropped from or not be able to start being subscribers to government-subsidized broadband and phone service from private-sector companies.
Growing use of 5G networks for emergency services raises security issues that must be addressed, stakeholders said in recent interviews. Emergency communications systems are subject to hacking, jamming, human error and poor software development, they said. Policies that encourage reliability and security are key, said National Emergency Number Association (NENA) Technical Issues Director Brandon Abley.
Many questions remain about the 3.5 GHz citizens broadband radio service band and how many carriers will bid in June’s auction of priority access licenses, industry officials said. FCC officials remain optimistic. One wild card is the regulator's looking at a private C-band auction before the PALs auction, which could siphon interest in the shared band (see 1910100052).
South Korea launched an emergency alert system using ATSC 3.0, similar to enhanced alerts advocated by the Advanced Warning and Response Network Alliance, said executives from South Korean firm DigiCap and AWARN Executive Director John Lawson at NAB New York. The system has been in place for a month and so far transmits emergency messages similar to those using established technology. Lawson and DigiCap CEO Peter Han were optimistic it will lead to further developments in the U.S. and South Korea. “Beginning is halfway done,” said Han, quoting a Korean proverb. “If you never start, you never finish.”
Top regulatory officials from T-Mobile and Sprint spoke with FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks about the “public interest benefits” of their deal, the same day he voted to reject it (see 1910160058), said a filing posted Thursday in docket 18-197. The filing describes a flurry of activity in recent days. DLA Piper lawyer Nancy Victory said she spoke with aides to Commissioners Mike O’Rielly and Brendan Carr Friday and FCC Chief of Staff Matthew Berry Tuesday “to inquire about the status of the merger order.” The order was approved 3-2 Wednesday, with dissents by Starks and Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel.
Minnesota commissioners debated the effectiveness of a proposed settlement between Frontier Communications and the state Commerce Department to fix reported problems and improve service. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission voted 5-0 at its Thursday meeting, livestreamed from St. Paul, to approve a tweaked version of a proposed settlement to resolve a service-quality probe in docket 18-122 (see 1910070049). Meanwhile, Consolidated Communications at a recent Vermont Public Utility Commission hearing defended service and opposed automatic bill credits for problems.
FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr wants more healthcare providers to contribute to a docket on a proposed Connected Care pilot program before it moves from NPRM to order. Carr touted the pilot Thursday at a Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition conference.
USF stakeholders should make more improvements to broadband mapping, especially before the FCC begins awarding some $20 billion over about 10 years in the next version of its USF high-cost fund. That's the consensus in Q&A with us at a Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition panel (see 9:45 a.m.) Thursday and from audience members. Stakeholders targeted telcos, which some said don't always know down to a small-geographic level what areas they serve with internet service, and the FCC. The commission has been improving its mapping, working with others in the federal government including the Rural Utilities Service, said RUS Assistant Administrator-Telecom Programs Chad Parker.