FCC members approved 5-0 a public notice Thursday seeking comment on an auction of priority access licenses (PALs), the licensed part of the 3.5 GHz citizens broadband radio service band. As expected, Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks raised concerns (see 1909230056) but voted to approve after each got changes to the notice. The auction is to start June 25.
House Communications Subcommittee leaders are expected to broadly frame a Friday legislative hearing on supply chain security and spectrum bills as a bid to secure the U.S. role in leading 5G development. The bids come from two distinct angles -- ensuring the telecom infrastructure is protected from national security threats of Chinese equipment manufacturers and other potential bad actors, and ensuring continuity in federal management of spectrum. Lawmakers will examine seven measures during the hearing, which is set for 9:30 a.m. in 2123 Rayburn.
FCC Commissioners differed along party lines about the strength of the agency's relationship with local government. Republican members noted areas of commonality and work the regulator has done with municipal and other non-federal counterparts. Democrats said the agency needs to improve. The commissioners were answering our questions at a news conference after their monthly meeting Thursday.
FCC commissioners voted to move forward with $950 million to help improve and strengthen broadband networks in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It was one of five unanimous votes Thursday at the agency's monthly meeting, though commissioners from each party expressed some concerns.
More state commissions should consider strong ethics policies, including about campaign contributions, said Arizona Commissioner Boyd Dunn and government transparency advocates in interviews. While agreeing it's important, some state commissioners said they want to avoid unintended consequences.
FCC Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks said they have been frozen out of the process on changes to the order approving T-Mobile buying Sprint, circulated by Chairman Ajit Pai in August (see 1908140052). FCC officials told us only Pai and Commissioner Mike O’Rielly have voted to approve. Commissioner Brendan Carr’s office has had a series of meetings on the deal (see 1909240017).
FTC Chairman Joe Simons wants to double the size of his agency’s tech task force (see 1902280077), supplement privacy and enforcement efforts, and hire more technologists and economists, he told the House Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee Wednesday. The House’s FY 2020 budget bill includes $349.7 million for the FTC (see 1906260081 and 1906240061), up about $40 million from what Congress allocated in the FY 2019 spending bill passed in February. More than half of the additional $40 million might be needed to cover mandatory compensation increases and other agency operations, Simons said. The rest could fund the priorities he listed. Simons and Chopra didn't take questions after the hearing.
Telecom, fiber and satellite parties interested in expanding their broadband footprints in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands met with aides to FCC commissioners and officials at the agency's Wireline Bureau over the past few weeks to share their concerns over a new wave of awards in the Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund and the Connect USVI Fund in docket 18-143. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai issued a draft order this month on how the agency will allocate $950 million in USF dollars to providers for rebuilding and strengthening broadband networks in those territories after the devastating hurricanes Maria and Irma hit within a two-week period in 2017 (see 1909050043).
The biggest hurdles to independent programming getting on MVPD platforms are the retransmission consent rules regime and the skyrocketing retrans fees being paid to broadcasters, indie programmers and MVPDs said at a Multicultural Media Caucus Hill briefing Wednesday. Fixes could include the Modern TV Act (HR-3994) and using the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act renewal (STELAR) to change the video marketplace, some said.
TAMPA -- Public, educational and governmental access programmers should get creative in how they raise money and in other parts of their operations, amid revenue and other challenges, NATOA was told Wednesday. There's declining cable revenue in many localities, as the number of traditional pay-TV subscribers shrinks and cable ISPs focus more on broadband, plus uncertainty about what regulators including the FCC might do next. To seek alternative ways of getting money means turning to concepts in other sectors: branding, fundraising, working with IRS-deemed 501(c)(3) affiliates, getting corporate and other sponsorships, and asking people to make donations.