The FTC and DOJ haven’t fully honored their clearance agreement while investigating big tech platforms for competition reasons, FTC Chairman Joe Simons said Tuesday. DOJ Antitrust Division Chief Makan Delrahim said during the Senate Antitrust Subcommittee hearing he can’t deny instances where time has been “wasted” on such squabbles.
The report on the Senate Appropriations Financial Services Subcommittee-cleared FY 2020 budget bill, which includes funding for the FCC and FTC, has language aimed at pressuring the FCC to hold a public auction of spectrum on the 3.7-4.2 GHz C band, subcommittee Chairman John Kennedy, R-La., confirmed to us Tuesday. Some communications lobbyists expected the funding bill to include C-band language (see 1909160062). The subcommittee advanced the measure to the full committee on a voice vote. The full bill text and report isn't publicly available and won't be released until after the full committee marks it up Thursday.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks told the Competitive Carriers Association he met with CCA members before a keynote Tuesday to discuss security of network equipment from Huawei and other Chinese equipment makers (see 1909170023). Starks warned gear that isn’t secure will likely have to be removed from networks. Commissioner Brendan Carr said he hasn’t decided whether issues raised in a public notice Friday (see 1909160018) will be his next focus on wireless infrastructure.
A Maine law requiring cable operators provide video service a la carte and facing cable industry legal challenge isn't likely to be replicated elsewhere soon, experts told us. A cable lawyer said more cable suits challenging this law seem unlikely because the Comcast/programmers litigation (see 1909100041) is likely sufficient. Charter Communications, whose service footprint covers much of Maine, and America's Communications Association didn't comment Monday.
FCC action on the 5.9 GHz band appears unlikely until at least November. The Department of Transportation appears to be digging in to defend the use of the band for safety alone, opposing sharing with Wi-Fi. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai told the Wi-Fi World Congress in May the commission would soon take another look at the spectrum (see 1905140050). Pai was expected to circulate a Further NPRM that month but pulled it after Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao objected (see 1906180072). The band is for dedicated short-range communications.
Staff is entering the second phase of a lengthy process to update the FCC's main filing system. After spending about a year on internal communications and other early work, agency employees are now poised to speak with external stakeholders. The update may include ways to help prevent the agency's filing system from being overwhelmed with fraudulent or spam comments that could slow it down, and it could register users, officials told the agency's Consumer Advisory Committee. Unlike past filing system revamps, this one may have bigger changes, staff told CAC.
The FCC's order approving Nexstar’s buy of Tribune with a 2-2 party line split could have consequences for advocacy groups seeking to weigh in on future FCC decisions, said dissents from Commissioners Geoffrey Starks and Jessica Rosenworcel. Many lawyers agreed.
The FTC is drafting a guidance document for applying antitrust law to tech platforms, Chairman Joe Simons said Friday at Fordham University. Tuesday, Simons testifies with DOJ Antitrust Division Chief Makan Delrahim before the Senate Antitrust Subcommittee.
Additional broadcasting, consumer and tech industry groups urged DOJ not end or change the ASCAP and BMI consent decrees, in comments the department published Friday. Almost 900 entities commented on the consent decree review. They reflected divisions between industries evident in filings we reviewed in August (see 1908120045).
The FCC sought comment Friday on a CTIA petition filed a few days earlier (see 1909090051) seeking clarity on wireless siting rules. The Wireless Infrastructure Association filed a similar petition in August (see 1908230052). Industry lawyers said the public notice likely presages what will be the FCC’s next big wireless infrastructure push. Local government groups are expected to oppose it.