GCI Communication asked the FCC to reconsider a public notice that "purports" to give providers rate guidance for the USF rural healthcare telecom program (see 1902190031). The Wireline Bureau's Feb. 15 PN "entirely disregards detailed, on-the-record objections to which the Commission is legally obligated to respond and which show the guidance to be irrational and counterproductive, ignoring relevant evidence of market-based prices," petitioned GCI, posted Tuesday in docket 17-130: "It will be vulnerable on judicial review." Alaska Communications last week said the PN guidance "appears to overlook ... pragmatic realities" (see 1903140062).
The FCC doesn't go far enough in proposed unified licensing for satellites and earth stations in the same geostationary orbit (GSO) network, satellite operators and allies said in docket 18-314 comments this week. Many backed other agency suggestions for streamlining Part 25 rules. One area of contention is a proposal to allow applicants to correct application omissions or errors without losing their place in line. Replies are due April 16.
A proposal from Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., to tax the tech industry on data collection is a political move that’s not realistically enforceable, said politically conservative and libertarian tech observers Tuesday. During an American Action Forum event, R Street Institute Fellow Caleb Watney called it an effort to seize political momentum, rather than an attempt to solve real issues.
Rising retransmission consent rates, dependence on the UHF discount, and a lack of complete information are reasons the FCC should turn down Nexstar’s proposed buy of Tribune (see 1901300054), said postings in docket 19-30 this week. Dish Network, NCTA, Frontier Communications, the American Television Alliance and a collection of anti-consolidation groups including Common Cause and Sports Fan Coalition filed concerns. “The transaction raises serious concerns under antitrust analysis that would undermine competition in the broadcast market,” said the anti-consolidation joint filing.
State bills to speed up next-generation 911 rollout are gaining steam in Arkansas and Maryland. Widely supported bills heard Tuesday would increase 911 user fees to fund system upgrades.
China, the supply chain and 5G are the top policy focuses of the Department of Homeland Security’s new Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Director Christopher Krebs said Tuesday at a lunch sponsored by Samsung and the Telecommunications Industry Association. Krebs defended DHS’ decision not to include the FCC among the principal members of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Task Force unveiled last year. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said repeatedly the FCC should have a seat.
The White House’s renewed proposal to wind down and then cut off CPB federal funding isn’t a surprise and won’t keep public TV groups from seeking a funding increase, said public TV broadcasters and others in interviews. “We are assured by our friends in Congress that we have broad support for this funding increase,” said America’s Public Television Stations CEO Patrick Butler. APTS is seeking a $50 million increase for CPB after 10 years of level funding at $445 million (see 1902250063).
Replies on the 6 GHz NPRM largely refuted claims in initial comments (see 1902190005), which included many from incumbents concerned about interference. The FCC appears committed to moving forward with unlicensed in 6 GHz, and licensed in the C band, and must decide on such issues as whether to allow use of the band indoors without automated frequency control (AFC) (see 1902250054). Replies were due Monday in docket 18-295.
Last week's terrorist attack in New Zealand puts more pressure on lawmakers to regulate online platforms, some experts said. Even before that, 70-80 proposals for regulating platforms were under consideration globally, Hogan Lovells preliminarily found in an ongoing six-month survey. Early results show "by far the most proposals we tracked come from the government," emailed Hogan Lovells (Brussels) competition lawyer Falk Schoening.
Some factors point toward Congress enacting a narrowly tailored reauthorization of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act this year, but many unknowns remain, industry representatives said Monday during an FCBA event. The 2014 STELA recertification extended the statute through 2019 (see 1411200036). Some lawmakers are beginning to dig into the debate over recertification before a likely March 27 Senate Commerce Committee media market hearing (see 1903150045).