Critics of T-Mobile's proposed buy of Sprint framed their case Monday against key aspects of the carriers' argument for federal regulators to sign off on the deal, citing aftereffects of the completed T-Mobile/Iowa Wireless (iWireless) transaction to illustrate what they say will be negative effects on rural wireless customers (see 1709270066). T-Mobile/Sprint drew attention elsewhere in Washington Monday, including at a NARUC conference. Two House subcommittees are gearing up for hearings later this week (see 1902060062).
One question for the FCC on the 5.9 GHz band's future is whether to act on a 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) waiver to deploy cellular vehicle-to-everything technology (C-V2X) in the upper 20 MHz of the band or wait for a broader NPRM. Industry officials said that with Chairman Ajit Pai quiet so far, it's tough to predict what the FCC will do. The band is allocated to dedicated short-range communications (DSRC).
The FCC is on track to issue a reimbursement plan for low-power TV, translators and FM stations in March, said industry lawyers. A public notice and progress report Monday announced allocation of additional repacking funds and reported the repacking is “ahead of schedule.” Broadcast officials told the Incentive Auction Task Force last week that repacking delays are worsening and could degrade further due to a lack of tower crews (see 1902080059).
Universal Service Administrative Co. hasn't de-enrolled any Lifeline users who failed the national verifier's automatic reverification, and no decision has been made on when that will happen, USAC Vice President-Lifeline Michelle Garber told the Telecom Staff Subcommittee at NARUC Sunday. A state commissioner and subcommittee members grilled Garber on high rates of users failing the automated check due to the NV not accessing all databases relevant to determining eligibility, with USAC not even trying to access them in higher cost states.
Amazon is focused on “engaging with our new neighbors -- small business owners, educators, and community leaders. Whether it’s building a pipeline of local jobs through workforce training or funding computer science classes for thousands of New York City students, we are working hard to demonstrate what kind of neighbor we will be,” an Amazon spokesperson emailed us Friday in response to reports the company is reconsidering its plans to build its HQ2 headquarters in New York’s Long Island City.
Intelligence agencies need to re-examine federal guidance, last updated in 2011, for collecting public-facing online and social media data, Alexander Joel, Office of the Director of National Intelligence civil liberties chief, told the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board Friday. Basic principles guiding agencies are “good ones,” Joel said during PCLOB’s first public hearing since May 2015. Agencies worry about First Amendment protections and whether officials should be explicitly linked to a person’s social network to collect public-facing data, Joel said. Collecting publicly facing data on individuals can be critical to developing overseas intelligence and preparing data for policymakers, he said.
The FCC proceeding on updating orbital debris rules could involve whether the agency should be undertaking it, experts told us. Some FCC proposals could get notable commercial industry pushback. Commissioner Brendan Carr raised authority questions when the NPRM was adopted in November (see 1811150028). The item hasn't appeared in the Federal Register. Asked when it expects publication, the FCC didn't comment.
A compromise FCC kidvid rule revamp is looking more likely, given several recent developments. Industry officials believe Democratic control of the House could be a factor, and not all of the proposals in the NPRM will make it to the final order. Commissioner Mike O'Rielly, who led the proceeding, "is looking for a compromise that provides flexibility for broadcasters and benefits children," said an aide. Broadcasters are unlikely to get “everything they want,” one lawyer said.
New Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said the FCC must move quickly on complaints AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint are selling customers' real-time location data to bounty hunters (see 1901080046). The ex-Enforcement Bureau staffer, flanked by staff, met reporters Friday.
T-Mobile “remains optimistic and confident” regulators will approve its buy of Sprint, as reviews reach their final stages, CEO John Legere told analysts Thursday as the company reported Q4 results. The New York Public Service Commission applied jobs conditions as it voted 3-0 Thursday to clear T-Mobile/Sprint in the agency’s consent agenda, which requires no discussion. The deal is likely to be approved by the end of the first half of the year, Legere said: “If not in the bottom of the ninth inning, it’s in the late innings.”