Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., sent a letter asking the FTC and DOJ to open an investigation into Amazon’s price parity provisions, a controversial practice it ceased in Europe. Blumenthal announced the request Wednesday during a Senate Antitrust Subcommittee hearing, in which he claimed U.S. consumers are paying higher prices for goods via Amazon because of the “invisible” clause preventing merchants from charging lower prices. He called the contractual obligation for third-party sellers a barrier to entry and asked witnesses why Americans don’t deserve the same protections as Europeans. An FTC spokesperson confirmed it received the letter. DOJ didn’t comment.
The FCC should get tough with spectrum holdouts -- licensees standing in the way of repurposing spectrum to a higher use -- the Phoenix Center reported Wednesday. The document mentions the C-band, expected to be a major focus of the FCC next year (see 1812190048), but only in a footnote.
TracFone got support both from industry and public interest groups for the FCC to address "serious shortcomings" in the Lifeline national verifier (see 1812030053) being deployed by Universal Service Administrative Co. FCC and industry officials said it’s not clear whether FCC Chairman Ajit Pai will press for further action, especially since the commission is reining in the program as part of a broader series of changes to the USF (see 1806060031). Without FCC action, mass de-enrollments will start Jan. 2, commented the National Lifeline Association in docket 17-287.
Widespread doubts about the likelihood of Senate confirmation this year of FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr to a full five-year term and Democratic FCC nominee Geoffrey Starks remained Wednesday, despite the likely impending end of one of two holds on Carr. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said he's close to lifting his hold. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, said he was still maintaining his hold. Senate leaders intend to move Carr and Starks as a pair.
States diverted nearly 10 percent of $2.9 billion in 911 fee revenue for unrelated purposes in 2017, the FCC reported Wednesday. For the first time, every jurisdiction responded for this year’s report, so some exact comparisons may not be possible. The FCC flagged Montana, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, Rhode Island, West Virginia and the U.S. Virgin Islands as responsible for the $285 million in diverted revenue.
Telco, cable and electric company interests cited their efforts to restore services in the Florida Panhandle hammered by Hurricane Michael in October. Recovery was slowed by the magnitude of the devastation and coordination difficulties, and service remains out in some areas, they commented, posted through Tuesday responding to an FCC Public Safety Bureau public notice in docket 18-339 (see 1811160050).
Senate Intelligence Committee reports put malicious Instagram activity on Congress’ radar, lawmakers told us this week. One finding was continued meddling by Russia’s Internet Research Agency (see 1812170036). Lawmakers said such activity isn't surprising.
Charter Communications will pay $62.5 million in direct refunds to consumers to settle a New York lawsuit that alleged wide disparity between the former Time Warner Cable’s advertised and actual internet speeds, New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood (D) said Tuesday. The AG said it’s the largest consumer payout by an ISP in U.S. history, and the settlement could be worth $174.2 million including the value of premium channels and streaming services the company plans to provide free. Charter’s separate negotiation with New York over the Public Service Commission revoking TWC deal OK over allegedly missed broadband deployment commitments (see 1812110022) continue and is the bigger worry for Wall Street, said MoffettNathanson analyst Craig Moffett.
The FCC could soon address intercarrier compensation "arbitrage," said two FCBA panelists Tuesday. The commission is taking the issues seriously in a proceeding "ripe" for action, said Matthew Nodine, AT&T assistant vice president-federal regulatory. He's hopeful the commission acts in a "very quick time frame" to curb arbitrage "schemes" that generate carrier payments. Moderator Philip Macres of Klein Law suggested the agency could look to act in Q1. The FCC didn't comment.
FCC approval of Gray’s buy of Raycom is likely around the corner, said attorneys and industry watchers. OK is presaged by DOJ’s support last week (see 1812140019) and by FCC Monday rejection (see 1812170044) of a 7-year-old appeal of an even older Raycom transaction in Hawaii. “It sure looks like they’re clearing the decks to approve the deal,” said Garvey Schubert's Lawrence Miller.