The FCC approved 4-0 an order on service rule changes for an auction next year of the upper 37, 39 GHz and 47 GHz bands. The first high-band auction, in the 28 GHz band, hit $683.5 million Wednesday after 62 rounds. Of 3,072 licenses, 2,918 had provisionally winning bids. The FCC will next auction 24 GHz spectrum.
The FCC voted 4-0 to create a reassigned phone number database to help combat unwanted and illegal robocalls to people with new numbers. Commissioners added a safe harbor, giving some protection from Telephone Consumer Protection Act liability to parties using the database, as some expected (see 1812110014). Also at the monthly meeting Wednesday, Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel announced she wrote major voice providers asking them to offer consumers free robocall blocking solutions. And the FCC classified wireless messaging as a Communications Act Title I service, with Rosenworcel dissenting and decrying agency "doublespeak" about robotexting claims (see 1812120043).
FTC Consumer Protection Bureau Director Andrew Smith’s potential recusals (see 1812060048) don’t affect agency deliberations because of an “absolutely terrific” career staff, but conflicts like Facebook and Equifax are a "problem," Chairman Joe Simons told reporters Wednesday. He answered questions after a Senate Antitrust Law Subcommittee hearing, during which Republican and Democratic lawmakers voiced Silicon Valley monopoly concerns.
Fault lines emerged on allowing point-to-multipoint (P2MP) operations in the 3.7-4.2 GHz band and auctions vs. the C-Band Alliance (CBA) plan, in the growing fight over opening the swath to terrestrial wireless. AT&T and small satellite operators made their own proposal. Docket 18-122 replies were due Tuesday, with early ones showing divisions (see 1812110054).
It's wrong for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) to tie a labor strike to the state’s fight with Charter Communications over broadband deployment, state Sen. Robert Ortt (R) in a statement to us. Cuomo, elected last month to a third term, may be applying whatever pressure he can to make good on his policy goal of extending broadband statewide, academics said. The Public Service Commission revoked the Time Warner Cable buyout in July, but it’s unlikely the state will give the boot to Charter, they said.
The FCC voted 3-1 to approve the 2018 quadrennial review NPRM, with Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel dissenting in part and Chairman Ajit Pai accusing her of not making “a good-faith attempt to reach consensus.” Though the NPRM text wasn’t released, Media Bureau Chief Michelle Carey and Commissioner Mike O’Rielly confirmed changes to the draft were made to change the way questions are phrased, as expected (see 1812110058). They said the changes were stylistic, not substantive.
Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel accused FCC colleagues of regulatory “doublespeak,” in a decision clarifying text messages are a lightly regulated Communications Act Title I service. Members approved the declaratory ruling 3-1 over her dissent, as expected (see 1812050019). Commission staff couldn't identify any instances where lightly regulating wireless texting would have better prevented spam, and groups that generally back regulation cried foul. Members separately approved a reassigned number database order targeting some unwanted robocalls, with safe harbor from liability (see 1812120026).
A potential fight is brewing over whether 211, 611, 911 or an all-new three-digit number should be designated for a National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Each has backers and detractors, in docket 18-336 comments posted Tuesday. Comments were due as the FCC looks at implementation of August's National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act (see 1808140037).
Parties backed an FCC effort to improve 911 calling and location accuracy, noting technical challenges. There was broad support for proposals to implement Kari's Law requirements requiring 911 direct dialing from multiline telephone systems (MLTS) in larger enterprises. Industry resisted some potential regulations, particularly on a Ray Baum's Act (see 1812110052) mandate to consider requiring "dispatchable location" information is conveyed with calls to responders. Telecom and VoIP providers, equipment makers, public safety entities, enterprise groups and others filed over 30 comments in docket 18-261 through Tuesday on an NPRM (see 1809260047).
MARINA DEL RAY, California -- Consumers are in the driver’s seat on where and how they watch video, but the landscape is far from settled, said executives at a Parks Associates conference Monday.