The FCC fielded multiple requests for tweaking the requirements for registering C-band receive-only earth stations to help grease the path to registration, but it's not clear whether the agency will go that route, experts told us. With only a fraction of earth stations registered now, whether a significant percentage will end up registered similarly isn't clear. If the FCC can't get even a majority registered, it will be making rulings “on an invalid database," said Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE) President Jim Leifer. "That’s my biggest concern.” The FCC didn't comment.
The California Senate voted 23-12 to pass a net neutrality bill by state Sen. Scott Wiener (D) that was endorsed by former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler. On the Senate floor Wednesday, one Democratic senator doubted SB-822 would hold up to legal scrutiny, but said he would vote for it anyway on principle. Republicans opposed the bill as harmful and illegal. In the lead-up to the vote, industry clashed with supporters of the FCC’s 2015 open internet rules.
CTIA asked the FCC to act on changes to rules for the 3.5 GHz citizens broadband radio service band at the July 12 commissioners' meeting. The Wednesday letter by President Meredith Baker said unless the FCC acts soon, the U.S. will fall behind other countries in the race to 5G. CTIA asked the FCC to approve rules based on its April proposal made with the Competitive Carriers Association (see 1804240067). The Public Interest Spectrum Coalition (PISC) pushed for small priority access licenses (PALs) in the band, with no major changes from the Obama administration rules.
Supporters of a Congressional Review Act resolution aimed at reversing the FCC's order to rescind 2015 net neutrality rules are beginning to focus on targeting potential House GOP supporters. Lawmakers and lobbyists we spoke with differed on whether the priority will be on targeting vulnerable incumbents as the most likely to flip to supporting the measure. The Senate voted 52-47 for the resolution earlier this month with the support of three Republicans (see 1805160043 and 1805160064). It faces tougher odds in the House since the GOP has a 235-193 advantage in that chamber.
Much of the tech industry -- though CTA was silent -- blasted the Trump administration Tuesday for announcing it plans to go ahead with 25 percent Trade Act Section 301 tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese imports. The products affected won’t be known until the U.S. Trade Representative's office releases its final tariffs list by June 15. Tariffs will be imposed “shortly thereafter,” said the White House.
An ICANN injunctive action against a German domain name registrar seeks to "preserve Whois," the internet body said. The case, filed in Bonn Friday against EPAG Domainservices GmbH, asks the court for "assistance in interpreting" the EU general data protection regulation (GDPR). EPAG said it will no longer collect registrants' administrative and technical contact information when it sells new domain names because that would violate the GDPR. ICANN, with a "temporary specification" for registries and registrars to follow to comply, said EPAG's "position has identified a disagreement with ICANN and others as to how the GDPR should be interpreted." While clarification might be helpful, the GDPR trumps ICANN's specification, ICANN players told us Tuesday.
Rural telcos asked the FCC to increase their USF support and take other steps to ensure subsidy flows meet statutory mandates and help carriers improve broadband service. Tribal groups said the agency had to do more to support tribal carrier broadband efforts and operations expenses. But NCTA opposed proposals to increase Connect America Fund spending for rate-of-return (RoR) telcos without offsets, and both it and the Wireless ISP Association suggesting using reverse auctions to award some support. Comments on an NPRM attached to an order providing $545 million in new support for RLECs (see 1803230025) were posted Friday and Tuesday in docket 10-90.
The National Weather Service asked the FCC to require inclusion of multimedia content in wireless emergency alerts, joining the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which made a similar request last week (see 1805240035). FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is coming under increasing pressure to address multimedia content, but wireless and public safety officials said Pai doesn't appear to have decided how to proceed. Comments were due last week on a Public Safety Bureau notice to update the record (see 1803280029) on the feasibility of carriers including multimedia content in WEAs.
Advocates rallied for California net neutrality legislation Tuesday before a Senate floor vote expected this week on the bill by state Sen. Scott Wiener (D). Opposed by industry and backed by former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler and other 2015 open internet rule supporters, SB-822 “is more far reaching than the bills put forth in the other states,” emailed Sherry Lichtenberg, National Regulatory Research Institute telecom principal. A June 5 primary for U.S. Senate may affect politics around the California effort, said Tellus Venture Associates President Steve Blum.
The FCC approved enhanced USF support for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to help them recover from 2017 hurricanes Irma and Maria, as expected (see 1803060039). Commissioners voted 4-1 May 8 to adopt an order and NPRM, which was released Tuesday, with Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel partially dissenting and departing Commissioner Mignon Clyburn participating. The agency will make available $750 million in subsidies through an "Uniendo a (Bringing Together) Puerto Rico Fund" and $204 million through a "Connect USVI Fund." About $256 million of it is additional funding, the rest repurposed; and about $64 million will be provided immediately and almost $900 million over the mid-to-long term.