Windstream expects to continue operating normally after its Chapter 11 filing Monday seeking to restructure debt in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (see 1902250025). The FCC welcomed the assurance but vowed to remain vigilant on potential USF and 911 ramifications. Others suggested more Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings are possible and cited difficult economics for rural-oriented telcos. Some had suggested Windstream could seek Chapter 11 after a federal district court reversal in its dispute with bondholder Aurelius Capital Management (see 1902190043). Moody's Friday downgraded the carrier (see 1902220057) .
T-Mobile and Sprint might have to wait until June or longer for California’s decision on their $26 billion deal, observers of the state review told us last week. Claiming due process violation by the combining carriers, the CPUC's Public Advocates Office Thursday urged the CPUC to grant more time to respond to carrier testimony that the advocates say was introduced too late in the process. New York earlier this month cleared the deal (see 1902070009).
The FCC identified the four band segments Friday to be allocated for unlicensed use in spectrum above 95 GHz in an order scheduled for a vote at the March 15 commissioners' meeting. The identity of the bands, which Chairman Ajit Pai discussed in a Thursday blog post (see 1902210048), had been the source of some confusion. The segments are 116-123, 174.8-182, 185-190 and 244-246 GHz, according to the draft order.
The FCC has shifted stances in its draft repacking reimbursement order and proposes using FY 2019 reimbursement dollars to pay back low-power TV, translator and FM stations as well as using the $200 million from FY 2018. The draft order was released Friday along with the tentative agenda. It includes items on spectrum horizons and other 5G changes, a proposal for new 911 wireless location accuracy requirements, a draft order setting intermediate carrier standards for rural call completion and rules on reauthorization of broadcast satellite stations.
CTIA urged the FCC to launch an additional NPRM to look at reserving the 6 GHz band's upper part for exclusive use licenses, while opening other parts for Wi-Fi and other unlicensed use. While many other commenters in docket 18-295 emphasized the importance of unlicensed spectrum and the need for mid-band alternatives, some 6 GHz incumbents said the FCC should drop the proposal completely, saying nothing it would mandate would eliminate the risk posed by widespread unlicensed use of the band. Comments were due midnight Friday.
Amid the FTC's "huge portfolio that’s much different" from his agency's, FCC Commissioner Mike O'Rielly said, are "a bunch of things that are unrelated. It makes it a very challenging opportunity for them." He was answering a question about the two agencies' coordination on net neutrality, during an episode of C-SPAN's The Communicators to be online Friday and televised this weekend. He repeated that net neutrality is a federal, not state, issue and raised national security concerns about Chinese 5G gear.
Donald Trump's administration released its American Broadband Initiative milestones report Wednesday, outlining a strategy for spurring wireless and wireline broadband using federal lands. It includes opening Department of Interior (DOI) towers for communications use and streamlining other buildout. The Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing on ways to ensure U.S. infrastructure keeps up with economic growth.
The FCC warned staff it lacks reserve funds to stay open in the event of another partial federal shutdown. Trade groups said they're hopeful government stays open, with some concerns if it doesn't. The agency confirmed Wednesday (see 1902130018) it sent memo to all workers saying most FCC operations would shut down at midnight Friday absent a budget agreement.
Universal Service Administrative Co. will do all Lifeline de-enrollments itself, after some providers of the government-subsidized broadband and phone service for the poor and others said they might need to yank recipients whose eligibility wasn't newly verified. The Lifeline administrator's reminder was about a reverification process that has caused provider confusion as an FCC-mandated national verifier (NV) is rolled out in states.
Telecom interests advised the FCC to encourage wireless network resiliency improvements through coordination with electric utilities, going easy on mandates. Utilities urged more telecom sector engagement with state and local authorities, and greater network protections, including through backup power. Comments were posted in docket 11-60 through Monday on a Jan. 3 Public Safety Bureau public notice seeking ways to increase such coordination amid emergencies (see 1901030037). Some telco and cable parties cited their backhaul efforts, responding to a Dec. 10 PN (see 1812100027).