The Rural Wireless Association, EchoStar and Communications Workers of America filed FCC petitions asking that the agency reject T-Mobile’s proposed acquisition of "substantially all” of UScellular’s wireless operations, including some spectrum (see 2405280047). Public interest and consumer groups also opposed approval. The deal is relatively small as telecom mergers go -- valued at about $4.4 billion, including $2 billion in assumed debt -- but has ignited substantial opposition. UScellular is the nation’s fifth-largest wireless carrier.
Senate Armed Services Committee ranking member Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and some other congressional leaders are objecting to a compromise version of the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (HR-5009) released Saturday night with language allocating $3.08 billion to fully fund the FCC’s Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program (see 2412070001). The leaders’ concerns complicate plans for HR-5009's passage. House leaders are eyeing a vote on the measure this week. Meanwhile, some lawmakers want to attach the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (HR-8449) and permanently lift some telehealth restrictions via other end-of-year measures.
Some congressional backers of the FCC’s Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program are beginning to see momentum turn toward including an additional $3.08 billion that will fully fund the initiative in an end-of-year legislative package (see 2411190064), but they aren’t guaranteeing success yet. Lawmakers and other rip-and-replace boosters hope congressional scrutiny of the Salt Typhoon Chinese government-affiliated effort at hacking U.S. telecom networks (see 2411190073) could be a tipping point for securing the funding after multiple spectrum legislative proposals, meant to pay for the program, stalled in recent years.
FCC Commissioner and incoming Chairman Brendan Carr on Tuesday discussed empowering local broadcasters, moving "aggressively” on USF revisions and opening up the space economy and jumpstarting spectrum policy. Speaking at the Practising Law Institute's 42nd Annual Institute on Telecommunications Policy & Regulation, Carr said he's “really looking forward” to taking the commission's top seat.
Tapped to lead the FCC during the second Trump administration (see 2411170001), FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr is expected to be as aggressive as possible on spectrum and wireless siting issues, industry experts said. During President-elect Donald Trump's first administration, then-Chairman Ajit Pai made Carr lead commissioner on wireless siting.
Competition is a better guarantor of good customer service than FCC rules, multiple industry groups said as they pushed back against proposals floated in the FCC's customer service NOI. The NOI was adopted 3-2 in October along party lines (see 2410230036). In comments in docket 24-472, which were due Friday, some industry groups also argued that the agency lacks legal standing on customer service rules. "Careful consideration will confirm that the Commission lacks anything like the plenary authority" to adopt a single set of customer service rules, CTIA said. Disability advocacy organizations, meanwhile, made suggestions for customer service requirements.
Charter Communications supported a USTelecom petition asking the California Public Utilities Commission to reconsider rules for implementing the state’s BEAD initial plan volume 2. However, consumer groups urged the CPUC to deny the application in a separate response Friday. USTelecom had raised concerns that state rules, including on required low-price plans, could discourage participation in the broadband grant program (see 2411010053). Charter agrees that the CPUC’s September order “contains legal errors,” including that “rate caps constitute impermissible rate regulation,” the cabler responded Friday in docket R.23-02-016. Also, Congress and the NTIA never asked for or required the CPUC’s proposed middle-class affordable service option, said Charter. And the CPUC may not require companies to participate in federal or state Lifeline programs, it said. The Utility Reform Network (TURN) and Center for Accessible Technology disagreed in a joint response the same day. USTelecom’s rehearing application “makes only narrow claims that the Commission errs by requiring participation in the state and federal Lifeline programs, which it does not, and also claims that the Commission errs by adopting affordability plans that create improper rate regulation, which is inaccurate and previously rejected by the Commission.” TURN and CforAT added, “Far from committing legal error, the Commission’s affordability programs and measures … represent a necessary and important step in the process of implementing a landmark opportunity to invest $1.86 billion in federal funding” for broadband.
Commenters disagreed on whether the FCC should require additional disclosures relative to AI calls, in reply comments to an NPRM that commissioners approved 5-0 in August. Consumer and public interest groups urged a smart approach, targeting calls that will most likely confuse consumers. Industry commenters said no new rules are needed now.
Republican FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr swiftly pointed Sunday night and Monday to enforcing broadcasters’ “public interest obligation” and ending the commission’s “promotion of” diversity, equity and inclusion policies as key parts of his agenda once he becomes chairman Jan. 20. President-elect Donald Trump announced plans Sunday night to make Carr permanent chairman when he takes office (see 2411170001). Some congressional Democrats and public interest groups criticized Carr’s agenda, while many communications policy-focused groups quickly praised the long-expected appointment (see 2407120002).
President-elect Donald Trump said Sunday night he will name Republican FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr as permanent chairman when he takes office Jan. 20, as expected. Communications sector officials and lobbyists have long pointed to Carr as the prohibitive favorite to take over the gavel if Trump won the election. Carr in part has benefited from strong ties to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who will play a role via Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency in recommending a potentially major structural revamp of federal agencies. Musk recently spoke in favor of Carr’s elevation to the chairmanship in conversations with members of Trump’s team, lobbyists told us.