NTCA moves up Jill Canfield to general counsel … ICANN appoints Merike Kao, Double Shot Security, to coordinate new DNS Security Facilitation Initiative Technical Study Group … Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and Leadership Conference Education Fund promote LaShawn Warren to executive vice president-government affairs … Cox Media Group says President-CEO Kim Guthrie leaving company; Executive Chairman Steve Pruett becomes interim CEO.
NTCA moves up Jill Canfield to general counsel … ICANN appoints Merike Kao, Double Shot Security, to coordinate new DNS Security Facilitation Initiative Technical Study Group … Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and Leadership Conference Education Fund promote LaShawn Warren to executive vice president-government affairs … Cox Media Group says President-CEO Kim Guthrie leaving company; Executive Chairman Steve Pruett becomes interim CEO.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., is eyeing legislation as a potential way to speed the FCC’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction, among other actions to improve connectivity amid COVID-19. The committee plans a Wednesday hearing to examine the "state of broadband" during the epidemic and related legislative proposals. Other senators also filed broadband-centric bills Thursday.
T-Mobile said it had the most postpaid net adds of any of U.S. carrier in Q1, reporting for the first time since completing the buy of Sprint. Front-line employees “stepped up big” during COVID-19, but the company is feeling financial effects, new CEO Mike Sievert told analysts Wednesday. “As the nation starts to emerge” after COVID-19, the company expects customers to be looking for better value in a weakened economy and T-Mobile will benefit, he said. Temporary closing of many company stores meant lower subscriber adds, service and equipment revenue “in the very short term,” he said. Chief Financial Officer Braxton Carter said profit took a $117 million hit due to the cost of closing the Sprint deal, with an $86 million hit from the pandemic. T-Mobile will have a better view of pandemic effects as Q2 continues, he said. The company plans to provide full-year guidance on the Q2 call, Carter said. “What a crazy quarter this was,” Sievert said: “The crisis has highlighted how crucial connectivity has become to our daily lives.” The carrier is deploying 5G on 2.5 GHz spectrum from Sprint in New York and Philadelphia and 5G on 600 MHz now covers 215 million customers, T-Mobile said. Chief Technology Officer Neville Ray said T-Mobile will soon deploy on the 2.5 GHz band across the Northeast. Revenue was $8.7 billion, up 5% over last year, and profit $951 million, also up 5%. T-Mobile reported record low postpaid churn of 0.86% and free cash flow of $732 million headed into the first of two big spectrum auctions this year.
T-Mobile said it had the most postpaid net adds of any of U.S. carrier in Q1, reporting for the first time since completing the buy of Sprint. Front-line employees “stepped up big” during COVID-19, but the company is feeling financial effects, new CEO Mike Sievert told analysts Wednesday. “As the nation starts to emerge” after COVID-19, the company expects customers to be looking for better value in a weakened economy and T-Mobile will benefit, he said. Temporary closing of many company stores meant lower subscriber adds, service and equipment revenue “in the very short term,” he said. Chief Financial Officer Braxton Carter said profit took a $117 million hit due to the cost of closing the Sprint deal, with an $86 million hit from the pandemic. T-Mobile will have a better view of pandemic effects as Q2 continues, he said. The company plans to provide full-year guidance on the Q2 call, Carter said. “What a crazy quarter this was,” Sievert said: “The crisis has highlighted how crucial connectivity has become to our daily lives.” The carrier is deploying 5G on 2.5 GHz spectrum from Sprint in New York and Philadelphia and 5G on 600 MHz now covers 215 million customers, T-Mobile said. Chief Technology Officer Neville Ray said T-Mobile will soon deploy on the 2.5 GHz band across the Northeast. Revenue was $8.7 billion, up 5% over last year, and profit $951 million, also up 5%. T-Mobile reported record low postpaid churn of 0.86% and free cash flow of $732 million headed into the first of two big spectrum auctions this year.
Several top Senate Armed Services Committee members appeared to side Wednesday with DOD officials on the department’s concerns with FCC OK of Ligado’s L-band plan. Others voiced skepticism about some Pentagon claims. Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., and others have been exploring legislative options to intervene (see 2004230001). Ligado, which wasn’t represented at the hearing, defended its plan and the approval order.
NAB's Dennis Wharton, executive vice president-communications, retiring effective July 1, continuing as senior adviser; Executive Vice President-Communications Michelle Lehman becoming EVP-public affairs as association combines communications and marketing departments into new public affairs department; Senior Vice President-Communications Ann Marie Cumming becoming primary spokesperson ... Newly formed Open RAN Policy Coalition (see 2005050030) names Diane Rinaldo, ex-NTIA, executive director.
NAB's Dennis Wharton, executive vice president-communications, retiring effective July 1, continuing as senior adviser; Executive Vice President-Communications Michelle Lehman becoming EVP-public affairs as association combines communications and marketing departments into new public affairs department; Senior Vice President-Communications Ann Marie Cumming becoming primary spokesperson ... Newly formed Open RAN Policy Coalition (see 2005050030) names Diane Rinaldo, ex-NTIA, executive director.
The Disaster Distress Helpline had a big jump in traffic attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, though other emergency helplines haven't had increases, administrators told us. The pandemic could intensify a push for implementation of 988 as the nationwide three-digit suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline because of the need for an easy-to-remember accessible service, said Vibrant Emotional Health President Kim Williams. Lawmakers are pushing for Capitol Hill leaders to include the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act (HR-4194/S-2661) in the next COVID-19 stimulus legislative package.
Two Iranian nationals were charged with violating U.S. export controls and sanctions after they tried to help Iranian entities buy a petroleum tanker, the Justice Department said May 1. Amir Dianat and Kamran Lajmiri allegedly concealed details about the transaction from the seller, financial institutions and the U.S. government, the agency said, and failed to disclose that the tanker was destined for Iran. Both were charged with violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations. The U.S. also filed a civil forfeiture action against Dainat for about $12.3 million, saying the funds were used in a money-laundering scheme to buy the tanker. The scheme involved the National Iranian Oil Company, the National Iranian Tanker Company and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force, all on the Specially Designated Nationals list. The tanker was valued at more than $10 million, Justice said.