European telcos and alternative players disagree on whether EU antitrust rules should extend to enable access to competitors in so-called "joint dominance" situations, where either communications providers are actively colluding or where they aren't but the market is dominated by a small number of players. The standoff arose in the context of the European Commission's proposed electronic communications code (ECC), working its way through EU institutions. The European Competitive Telecommunications Association (ECTA) and one European Parliament committee want national regulatory authorities (NRAs) to be able to address joint dominance. Network operators and the EC say extending regulatory powers beyond the current "significant market power" (SMP) analysis would hurt investment and competition.
Broadcasters in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands estimate their industry sustained between $20 million and $30 million in damage from hurricanes Irma and Maria, and without financial help, some will be forced to leave the industry. That's according to Reuben Jusino, former Puerto Rico FCC resident agent, and Eduardo Rivero, task force chair and vice president of the Puerto Rico Radio Broadcasters Association. They spoke during a seminar Thursday conducted by a task force of Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands broadcasters seeking to get stations back on-air. “There are broadcasters that it's going to be difficult to come back,” said Rivero.
A Wednesday House Rural Broadband Caucus briefing for Capitol Hill staffers focused on changes to the FCC Mobility Fund II (MFII), the Competitive Carriers Association said. “As demand for spectrum to power internet-connected devices skyrockets and the need to extend broadband service in rural areas emerges as a national priority, both the Federal Communications Commission and Congress are looking for competitive ways to distribute limited federal funds and resources based on reliable data to preserve and expand mobile broadband services,” said an invitation to the briefing, which wasn't open to the media or public. CCA Senior Vice President-Legislative Affairs Tim Donovan, Cellcom Associate Legal Counsel Larry Lueck, Mosaik Vice President-Products and Technology Chip Strange and U.S. Cellular Vice President-Federal Affairs Grant Spellmeyer spoke, according to CCA. “Many competitive carriers serve the most-difficult-to-reach areas of the country and will rely on important programs like MFII to provide, preserve and expand service to close the digital divide,” said CCA President Steven Berry in a news release. “Ensuring areas in-need have access to critical MFII funding will help achieve the bipartisan goal of closing the digital divide in rural America, and eligible areas must be based on reliable data to reflect what consumers experience,” Donovan said in the news release.
A Wednesday House Rural Broadband Caucus briefing for Capitol Hill staffers focused on changes to the FCC Mobility Fund II (MFII), the Competitive Carriers Association said. “As demand for spectrum to power internet-connected devices skyrockets and the need to extend broadband service in rural areas emerges as a national priority, both the Federal Communications Commission and Congress are looking for competitive ways to distribute limited federal funds and resources based on reliable data to preserve and expand mobile broadband services,” said an invitation to the briefing, which wasn't open to the media or public. CCA Senior Vice President-Legislative Affairs Tim Donovan, Cellcom Associate Legal Counsel Larry Lueck, Mosaik Vice President-Products and Technology Chip Strange and U.S. Cellular Vice President-Federal Affairs Grant Spellmeyer spoke, according to CCA. “Many competitive carriers serve the most-difficult-to-reach areas of the country and will rely on important programs like MFII to provide, preserve and expand service to close the digital divide,” said CCA President Steven Berry in a news release. “Ensuring areas in-need have access to critical MFII funding will help achieve the bipartisan goal of closing the digital divide in rural America, and eligible areas must be based on reliable data to reflect what consumers experience,” Donovan said in the news release.
The U.S. is extending a national emergency on narcotics trafficking from Colombia until Oct. 21, 2018, President Donald Trump said in an Oct. 16 memo. “The actions of significant narcotics traffickers centered in Colombia continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States and to cause an extreme level of violence, corruption, and harm in the United States and abroad,” Trump said.
A Thursday House Homeland Security Communications Subcommittee hearing focused on FirstNet's viability, though committee leaders also renewed their concerns about the effects of public safety agencies' mandated migration off the 470-512 MHz T-band. The 2012 spectrum law mandates that public safety agencies move off the band by 2021. Lawmakers also pressed officials on how emergency communications networks withstood hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria.
SAN FRANCISCO -- CTA released its 2017 holiday tech spending report Wednesday at the Innovation and Celebrate conference, projecting a modest 1 percent growth to $96.8 billion from 2016. That compares with strong 3.8 percent tech spending growth in Q4 2016 and negative 1.8 percent spending growth in 2015.
The National Hispanic Media Coalition and other public interest groups urged the FCC to do more to address the communications meltdown in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (see 1710040046). Chairman Ajit Pai, meanwhile, said he appointed a staff task force on hurricane recovery. Addressed to Pai, the letter also was signed by the Center for Media Justice, the Color of Change, Free Press and Public Knowledge.
The Senate Commerce Committee advanced NTIA Administrator nominee David Redl on a voice vote (see 1710040014). Now, he must overcome a hold from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, that again threatens to hinder the nominee's path to a final Senate vote. Cruz didn't vote against advancing Redl out of committee but said his long-standing concerns over Redl's position on the 2016 Internet Assigned Numbers Authority transition haven't been fully resolved. Senate Commerce twice delayed a vote on Redl over Cruz's concerns, leading to rising lobbyist doubts about Redl's prospects (see 1706280027, 1706280061, 1708020052 and 1708160034).
The Senate Commerce Committee advanced NTIA Administrator nominee David Redl on a voice vote (see 1710040014). Now, he must overcome a hold from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, that again threatens to hinder the nominee's path to a final Senate vote. Cruz didn't vote against advancing Redl out of committee but said his long-standing concerns over Redl's position on the 2016 Internet Assigned Numbers Authority transition haven't been fully resolved. Senate Commerce twice delayed a vote on Redl over Cruz's concerns, leading to rising lobbyist doubts about Redl's prospects (see 1706280027, 1706280061, 1708020052 and 1708160034).