Alaska-based General Communication signed a long-term agreement with Intelsat for extended C- and Ku-band capacity on Intelsat’s Horizons 1 and Galaxy 18 satellites. The agreement enables GCI “to support broadband services to schools and medical clinics, as well as telemedicine applications for hospitals that are located in underserved areas of Alaska,” Intelsat said in a press release (http://bit.ly/1hwFHTA). GCI already uses Intelsat’s capacity to offer telephony, high speed Internet and video services to customers across Alaska, Intelsat said.
A Nov. 8 FCC workshop on unlicensed spectrum and the incentive auction of TV spectrum will start with remarks by Office of Engineering and Technology Chief Julius Knapp, followed by two panels. Panel one takes on the benefits and uses of unlicensed spectrum, panel two the technical aspects of unlicensed operations in the 600 MHz band. The workshop is 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. EST at FCC headquarters (http://bit.ly/Hh59hT).
JetBlue is a “few weeks” from commercial launch of its satellite-based in-flight Wi-Fi service, which is expected to deliver up to 12 Mbps download speeds, JetBlue officials said on an earnings call. JetBlue is in final testing of the service with a Boeing A320 150-seat airplane that’s flying the airline’s U.S. routes, Chief Commercial Officer Robin Hayes said. The Wi-Fi offering is being implemented by ViaSat and JetBlue’s Live TV. The Wi-Fi service will be installed across JetBlue’s A320/321 150-seat and 190-seat airplanes in 2014 with its 100-seat Embraer E190 aircraft to follow by mid-2015, CEO David Barger said. The goal is to have 85 percent of JetBlue’s airplanes covered by year-end 2014, Barger said. The JetBlue Wi-Fi offering is based on the platform ViaSat developed for its Exede consumer service.
CEA President Gary Shapiro pressed the Federal Aviation Administration to move forward on rules to allow passengers to keep on their non-connected electronic devices through all aspects of flight before the busy holiday season (http://bit.ly/1aIOO0s). Shapiro wrote FAA Administrator Michael Huerta (http://bit.ly/1aIOO0s).
The FCC Media Bureau approved a station transaction in Alaska over the objections of broadcasters who had argued the deal would create a monopoly and raise concerns comparable to the Comcast/NBCUniversal merger, said an FCC order released Wednesday afternoon. Cable operator General Communications Inc. (GCI) will acquire the licenses to KTVA(TV), Anchorage, and low-powers KATH-LD, Juneau-Douglas, and KSCT-LP, Sitka, from an affiliate of Media News Group. A coalition of Alaskan broadcasters had filed numerous petitions (CD Feb 22 p17) asking the commission to deny the transaction because of GCI’s unique market position and how it might affect retransmission negotiations and local journalism. GCI’s lines pass 90 percent of all Alaska television households and it doesn’t face much competition from direct broadcast satellite providers because of “the unique geographic terrain of Alaska,” the order said. However, the broadcaster objections were “more appropriate for industry-wide proceedings, are unsupported, or are otherwise speculative with regard to future harms,” said the order. “We find that the Applications do not propose a transaction that would violate” FCC rules, the order said. The transaction “would not accord GCI with the leverage necessary to force a top-four television network to drop other affiliates, allow a network bypass, or diminish existing exclusivity rights with other affiliates,” said the order. The Media Bureau said allegations that the consolidation would affect journalistic independence are “speculative and based on hearsay.” The First Amendment and Section 326 of the Communications Act “bar us from withholding approval of a transaction based on a change in editorial perspective,” the bureau said.
Gogo will move its headquarters from Itasca, Ill., to Chicago. The in-flight connectivity provider chose Chicago “to tap into the city’s extensive talent pipeline, because of its access to domestic and foreign partners, and its thriving technology community,” it said in a news release (http://bit.ly/1aeqZJD). Gogo provides its services through its own ground-based cellular air-to-ground network and satellite technology platforms, it said.
Adak Eagle Enterprises and subsidiary Windy City Cellular, which have pleaded with the FCC to reconsider the Wireline and Wireless bureaus’ denial of their waiver petition (CD Oct 25 p7), asked Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel to pay close heed to ex parte filings in support of their request. In a letter sent Wednesday, AEE and WCC said they were “encouraged” by Rosenworcel’s remarks at the Federal Communications Bar Association luncheon, in which she emphasized the importance of public safety and need for universal service (CD Oct 30 p10). The Marine Exchange of Alaska discussed how essential the carriers’ services are for public safety, AEE and WCC said. The carriers also cited the comments of the Minority Media and Telecom Council, which warned that minorities will be hurt if the denial stands. “AEE and WCC recognize that you were not responsible for the 84 percent overnight flash-cut in WCC’s funding and the rapid phasedown of AEE’s funding which took effect in early 2012, and which have destabilized and nearly destroyed the companies,” the carriers told Rosenworcel. “Nor were you responsible for the costly and overly complicated waiver process that has continued for over a year and a half, and has left both companies on the brink of bankruptcy,” they said. “Based on your recent remarks on the importance of public safety and universal service for all Americans, the companies are hopeful that you will take the opportunity to correct the Commission’s course."
A group of House members will support the Trans-Pacific Partnership through a new caucus on TPP, said Rep. Dave Reichert, R-Wash., in a news release Tuesday. The caucus, named the Friends of the TPP, is co-chaired by Reps. Charles Boustany, R-La.; Ron Kind, D-Wis.; Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y.; and Reichert. “The Trans-Pacific Partnership represents a great opportunity to be a groundbreaking, market-opening trade agreement that helps the United States reclaim some of its share of exports to key Asia-Pacific markets, and strengthen America’s ability to compete in the 21st century global economy,” said Kind in a joint co-chair statement (http://1.usa.gov/19TdMJk). The administration continues to eye year-end for conclusion of negotiations. The caucus establishment received immediate support in a statement by eight ambassadors of TPP participant countries. TPP is being negotiated by 12 countries total.
Wi-Fi will play an increasingly important role in the smart home appliance market over the next five years, ABI Research said Wednesday. Wi-Fi connectivity is now available only in high-end models, but ABI Research said it believes connectivity will “slowly permeate” to lower-tier models over the next five years. “Smart home appliance features are at present limited to remote access through mobile devices,” said ABI Research senior analyst Adarsh Krishnan in a news release. “The true value of these smart grid ready devices, such as use in demand-response energy management programs, is several years away and initially will be primarily U.S.-based.” By 2018, more than 21 million Wi-Fi-enabled smart appliances will be shipped globally, the firm said. Other connectivity technologies will also gain market share, however, given Wi-Fi’s comparatively high energy consumption. ABI Research said it sees the highest growth potential with Bluetooth, ZigBee and Z-Wave. That change will come during a period of continued growth for the smart appliance market -- it is set to reach nearly $25 billion by 2018, ABI Research said (http://bit.ly/17xJrQS).
A New York federal judge dismissed portions of Harbinger Capital Partners’ claims of fraud against defendants affiliated with Dish Network Chairman Charlie Ergen. Harbinger, LightSquared’s largest investor, filed the complaint this year in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan (CD Aug 26 p11). Harbinger sought $4 billion in damages. Dish said it’s pleased with the ruling. “The company looks forward to pursuing its bid in the upcoming auction for the LightSquared assets,” it said in a news release (http://bit.ly/1dq4Qg9). A transcript of Judge Shelley Chapman’s ruling wasn’t available by deadline. Harbinger had no comment.