An executive of a smaller cable operator called broadband service a utility, speaking alongside the head of America’s Communications Association about the importance of such ISP services. Although neither cable ally favored a common-carrier regulatory approach to broadband service such as Communications Act Title II net neutrality, the two may have -- perhaps inadvertently -- given a talking point to Title II advocates. That's according to later comments from such net neutrality proponents.
A Tuesday anti-robocalls hearing gives the House Communications Subcommittee an opportunity to make a public return to bipartisanship as members delve into a group of seven anti-robocalls bills, lobbyists told us. Stakeholders are monitoring the House Commerce Committee's telecom policy agenda for signs of a pivot in its trajectory. The committee's contentious debate over the Save the Internet Act net neutrality bill (HR-1644) culminated in the measure's passage earlier this month (see 1904230069). The hearing begins 10 a.m. in 2123 Rayburn (see 1904260068).
After a "disappointing" outcome from its challenge of AT&T's buy of Time Warner, DOJ will seek court approval to bifurcate some antitrust trials into liability and remedy phases, agency antitrust chief Makan Delrahim said at the annual summit of America's Communication Association -- formerly the American Cable Association (see 1903200021). "It's never fun to lose, but you learn more from losing than from winning," Delrahim said. Separately, FCC Commissioner Mike O'Rielly criticized Justice for not updating its media market definitions from what he said were antiquated silos.
Reactions were mixed to an FCC draft that would find broadband deployment is meeting a Telecom Act Section 706 mandate. Broadband providers and others welcomed a positive finding and credited the commission with clearing deployment obstacles, while consumer advocates were skeptical and slammed agency leadership. Chairman Ajit Pai Tuesday circulated a draft report internally that broadband-like advanced telecom capability is being deployed in a "reasonable and timely" way (see 1902190057). The report was due out Feb. 5 but delayed by the government shutdown. It might be put on the tentative agenda for the March 15 commissioners' meeting, which Pai is expected to highlight Thursday.
The FCC will vote on a repacking reimbursement order for low-power TV, FM stations and TV translators at its March 15 commissioners’ meeting, an FCC official told us. A media modernization item on broadcast satellite stations is also expected to be on the agenda (see 1803220027), the officials said.
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 full federal government got back to work Monday, after a prolonged partial shutdown that shuttered the FCC, FTC, NTIA and other agencies overseeing communications policy. Incoming FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks will be sworn in Wednesday by Chairman Ajit Pai in an eighth-floor conference room and will participate in the commissioners’ meeting that follows, said industry officials. President Donald Trump signed off Friday on a continuing resolution to reopen the FCC and other shuttered agencies through Feb. 15, after the House passed the measure as expected (see 1901240016).
The war of words between municipalities and MVPDs escalated over whether local franchise authorities can continue public, educational and government programming obligations in addition to a 5 percent U.S. cap on LFA charges. The fight led to what stakeholders said appears to be the first study estimating LFA potential costs, filed with the FCC days after its new economics office opened (see 1812110036). The NCTA-backed economic analysis by Compass Lexecon said such additional fees can run into the billions of dollars annually. The group and others claim broadband deployment could be stifled because such fees can eat up industry spending.
An American Cable Association petition asking the FCC to force Sinclair to resolve early the candor issues raised by the Sinclair/Tribune hearing designation order may not lead to much, communications lawyers told us. Sinclair and Chairman Ajit Pai aren't likely to want to address the matter before Sinclair’s currently scheduled license renewals in 2020, they said. The ACA petition’s reception at the FCC is uncertain, they added. “No one” expected Pai to issue the HDO and spike the deal, said Free Press Policy Manager Dana Floberg.
FCC Commissioner Mike O'Rielly urged the Rural Utilities Service to target $600 million in congressional appropriations for boosting broadband on "areas most in need of support" that are "truly unserved." O'Rielly and Microsoft urged a "technology-neutral" approach, and the American Cable Association said RUS must "prevent overbuilding of existing broadband providers and coordinate with broadband support programs of other federal agencies." There were 130 comments posted by Monday in RUS-18-TELECOM-0004 of regulations.gov in response to a notice of inquiry on how to structure an e-Connectivity pilot program.