FCC staff settled with another radio licensee over political file issues (see 2008050046). Christian Family Media Ministries' renewal applications for three Kentucky stations didn't certify such compliance, and Media Bureau Audio Division employees found problems, said a bureau order and consent decree Friday. Christian Family Media agreed to "implement a comprehensive compliance" that includes reporting to the bureau, and the regulator will continue processing its renewal requests, the document said. The "pandemic has caused a dramatic reduction in advertising revenues which, in turn, has placed the radio broadcast industry, including the Company, under significant financial stress," it said. "The Company’s disclosures in its license renewal applications combined with the exceptional circumstances brought about by the pandemic present a unique situation."

Due to COVID-19 disruptions to schools and libraries, the FCC Wireline Bureau granted waivers for E-rate FCC Form 471 applications submitted within 60 days after the filing window closing April 29. The order in Friday's Daily Digest directs Universal Service Administrative Co. to process the late filings. The bureau extended the deadline by 35 days in March due to the pandemic.

The FCC Wireless Bureau approved a request allowing reviews to proceed under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act for various wireless facilities that FirstNet plans to build, during the pandemic.

COVID-19 dealt Universal Display a significant Q2 blow, with revenue down 48% from Q1 and 51% from the 2019 quarter, said CEO Steve Abramson on a Thursday call. The OLED materials and technology supplier's customer orders and shipments declined, he said: “While COVID-19 uncertainties will likely weigh on consumer demand in the near term, we continue to invest and further strengthen our leadership position in the OLED ecosystem.” OLED’s long-term growth path is “unchanged and remains robust,” he said. Customers are expressing “cautious optimism” about 2020's second half, fueled by a “pickup in demand” in July, he said. But “significant uncertainties still loom,” and it’s “prudent” that Universal continues to refrain from giving 2020 guidance, he said. Despite the significant increase in July orders and shipments, "the real question is whether it is sustainable," said Chief Financial Officer Sid Rosenblatt.

There needs to be “lots of innovation for various display technologies” so they can adapt to “our new normal life” of COVID-19 work-from-home and remote-learning mandates, Frank Ko, president-chief operating officer of panel maker AU Optronics, told the virtual Display Week conference. His keynote was prerecorded and screened for the first time Friday. Telework and remote learning means people will spend a great deal more time with their displays than before the pandemic, said Ko. AUO is responding by bringing more “eye care display technologies” to market, he said. E-paper displays are “more natural for humans” because they have no backlights and no “light emissions,” he said. “AUO has launched notebook and desktop displays with low blue light.”

Sage Telecom asks the FCC to extend an order that waives dropping Lifeline subscribers based on recertification, reverification, usage and certain other enrollment requirements during the pandemic. That order expires Aug. 31. “Unfortunately, not much has changed with new US unemployment claims increasing again this week,” the company told an aide to Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, said a Friday posting in docket 17-287.

COVID-19 sent GoPro Q2 revenue tumbling 54% from the 2019 quarter, up 12% sequentially, said CEO Nicholas Woodman on a Thursday call. “Demand for GoPro cameras consistently improved throughout the second quarter, and we've seen a faster-than-expected rebound in sell-through at retail,” he said. “We remain on track with our product launches slated for the second half." The company's shift to a more direct-to-consumer business model with lower operating costs is working, said Woodman. “GoPro has adapted to the pandemic, and we believe our consumers are learning to live with the pandemic, too.” The stock closed 11% lower Friday at $4.94.

An early sunset of FCC data cap and interconnection conditions from Charter Communications' purchase of Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks would hurt consumers and make broadband access more difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic, said the New York State Public Service Commission in a docket 16-197 posting Thursday. Charter's ask for early relief (see 2006180050) "is ill-timed" given the health crisis and the strong need for broadband for such applications as telecommuting and telehealth, it said. Charter didn't comment.

The California Public Utilities Commission conditionally opened 13 small LEC markets to cable and wireline competitors. Commissioners voted 5-0 for the proposed decision despite concerns raised by rural incumbents and would-be competitors (see 2007280058 and 2008040051). Federal and state law requires the commission to allow competition in the markets that cover 17 counties in hard-to-serve parts, said Commissioner Martha Guzman Aceves at the agency’s livestreamed virtual meeting Thursday. She noted it’s “ironic” that the carriers that want to compete “often are some of the major barriers to competition elsewhere.” Conditions for possible entrants are nondiscriminatory and competitively neutral, she said. Commissioner Cliff Rechtschaffen said the decision “strikes the right balance by advancing competition,” with “many safeguards to ensure fairness, to ensure the quality of service and to safeguard consumer rights.” It gives wireline companies the same opportunity as wireless providers to compete with RLECs in the 13 markets, said Commissioner Liane Randolph. CPUC President Marybel Batjer called the decision “a cautious step forward.” The item focuses on voice amid a pandemic that shows people need the internet, so the commission should tackle that issue next, she said. Earlier in the meeting, members unanimously cleared a California Advanced Services Fund proposal as part of its consent agenda. The decision closes docket R.12-10-012 and authorizes staff to set application windows and timelines for broadband infrastructure account and allow staff to use state operations funds to provide technical assistance for tribes (see 2007060047). CASF “needs many more reforms statutorily,” said Guzman Aceves. The program’s 6/1 Mbps broadband standard is insufficient, but even under that many tribes are unserved, she said.

The FCC Wireless Bureau approved a request for reviews to proceed under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act for towers that U.S. Cellular is building in Lawrence and Oshkosh, Nebraska, during the pandemic.