FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr’s recent warning letter to Disney CEO Bob Iger (see 2412240021) appears politically motivated, could be read as a reversal of Carr’s past stances on sticking to the text of FCC rules and evokes the long-defunct fairness doctrine, according to former FCC commissioners, academics and attorneys we interviewed. President-elect Donald Trump has selected Carr to head the FCC.
Small and mid-sized cable operators are largely bullish about President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration and his choice of FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr to head the agency, expecting aggressive deregulation, ACA Connects President Grant Spellmeyer said during an interview with Communications Daily. Spellmeyer discussed the industry group's 2025 priorities, growing questions surrounding BEAD, and what one does during the lame-duck weeks before inauguration and a new administration. The following transcript was edited for length and clarity.
The U.S. Supreme Court Monday denied to review a petition from telecom groups challenging a New York law requiring that ISPs offer a certain plan for eligible low-income households (see 2404260051). The Affordable Broadband Act requires $15 monthly plans providing 25/3 Mbps speeds. Some saw the decision to uphold the 2nd Circuit's ruling in favor of the law as unsurprising given the legal battle over the FCC's reclassification of broadband as a Title II telecom service (see 2410010024).
Jessica Campbell, FCC's deputy division chief-Wireline Bureau’s Telecommunications Access Policy Division, announces she's leaving Friday to join DOJ's National Security Division, working in the Foreign Investment Review Section ... Browser security company Conceal appoints Eric Cornelius, ex-Ghost Security, as CEO ... McAfee appoints Joe Manna, ex-Experian, as chief product and engineering officer ... Telecom and technology services provider Fortress Solutions promotes Dan Lakey to chief revenue officer ... Valens Semiconductor appoints Gili Friedman, ex-Sony, as senior vice president-head-cross industry business, effective Feb. 16.
Competition is a better guarantor of good customer service than FCC rules, multiple industry groups said as they pushed back against proposals floated in the FCC's customer service NOI. The NOI was adopted 3-2 in October along party lines (see 2410230036). In comments in docket 24-472, which were due Friday, some industry groups also argued that the agency lacks legal standing on customer service rules. "Careful consideration will confirm that the Commission lacks anything like the plenary authority" to adopt a single set of customer service rules, CTIA said. Disability advocacy organizations, meanwhile, made suggestions for customer service requirements.
Industry groups widely opposed an FCC notice of inquiry seeking comment about the impact of broadband data caps on consumers and potential regulatory steps the agency could take. In comments posted Friday in docket 23-199 (see 2410150069), many warned the proceeding was a step toward rate regulation and potential consumer harm should the FCC limit the use of data caps. Some public interest groups urged the commission to proceed, however.
Several industry groups continued calling on the FCC to permanently eliminate the requirement that a certified professional engineer (PE) verify and certify a company's broadband data before it's submitted through the broadband data collection (BDC). The groups made the remarks in comments posted through Wednesday in docket 19-195 (see 2408300036). Others raised concerns with a proposal for adopting additional reporting requirements for satellite and fixed wireless providers.
Although the regulatory status of broadband is “in flux,” the U.S. Supreme Court shouldn’t further delay New York state’s enforcement of a 2021 affordable broadband law, the state’s Attorney General Letitia James (D) said Tuesday. James submitted briefs in case 24-161 opposing ISP groups’ petition for a writ of certiorari and application seeking a stay of the New York Affordable Broadband Act (ABA). “The equities and the public interest weigh heavily in favor of allowing the ABA -- duly enacted consumer-protection legislation that aids the State’s most vulnerable residents -- to take effect without further delay,” wrote James.
Industry groups and ISPs sought several adjustments in FCC requirements on broadband data collection (BDC). Some asked the FCC to permanently remove the rule requiring that a professional engineer (PE) certify availability data. Others sought clarification on the process for providers seeking to restore locations on their availability maps after a challenge process removed such locations. Comments were posted through Tuesday in docket 19-195 (see 2408300036)
ACA Connects promotes Zamir Ahmed to senior vice president-external affairs and Bill Tortoriello to vice president-technology and policy ... Cerence AI appoints Brian Krzanich, former CDK Global, as CEO-board member, succeeding the departing Stefan Ortmanns … Blue Mantis, provider of digital strategy and services including cybersecurity, advances Jay Martin to chief information security officer … Cybersecurity provider Intel 471 appoints Mark Huebeler, previously with MercuryGate International, as COO and CFO ... Data center solutions provider EdgeConneX names Masahiko Inoue, ex-Aquila Clean Energy, head-Japan ... IT services provider NinjaOne names Joel Carusone, previously Zeno Technologies, as senior vice president-data and AI ... Digital accessibility solutions Level Access appoints Mark Zablan, ex-Emplifi, as CEO, succeeding Tim Springer, remaining on board.