Sharing the C band now used by satellite operators and by broadcast and other programmers sending content using it could be tricky, many stakeholders agree. Where they differ is on whether it should be repurposed or shared or mainly left as-is. True to predictions and comments posted through Thursday, even newer filings reveal differences between carriers on one hand and current users on the other (see 1805310058), a docket 18-122 review shows. A couple dozen filings were posted Friday, from tech companies, carriers, equipment makers, cable and content interests plus other industries.

Roku landed publication Thursday of a U.S. patent application describing an “example apparatus” for skipping portions of content on a streaming device that are “of little or no interest to the user,” using metadata stored in the device’s database for triggering a “skip command.” On-demand availability of content “is commonplace,” but the “electronic and computerized storage and delivery of content offers the potential for far more than just the availability and vanilla playback of content,” said the application (2018/0152489) filed in November 2016, listing CEO Anthony Wood and Vice President-Intellectual Property Joseph Hollinger as inventors. “It is possible to generate content recommendations that are tailored for individual users, as well as to customize the viewing experience to each user's personal preferences.” Existing devices and services “fall short in many areas” in that regard, it said. Many force users to experience content in a “linear manner, requiring them to view portions of content having little or no interest,” it said. “Too often, media systems and services fail to leverage the immense knowledge base of the Internet and other sources when presenting content to users.” Though streaming content may be readily available on an on-demand basis, “related information is not, at least not in an easily accessible manner,” it said.

Roku landed publication Thursday of a U.S. patent application describing an “example apparatus” for skipping portions of content on a streaming device that are “of little or no interest to the user,” using metadata stored in the device’s database for triggering a “skip command.” On-demand availability of content “is commonplace,” but the “electronic and computerized storage and delivery of content offers the potential for far more than just the availability and vanilla playback of content,” said the application (2018/0152489) filed in November 2016, listing CEO Anthony Wood and Vice President-Intellectual Property Joseph Hollinger as inventors. “It is possible to generate content recommendations that are tailored for individual users, as well as to customize the viewing experience to each user's personal preferences.” Existing devices and services “fall short in many areas” in that regard, it said. Many force users to experience content in a “linear manner, requiring them to view portions of content having little or no interest,” it said. “Too often, media systems and services fail to leverage the immense knowledge base of the Internet and other sources when presenting content to users.” Though streaming content may be readily available on an on-demand basis, “related information is not, at least not in an easily accessible manner,” it said.

Roku landed publication Thursday of a U.S. patent application describing an “example apparatus” for skipping portions of content on a streaming device that are “of little or no interest to the user,” using metadata stored in the device’s database for triggering a “skip command.” On-demand availability of content “is commonplace,” but the “electronic and computerized storage and delivery of content offers the potential for far more than just the availability and vanilla playback of content,” said the application (2018/0152489) filed in November 2016, listing CEO Anthony Wood and Vice President-Intellectual Property Joseph Hollinger as inventors. “It is possible to generate content recommendations that are tailored for individual users, as well as to customize the viewing experience to each user's personal preferences.” Existing devices and services “fall short in many areas” in that regard, it said. Many force users to experience content in a “linear manner, requiring them to view portions of content having little or no interest,” it said. “Too often, media systems and services fail to leverage the immense knowledge base of the Internet and other sources when presenting content to users.” Though streaming content may be readily available on an on-demand basis, “related information is not, at least not in an easily accessible manner,” it said.

Tests demonstrate the 3.7-4.2 GHz band can be safely shared, the Broadband Access Coalition (BAC) commented in docket 13-1. The FCC is preparing a report to Congress on the spectrum, also known as the C-band, as required by the Mobile Now Act. This offer a preview of arguments to come, with Chairman Ajit Pai promising to tee-up a C-band NPRM for commissioners' July meeting (see 1805230031).

The House Appropriations Financial Services Subcommittee cleared its FY 2019 budget bill on a voice vote Thursday, including larger-than-requested allocations for the FCC and FTC. House Appropriations Financial Services allocated the FCC and its Office of Inspector General a combined $335 million, $2 million above the $333 million the Trump administration included in its FY 2019 budget proposal (see 1802120037). The budget bill maintains the FCC OIG's budget at slightly more than $11 million. House Appropriations Financial Services allocated more than $311 million to the FTC, up more than $1 million from the almost $310 million the Trump administration proposed. The subcommittee's budget bill also includes the text of the Amateur Radio Parity Act (HR-555/S-1534), which would direct the FCC to extend its rule on reasonable accommodation of amateur service communications to include private land use restrictions (see 1707130039). That bill passed the House in January 2017, but its text was dropped from FCC reauthorization legislation when the House Commerce Committee cleared it as part of the Repack Airwaves Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Services (Ray Baum's) Act (HR-4986), prior to its enactment as part of the FY 2018 federal spending omnibus bill (see 1802140064 and 1803230038). S-1534 generated opposition on the Senate side (see 1710040063), particularly from Senate Commerce ranking member Bill Nelson, D-Fla. The House version of the FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (HR-5515), which the chamber passed Thursday, also includes HR-555's text (see 1805240064).

The House Appropriations Financial Services Subcommittee cleared its FY 2019 budget bill on a voice vote Thursday, including larger-than-requested allocations for the FCC and FTC. House Appropriations Financial Services allocated the FCC and its Office of Inspector General a combined $335 million, $2 million above the $333 million the Trump administration included in its FY 2019 budget proposal (see 1802120037). The budget bill maintains the FCC OIG's budget at slightly more than $11 million. House Appropriations Financial Services allocated more than $311 million to the FTC, up more than $1 million from the almost $310 million the Trump administration proposed. The subcommittee's budget bill also includes the text of the Amateur Radio Parity Act (HR-555/S-1534), which would direct the FCC to extend its rule on reasonable accommodation of amateur service communications to include private land use restrictions (see 1707130039). That bill passed the House in January 2017, but its text was dropped from FCC reauthorization legislation when the House Commerce Committee cleared it as part of the Repack Airwaves Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Services (Ray Baum's) Act (HR-4986), prior to its enactment as part of the FY 2018 federal spending omnibus bill (see 1802140064 and 1803230038). S-1534 generated opposition on the Senate side (see 1710040063), particularly from Senate Commerce ranking member Bill Nelson, D-Fla. The House version of the FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (HR-5515), which the chamber passed Thursday, also includes HR-555's text (see 1805240064).

CHARLOTTE -- The FCC will vote in July on a proposal for using C-band spectrum, the 500 MHz of spectrum between 3.7 and 4.2 GHz, Chairman Ajit Pai told the Wireless Infrastructure Association Wednesday. Pai urged aggressive action to win the global 5G race but said he wants to find balance between industry and local government interests. Dish Network plans to spend at least $10 billion on 5G, technology that Chairman Charles Ergen predicted would add “a lot more” than $500 billion to the economy. Chasing a 5G network for IoT, “Dish is back to being a startup business,” Ergen said. The company is spending $500 million to $1 billion in the first phase of its plans, and tower executives voiced eagerness to assist.

CHARLOTTE -- The FCC will vote in July on a proposal for using C-band spectrum, the 500 MHz of spectrum between 3.7 and 4.2 GHz, Chairman Ajit Pai told the Wireless Infrastructure Association Wednesday. Pai urged aggressive action to win the global 5G race but said he wants to find balance between industry and local government interests. Dish Network plans to spend at least $10 billion on 5G, technology that Chairman Charles Ergen predicted would add “a lot more” than $500 billion to the economy. Chasing a 5G network for IoT, “Dish is back to being a startup business,” Ergen said. The company is spending $500 million to $1 billion in the first phase of its plans, and tower executives voiced eagerness to assist.

CHARLOTTE -- The FCC will vote in July on a proposal for using C-band spectrum, the 500 MHz of spectrum between 3.7 and 4.2 GHz, Chairman Ajit Pai told the Wireless Infrastructure Association Wednesday. Pai urged aggressive action to win the global 5G race but said he wants to find balance between industry and local government interests. Dish Network plans to spend at least $10 billion on 5G, technology that Chairman Charles Ergen predicted would add “a lot more” than $500 billion to the economy. Chasing a 5G network for IoT, “Dish is back to being a startup business,” Ergen said. The company is spending $500 million to $1 billion in the first phase of its plans, and tower executives voiced eagerness to assist.