WTA representatives met with FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty to discuss various concerns, including the USF and the agency's notice of inquiry on the future of Telecom Act Section 706 reports (see 2509090010), said a filing posted Friday in docket 25-233. The group also met with aides to Chairman Brendan Carr and Commissioner Anna Gomez.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, chastised FCC Chairman Brendan Carr on Friday for comments earlier in the week against ABC and parent Disney, which were widely perceived as bringing about the network’s decision to pull Jimmy Kimmel Live! from the air indefinitely (see 2509180066). Carr threatened ABC in a podcast interview, saying the network should discipline Kimmel for comments about the Make America Great Again movement's reaction to the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk (see 2509170064) or face FCC action.
Republican FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty agreed Thursday with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr that broadcasters lack the same First Amendment protections as others because of how they're regulated. Speaking at a Free State Foundation lunch, Trusty also indicated that she believes President Donald Trump is legally able to fire FCC commissioners, though she noted that issue is before the courts.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s use of agency threats against Disney, ABC and local broadcasters on Wednesday led to Jimmy Kimmel Live! being pulled from the air within hours, and Carr is widely expected to keep repeating the tactic, academics and attorneys said in interviews Thursday.
FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty assured Competitive Carriers Association members that the agency understands their need for faster buildouts and access to more spectrum. “We are working to create a regulatory environment that empowers you, the private sector, to build and innovate,” she said in written remarks for CCA's annual convention, posted Wednesday.
Deleting parts of the FCC’s E-rate rules would help the program, E-rate advocates said in meetings with staff for Commissioners Anna Gomez and Olivia Trusty. Representatives of the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition, the American Library Association and the School Superintendents Association attended, said a filing posted Monday in docket 25-133.
Federated Wireless Chief Technology Officer Kurt Schaubach touted the importance of the citizens broadband radio service (CBRS) band in a meeting with FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty, according to a filing Monday in docket 17-258. Federated officials called for “critical” changes to rules for the band to further spur deployment.
Consumer Technology Association representatives discussed spectrum, national security and other issues with Commissioner Olivia Trusty, according to a filing posted Thursday in 21-232 and other dockets. “CTA encourages continued investment in 5G and 6G infrastructure, broadband expansion and efficient use of licensed and unlicensed spectrum,” the filing said. “To that end we are pleased with the reinstatement of the FCC’s spectrum auction authority.”
Top NTCA officials met with FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty on the group’s regulatory agenda, said a filing Thursday in 13-5 and other dockets. “NTCA highlighted association priorities … including the importance of effective universal service programs and regulatory certainty in serving rural America and the need for further enhancements and refinements to the National Broadband Map,” it said.
FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty said Wednesday that she's already talking with the wireless industry, federal agencies and other upper C-band incumbents on moves to auction that spectrum within two years, as required by the reconciliation act. Trusty spoke at NTIA’s spectrum policy symposium (see 2509100051). “I also think we can look at lessons learned from the previous C-band auction,” she said. “There’s going to be tremendous interest” in the band, she predicted. “The clock is ticking. Time is of the essence, and 2027 will be here before we know it.”