The COVID-19 pandemic will have "limited" effects on FY 2019 revenue to the tune of about $22 million, though the pace of new business will likely slow, Eutelsat said Thursday. It said Q3 launch of its Quantum satellite is likely delayed, and the deployment of gateways for its Konnect satellite also will likely be partially delayed. It said its board is cutting its stock dividend 30% and its share buyback program is suspended.
Broadcasters need no air announcements about their June 1 license renewal applications because of COVID-19, said the FCC Media Bureau. This "alleviate[s] administrative and compliance burdens,” allowing for more public service announcements and pandemic coverage, said Thursday's order. An FNPRM proposed eliminating the prefiling announcement requirement, and no commenters opposed that (see 1911190064). The order applies to those with licenses expiring in October. MB "will monitor the status of the COVID-19 outbreak to determine whether further relief is warranted.”
ICANN's June 22-25 policy meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, will instead be held virtually, it said Thursday. This will be the second such virtual meeting due to the pandemic, after the March meeting that was to have been in Mexico.
Zoom should release an independent review of cybersecurity and privacy practices (see 2004080051), Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Ed Markey, D-Mass., wrote Thursday: CEO Eric Yuan should “take all possible actions to protect” the security of users and students and to prevent “disturbing intrusions.” Report data on the “frequency and nature of Zoom classroom intrusions,” the lawmakers asked. The company appreciates "the outreach we have received from various elected officials and look forward to engaging with them," a spokesperson emailed. "Zoom is working around-the-clock to ensure that universities, schools, and other businesses around the world can stay connected and operational during this pandemic, and we take user privacy, security, and trust extremely seriously.”
The UHD Alliance is developing “digital assets,” including video content, to promote Filmmaker Mode as TVs with that feature debut at retail, emailed President Mike Fidler to us Wednesday. “With the majority of retail venues not operating, it has just been slightly delayed but we will encompass the previously planned promotional material.”
European telcos will provide cellphone location data to help analyze COVID-19's spread, under recommendations unveiled Wednesday by the European Commission. The proposed "toolbox," which is intended to support steps to return to normality and which the EC said will be finalized April 15, includes a common EU approach for modeling and predicting the virus' evolution via aggregated, anonymized mobile location data. The use of telecom metadata has buy-in from mobile operators and EU data protection officials. Some privacy advocates are concerned.
Some seek to upgrade rural internet speeds amid the public health crisis by overhauling the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF). Increasing standards could fit into a legislative agenda likely focused on COVID-19, rural officials said in interviews this week. Consumer advocates urged the California Public Utilities Commission to reprioritize CASF. Comments were due Thursday.
Big data could be used to track and curtail COVID-19, Senate Commerce Committee leaders from both parties said Thursday, noting the need to scrutinize pandemic data collection (see 2004080068). Lack of a federal privacy law is undermining efforts, witnesses told the committee during a "paper hearing." Groups highlighted potential data pitfalls that need to be avoided. There was no real-time testimony, but documents were exchanged.
NAB signed on to the push for Congress to include emergency funding for local media and stations in the next stimulus bill addressing COVID-19. Some Democrats and other groups made similar requests in recent days (see 2004080069). Officials from some pro-funding groups are hopeful Congress will provide in the coming measure, perhaps billions of dollars. Lobbyists we spoke with were divided on whether it will be a top priority.
FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly wants President Donald Trump to intervene to force DOD to free up more mid-band spectrum for 5G. O’Rielly has focused on 3.1-3.55 GHz, which he considers prime spectrum (see 2001080035).