Comcast and Charter reached an agreement that would result in Comcast’s divestiture of 3.9 million subscribers if its buy of Time Warner Cable is approved. It involves selling 1.4 million TWC subscribers to Charter for about $7.3 billion and creating a publicly traded spin-off company with 2.5 million customers.
The FCC Wireless Bureau sought comment on a petition by the Land Mobile Communications Council (LMCC) asking the agency to modify rules for the 800 MHz expansion bands (EB) and guard bands (GB). The group asked that 800 MHz incumbent licensees in a market be given a six-month period to apply for EB/GB frequencies before they are made available to applicants for new 800 MHz systems. “LMCC states that spectrum for incumbent 800 MHz systems in urban areas to expand is urgently needed but sparsely available,” the bureau said (http://bit.ly/1mLEw7f). “It argues that a limited opportunity for expansion of incumbent systems would serve the public interest because those licensees had to undergo the disruptive rebanding process without deriving any economic benefit, and use of EB/GB frequencies to expand existing systems’ capacity would promote spectral efficiency.” Comments are due May 27, replies June 11.
The New York Office of the FCC Enforcement Bureau cited CAM Electronics for allegedly programming a private land mobile station at the 30th Street Men’s Shelter to operate using an unauthorized frequency -- 455.500 MHz. “CAM is hereby on notice that if it subsequently engages in any conduct of the type described in this Citation, including any violation of Section 90.427(b) of the Rules, it may be subject to civil penalties, including but not limited to substantial monetary fines (forfeitures) and seizure of equipment,” the notice said (http://bit.ly/1qGCbru). “Such forfeitures may be based on both the conduct that led to this Citation and the conduct following it."
North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp wants to ensure high-speed Internet is available in her state, she said last week. Heitkamp, a member of the North Dakota Democratic-Nonpartisan League Party, met with Rural Utilities Service Administrator John Padalino, according to two tweets she sent out, one displaying a photo of herself and Padalino. She “pressed” Padalino “to continue efforts to improve/expand high-speed Internet access in ND,” she said. She noted that “16% of NDans do not have access to high-speed Internet. That jumps to 36% in rural parts of ND & 75% in Indian Country in ND.” A spokesman for Heitkamp confirmed the meeting was Thursday. In a news release, Heitkamp’s office mentioned she is a member of the Agriculture Committee and a strong backer of the Farm Bill Broadband Program. “Heitkamp also stressed that RUS must address the dearth of high-speed Internet access in Indian Country,” the news release said of the meeting (http://1.usa.gov/1esHDOS). “In North Dakota, 75 percent of individuals living on tribal lands do not have access to high-speed Internet -- one of the highest disparities in the country."
North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp wants to ensure high-speed Internet is available in her state, she said last week. Heitkamp, a member of the North Dakota Democratic-Nonpartisan League Party, met with Rural Utilities Service Administrator John Padalino, according to two tweets she sent out, one displaying a photo of herself and Padalino. She “pressed” Padalino “to continue efforts to improve/expand high-speed Internet access in ND,” she said. She noted that “16% of NDans do not have access to high-speed Internet. That jumps to 36% in rural parts of ND & 75% in Indian Country in ND.” A spokesman for Heitkamp confirmed the meeting was Thursday. In a news release, Heitkamp’s office mentioned she is a member of the Agriculture Committee and a strong backer of the Farm Bill Broadband Program. “Heitkamp also stressed that RUS must address the dearth of high-speed Internet access in Indian Country,” the news release said of the meeting (http://1.usa.gov/1esHDOS). “In North Dakota, 75 percent of individuals living on tribal lands do not have access to high-speed Internet -- one of the highest disparities in the country."
TCL Multimedia’s purchase of Sanyo TV assembly plant is the latest move by Chinese manufacturers to migrate production to North America in a bid to save on import tariff costs for large-size sets, industry officials said.
The FCC Enforcement Bureau proposed a $10,000 fine for Acumen Communications for allegedly operating its land mobile radio station on two unauthorized frequencies. Unauthorized operations undermine the FCC’s radio licensing system and could cause interference to licensed communications, the bureau said in a notice of apparent liability (http://bit.ly/1mYg6Y3). Acumen acknowledged the unauthorized operation of WQHT586 Los Angeles on 152.405 MHz and 157.665 MHz, and, “given Acumen’s history as a repeat offender, this violation warrants stringent enforcement action,” the bureau said.
Two issues being hotly debated in state capitals and the FCC could land in Congress’ lap as part any Telecom Act update, said officials at associations for state and local governments and interest groups in recent interviews. Much will depend on FCC actions, but a commission move to preempt state laws that throw up obstacles to creating municipal broadband networks would run into the objection of state legislatures, particularly from those that have passed laws they see as protecting taxpayers from potential boondoggles, said Utah Senate President Pro-Tem Curt Bramble, a Republican.
Two issues being hotly debated in state capitals and the FCC could land in Congress’ lap as part any Telecom Act update, said officials at associations for state and local governments and interest groups in recent interviews. Much will depend on FCC actions, but a commission move to preempt state laws that throw up obstacles to creating municipal broadband networks would run into the objection of state legislatures, particularly from those that have passed laws they see as protecting taxpayers from potential boondoggles, said Utah Senate President Pro-Tem Curt Bramble, a Republican.
The FCC Wireless Bureau denied a waiver sought by the Port Authority of New York, which asked for additional time to build a land mobile radio station. The bureau said the authority was issued a license for the station in June 2012, requiring construction to be complete within 12 months, and a subsequent extension through Feb. 13. On March 10, the authority submitted a new waiver and extension request. “The licensee is solely responsible for complying with its construction requirements,” the bureau said (http://bit.ly/1mZSK1q). “Inattention to Commission rules due to oversight is not a compelling basis for a waiver. Furthermore, we note that the Commission has emphasized that requiring licensees to file extension requests on a timely basis serves important policy objectives and has upheld the dismissal of untimely requests for extension."