SiriusXM scaled back guidance for self-pay subscriber growth due to challenges and uncertainty in new and used auto sales, said CEO Jennifer Witz on a Q2 earnings call Thursday. The company said on its April earnings call it expected 500,000 more self-pay subscribers in 2022.
Qualcomm now expects global handset shipments in calendar 2022 to decline by “a mid-single-digit percentage” year over year, including 650 million to 700 million 5G handsets, said Chief Financial Officer Akash Palkhiwala on an earnings call Wednesday for fiscal Q3 ended June 26. Previous Qualcomm 5G smartphone forecasts pegged shipments to exceed 750 million handsets for calendar 2022.
Outer space should be added to the Department of Homeland Security's list of the nation's 16 critical infrastructure sectors, space cybersecurity experts told House Space Subcommittee members Thursday during a hearing regarding space cybersecurity issues. It's "unquestionable" space qualifies to be on the list alongside communications, dams and financial services, as all 55 critical national functions have some space dependence, said Brandon Bailey, Aerospace Corp. senior project leader-cyber assessments and research. But such a designation without planning could just result in bureaucratic rules that stifle innovation, he said. Theresa Suloway, Mitre space cybersecurity engineer, said there are concerns in the commercial space universe that such a designation would represent a costly regulatory burden.
CTA told the FCC the “record is clear” that voluntary, industry-led standards are the best approach to improving receiver performance, in reply comments posted Thursday in docket 22-137. The FCC logged more than 20 replies in the proceeding, on a notice of inquiry on receiver performance and potentially standards adopted by commissioners 4-0 in April (see 2204210049). Other comments largely echoed CTA’s arguments. Initial comments were posted a month ago (see 2206270045).
The California Privacy Protection Agency will oppose the American Data Privacy and Protection Act (ADPPA) as drafted, plus any other federal privacy bill that preempts California, CPPA board members decided unanimously Thursday. The board authorized staff at a virtual meeting to weigh in on HR-8152 and other federal privacy bills. Former FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz (D) urged the board to compromise on preemption.
Democratic leaders on the House and Senate Commerce committees aren’t fully discounting the possibility the panels could devote some time to evaluating the newly filed Net Neutrality and Broadband Justice Act during the remaining months of this Congress, but some acknowledge any serious consideration of the measure will likely have to wait until 2023 at the earliest. Democratic leaders bristled at some Republicans’ view that lawmakers unveiled the measure as a reaction to FCC nominee Gigi Sohn’s stalled Senate confirmation process (see 2206230066).
Between fewer people moving and increased fixed wireless competition, Comcast saw its residential broadband subscriber numbers flatline between Q1 and Q2. CEO Brian Roberts said it expects that to be temporary and residential broadband growth to resume as the company looks to housing and business growth in its current footprint and accelerated edge-outs into new areas, driven by government digital divide spending. Comcast shares took a body blow Thursday, closing 9.1% lower at $39.41.
The FCC got its first formal read on what steps industry thinks should come next on regulations and policy for offshore spectrum, with initial comments due Wednesday on a notice of inquiry commissioners approved 4-0 in June (see 2206080055). The consensus appeared to be that the FCC should move forward on the next steps, but carriers urged the agency to do so with caution. Most comments were posted Thursday in docket 22-204. Industry had to little say on the record when the NOI was before commissioners.
The House passed chips legislation Thursday in a 243-187-1 vote, sending the long-awaited science and technology package to President Joe Biden’s desk (see 2207270061). Twenty-four Republicans voted in favor, and zero Democrats voted against.
After AT&T and Verizon took stock market hits last week after disappointing Wall Street with Q2 results (see 2207220061) and (see 2207210059), T-Mobile Wednesday reported 723,000 postpaid phone net adds, 380,000 net new accounts and 560,000 high-speed internet adds. For the first time, postpaid churn for T-Mobile was lower than at Verizon, at 0.80% vs 0.81% for its rival. T-Mobile’s stock rose 5.2% to $140.91 Wednesday.