California Public Utilities Commission judges pressed T-Mobile at a Monday hearing on the reasonableness of a promise to give Dish Network six months’ notice before shutting down Sprint’s CDMA network. The virtual hearing was on the CPUC’s August order saying the carrier may have misled the agency (see 2108160021). T-Mobile Technology President Neville Ray testified he and the company didn't mean to conceal anything: "It was never our intent or my intent to mislead the commission in any way or form as to how this transaction and subsequent divestiture would unfold."
An FCC draft order that would create questions for licensees seeking permission to be owned by foreign nationals is expected to change little from its draft version and to be approved unanimously at the agency’s Sept. 30 meeting, said industry experts in recent interviews. “The industry is getting a narrow set of questions,” said Vinson & Elkins' Richard Sofield. “Are they as narrow as they’d like? No, but there is certainty.” DOD, DOJ and the Department of Homeland Security make up Team Telecom, which Sofield used to chair.
With C-band deployments starting this year, aviation concerns about protecting radio altimeters aren't expected to be an initial big impediment, experts said in recent interviews. Aviation safety advocates expect the FCC and the FAA to continue watching closely for any issues. The FCC’s record-setting C-band auction was of licenses at 3.7-3.98 GHz; altimeters are at 4.2-4.4 GHz.
The FCC 911 fee diversion strike force voted unanimously Friday during a virtual meeting to approve its final report as written. It will be sent to Congress and covers the impacts of and recommendations to fee transfers. The document is mandated by the Don’t Break Up the T-Band Act (see 2108020051). All but two of the group’s members participated.
An FTC investigator met this month with a group of Nebraska farmers who allege John Deere is abusing data privacy. Deere’s “monopolistic” data practices are preventing farmers’ right to repair, they alleged.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit judges peppered both sides with questions, during an often highly technical oral argument Friday, as the FCC defended its order opening the 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi and other unlicensed use. AT&T, APCO, electric utilities and other plaintiffs argued the FCC never explained why it didn’t require use of automated frequency control (AFC) to protect incumbents from low-power indoor use, which got some support on the court. Judge Justin Walker, a new member of the court, warned the agency's order could be remanded or even vacated.
CES 2022 organizers are “still moving ahead” with the Jan. 5-8 in-person show at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), emailed a spokesperson Thursday in reply to our queries about the fate of the event after surges in COVID-19's delta variant forced the cancellation of the Oct. 9-13 NAB Show 2021 at the same venue (see 2109150064 or 2109150062).
The FCC has the authority to include broadband services revenue in the USF contribution base but would need to establish a comment period before making any changes, industry groups said in recent interviews. A new report suggests adding broadband providers could drop the contribution factor to as low as 4% and avoid facing direct congressional appropriations (see 2109130053).
Some states are responding to a possible federal phaseout in Lifeline support for voice-only services, but many have no plans to replace lost support, state commission officials said. The FCC plans to phase out $5.25 in voice support Dec. 1 except in census blocks with only one Lifeline voice provider. Some industry and community groups applauded states stepping in but said it’s up to the FCC to ensure no one is disconnected from voice service. “In the absence of federal support, state Lifeline subsidy programs fill a critical gap for those in need,” said Next Century Cities (NCC) Policy Counsel-State and Local Initiatives Corian Zacher.
Inmate calling service providers could shift costs to video calling if the California Public Utilities Commission caps only voice rates, said public advocates Wednesday at a CPUC prehearing conference. After last month capping voice intrastate ICS rates at 7 cents a minute on an interim basis (see 2108190046), the commission is preparing for a phase two that might include rates for text and video services, despite some ICS providers disagreeing they're under the agency’s jurisdiction. Some providers sought a several-month delay so the effectiveness of new interim rates can be analyzed.