An AT&T/EchoStar proposal for satellite/wireless sharing of the 28, 37 and 39 GHz bands might work for some satellite network operators, but it might preclude launches of future satellite networks needing broader access to those bands for increased broadband capacity and throughput, Boeing said in an FCC filing Tuesday in docket 14-177. The satellite industry needs more time for discussions with terrestrial 5G backers about spectrum sharing, since such talks "will identify innovative and effective measures to enable real-time sharing," Boeing said. The joint AT&T/EchoStar proposal (see 1604070059) "could be improved," Boeing said, citing its setting aside densely populated urban cores for 5G services, "limiting satellite access to the band to individually licensed earth stations, often on a secondary unprotected basis." The proposal also is sketchy on how co-primary sharing would be accomplished, Boeing said. The proposal "provides only a single viewpoint on the potential use of the 28 and 37/39 GHz bands, and does not represent a consensus of the satellite industry," Boeing said, saying the FCC should allow time for satellite industry technical efforts "to reach a resolution." ViaSat, in a filing posted Wednesday in docket 10-112, also was critical of the joint proposal, saying it didn't have satellite industry consensus. It also "only partially addresses one aspect of the sharing environment under consideration, was offered before technical details were provided by the 5G industry, has critical details to be resolved, and in fact appears to meet the needs of only one or two satellite operators," ViaSat said. It said EchoStar has a conflict because the millimeter wave frequency band licenses it holds through Alta Wireless "will become much more valuable and could be a key in blocking competitors from accessing spectrum." In a statement Wednesday, EchoStar said that “as noted in our joint filing, we recognize there are still open issues to be resolved and we look forward to the input of other satellite operators and the terrestrial industry.” AT&T didn't comment.
An AT&T/EchoStar proposal for satellite/wireless sharing of the 28, 37 and 39 GHz bands might work for some satellite network operators, but it might preclude launches of future satellite networks needing broader access to those bands for increased broadband capacity and throughput, Boeing said in an FCC filing Tuesday in docket 14-177. The satellite industry needs more time for discussions with terrestrial 5G backers about spectrum sharing, since such talks "will identify innovative and effective measures to enable real-time sharing," Boeing said. The joint AT&T/EchoStar proposal (see 1604070059) "could be improved," Boeing said, citing its setting aside densely populated urban cores for 5G services, "limiting satellite access to the band to individually licensed earth stations, often on a secondary unprotected basis." The proposal also is sketchy on how co-primary sharing would be accomplished, Boeing said. The proposal "provides only a single viewpoint on the potential use of the 28 and 37/39 GHz bands, and does not represent a consensus of the satellite industry," Boeing said, saying the FCC should allow time for satellite industry technical efforts "to reach a resolution." ViaSat, in a filing posted Wednesday in docket 10-112, also was critical of the joint proposal, saying it didn't have satellite industry consensus. It also "only partially addresses one aspect of the sharing environment under consideration, was offered before technical details were provided by the 5G industry, has critical details to be resolved, and in fact appears to meet the needs of only one or two satellite operators," ViaSat said. It said EchoStar has a conflict because the millimeter wave frequency band licenses it holds through Alta Wireless "will become much more valuable and could be a key in blocking competitors from accessing spectrum." In a statement Wednesday, EchoStar said that “as noted in our joint filing, we recognize there are still open issues to be resolved and we look forward to the input of other satellite operators and the terrestrial industry.” AT&T didn't comment.
While broadcasters argue the retransmission consent market is working and doesn't need FCC intervention (see 1603150045 and 1603290050), an official said the agency feels otherwise. During a Practising Law Institute event Tuesday, Media Bureau Deputy Chief Michelle Carey said retrans negotiations are increasingly contentious and complex. Now the agency is looking at the filings in docket 15-149 and having a series of ex parte meetings as it tries to determine next steps, she said
While broadcasters argue the retransmission consent market is working and doesn't need FCC intervention (see 1603150045 and 1603290050), an official said the agency feels otherwise. During a Practising Law Institute event Tuesday, Media Bureau Deputy Chief Michelle Carey said retrans negotiations are increasingly contentious and complex. Now the agency is looking at the filings in docket 15-149 and having a series of ex parte meetings as it tries to determine next steps, she said
About 40,000 Communications Workers of America (CWA) and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) members in eight states and the District of Columbia plan to go on strike against Verizon starting at 6 a.m. Wednesday, they said. Major strikes have become a rarity, with only 12 strikes involving 1,000 or more employees last year, compared with 22 a decade earlier and hundreds annually being common before the 1980s, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. "We have tried everything, and I do mean everything," CWA President Chris Shelton said on a conference call with journalists Monday. "Verizon has forced us there. They have no regard for anybody but themselves." IBEW President Lonnie Stephenson said the union has proposed alternatives to the company's proposed health and retirement benefit changes, but Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam "has refused anything less than his full agenda of cuts." Union officials tied many of their complaints to Verizon's failure to build out its Fios network. "It's greed, just greed, plain and simple," said Ed Mooney, CWA District 2-13 vice president. The union has in the past pointed to Fios plans as an example of the company not living up to obligations (see 1601220013). Verizon has been preparing for more than a year in the event of a strike, with nonunion workers trained to handle job duties from repairs on poles to handling call center inquiries, it said in a statement Monday. “We’ve tried to work with union leaders to reach a deal,” Chief Administrative Officer Marc Reed said. “Verizon has been moving the bargaining process forward, but now union leaders would rather make strike threats than constructively engage at the bargaining table.” Verizon said the company's contract proposal includes a 6.5 percent wage increase over the life of the contract and a 401(k) with company match, along with "structural changes" to its legacy healthcare plans that would bring them in line with what it offers its non-union U.S. workforce. The current contract expired Aug. 1, according to the unions.
About 40,000 Communications Workers of America (CWA) and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) members in eight states and the District of Columbia plan to go on strike against Verizon starting at 6 a.m. Wednesday, they said. Major strikes have become a rarity, with only 12 strikes involving 1,000 or more employees last year, compared with 22 a decade earlier and hundreds annually being common before the 1980s, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. "We have tried everything, and I do mean everything," CWA President Chris Shelton said on a conference call with journalists Monday. "Verizon has forced us there. They have no regard for anybody but themselves." IBEW President Lonnie Stephenson said the union has proposed alternatives to the company's proposed health and retirement benefit changes, but Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam "has refused anything less than his full agenda of cuts." Union officials tied many of their complaints to Verizon's failure to build out its Fios network. "It's greed, just greed, plain and simple," said Ed Mooney, CWA District 2-13 vice president. The union has in the past pointed to Fios plans as an example of the company not living up to obligations (see 1601220013). Verizon has been preparing for more than a year in the event of a strike, with nonunion workers trained to handle job duties from repairs on poles to handling call center inquiries, it said in a statement Monday. “We’ve tried to work with union leaders to reach a deal,” Chief Administrative Officer Marc Reed said. “Verizon has been moving the bargaining process forward, but now union leaders would rather make strike threats than constructively engage at the bargaining table.” Verizon said the company's contract proposal includes a 6.5 percent wage increase over the life of the contract and a 401(k) with company match, along with "structural changes" to its legacy healthcare plans that would bring them in line with what it offers its non-union U.S. workforce. The current contract expired Aug. 1, according to the unions.
Liberman Broadcasting's program carriage complaint alleging Comcast discriminated against the broadcaster's Estrella TV Spanish-language network in favor of its own Telemundo and NBC Universo properties faces an uphill battle, cable law experts said in interviews. They said Liberman's sister complaint about Comcast's use of alternative distribution method (ADM) terms in negotiations could find better reception with the FCC. Liberman's 137-page complaint filed Friday in docket 12-1 asked the agency to find Comcast in violation of Section 616 of the Cable Act and of conditions on its takeover of NBCUniversal. It said Comcast must carry Estella "on terms comparable to the terms on which Comcast distributes and compensates Telemundo."
If its takeover of DOD duties monitoring space traffic and warning of possible satellite collisions is approved by the White House and Congress, the Federal Aviation Administration could have a pilot program or the first steps of such a transition underway in the "next couple years," George Nield, FAA associate administrator-commercial space transportation, said Thursday on a Washington Space Business Roundtable panel.
Cable subscribers often can't see public, educational and governmental channel listings on their interactive program guides (IPG), PEG allies have said. The programmers hope the FCC inquiry into that and other issues faced by independent and diverse programmers (see 1602180044) translates into some kind of tangible agency or lawmaker action on the problem. But action is unlikely this year given other FCC priorities, such as the set-top box proceeding, said President Mike Wassenaar of PEG channel advocacy group Alliance for Community Media. "Hopefully it plants a seed for the next administration."
Cable subscribers often can't see public, educational and governmental channel listings on their interactive program guides (IPG), PEG allies have said. The programmers hope the FCC inquiry into that and other issues faced by independent and diverse programmers (see 1602180044) translates into some kind of tangible agency or lawmaker action on the problem. But action is unlikely this year given other FCC priorities, such as the set-top box proceeding, said President Mike Wassenaar of PEG channel advocacy group Alliance for Community Media. "Hopefully it plants a seed for the next administration."