Obama administration pushback to the Senate’s Mobile Now drafts last year targeted core bicameral and bipartisan spectrum proposals from Capitol Hill. Federal officials successfully killed attempts to provide financial incentives to federal agencies to relinquish spectrum and a mandate to free up a higher amount of spectrum, largely through criticisms never made public but shown in emails that Communications Daily acquired through a Freedom of Information Act open records request to NTIA. Emails also show the administration’s hand in adding language on bidirectional sharing and its objections to spectrum leasing language, which surprised some we interviewed who saw the critique.

Obama administration pushback to the Senate’s Mobile Now drafts last year targeted core bicameral and bipartisan spectrum proposals from Capitol Hill. Federal officials successfully killed attempts to provide financial incentives to federal agencies to relinquish spectrum and a mandate to free up a higher amount of spectrum, largely through criticisms never made public but shown in emails that Communications Daily acquired through a Freedom of Information Act open records request to NTIA. Emails also show the administration’s hand in adding language on bidirectional sharing and its objections to spectrum leasing language, which surprised some we interviewed who saw the critique.

NARUC will seek more respect for states and cooperative federalism as the utility regulator association communicates next year with a new FCC and incoming administration, NARUC President Robert Powelson told Communications Daily. NARUC named Pennsylvania Public Utility Commissioner Powelson its new president this month at the association’s annual meeting. The new NARUC leader announced “Infrastructure, Innovation, and Investment” as the association’s focus for 2016, a theme that could align with President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed $1 trillion infrastructure package. “As we talk about infrastructure, I firmly believe that the telecom sector will continue to be the epicenter for growth and innovation,” Powelson said.

NARUC will seek more respect for states and cooperative federalism as the utility regulator association communicates next year with a new FCC and incoming administration, NARUC President Robert Powelson told Communications Daily. NARUC named Pennsylvania Public Utility Commissioner Powelson its new president this month at the association’s annual meeting. The new NARUC leader announced “Infrastructure, Innovation, and Investment” as the association’s focus for 2016, a theme that could align with President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed $1 trillion infrastructure package. “As we talk about infrastructure, I firmly believe that the telecom sector will continue to be the epicenter for growth and innovation,” Powelson said.

A CenturyLink/Level 3 merger should be able to win government approval if a deal is reached, said MoffettNathanson analysts in a research note, as other analysts and industry players weighed in on the possible deal. "From a regulatory perspective our sense is that this transaction would not face undue hurdles," they wrote, reacting to the report by The Wall Street Journal Thursday that the companies were in advanced talks to combine (see 1610270049). A regulatory advocate for business customers of telecom services said the possible merger would "receive close scrutiny." Complicating the picture, Level 3 could be pursued by cable companies and others, various analysts said.

A CenturyLink/Level 3 merger should be able to win government approval if a deal is reached, said MoffettNathanson analysts in a research note, as other analysts and industry players weighed in on the possible deal. "From a regulatory perspective our sense is that this transaction would not face undue hurdles," they wrote, reacting to the report by The Wall Street Journal Thursday that the companies were in advanced talks to combine (see 1610270049). A regulatory advocate for business customers of telecom services said the possible merger would "receive close scrutiny." Complicating the picture, Level 3 could be pursued by cable companies and others, various analysts said.

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler anticipates the Enforcement Bureau tiger teams “should be up and running” by early 2017, he told House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore. That was one of the many written answers Wheeler supplied in a 40-page document sent to the House Commerce Committee this month. He and the other four commissioners were responding to questions for the record that lawmakers submitted after a July 12 FCC oversight hearing.

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler anticipates the Enforcement Bureau tiger teams “should be up and running” by early 2017, he told House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore. That was one of the many written answers Wheeler supplied in a 40-page document sent to the House Commerce Committee this month. He and the other four commissioners were responding to questions for the record that lawmakers submitted after a July 12 FCC oversight hearing.

The Donald Trump transition team met with telecom and tech industry officials for about an hour Friday at the BakerHostetler law firm in what attendees described as a listening meeting that provided little insight into Trump’s agenda. The Republican presidential nominee's speakers were all from the government-funded Trump presidential transition team, not the campaign itself. The initial invitation suggested New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, chairman of the Trump transition, might attend (see 1609290070). He wasn't there due to scheduling issues, said attendees; the meeting previously was set for Thursday.

The Donald Trump transition team met with telecom and tech industry officials for about an hour Friday at the BakerHostetler law firm in what attendees described as a listening meeting that provided little insight into Trump’s agenda. The Republican presidential nominee's speakers were all from the government-funded Trump presidential transition team, not the campaign itself. The initial invitation suggested New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, chairman of the Trump transition, might attend (see 1609290070). He wasn't there due to scheduling issues, said attendees; the meeting previously was set for Thursday.