FCC Commissioners Nathan Simington and Geoffrey Starks warned the Mobile World Congress in Las Vegas that the FCC’s loss of general spectrum auction authority last year is hampering U.S. competitive efforts against major rivals in the 6G race. CTIA President Meredith Baker sounded a similar theme at the beginning of the conference, which CTIA sponsors with GSMA (see 2410080044).

Former President Donald Trump called Thursday for the FCC to pull licenses for all U.S. broadcast networks, an apparent escalation from his recent threats against ABC and CBS over what he claims has been biased coverage of his campaign as the Republicans’ 2024 nominee (see 2409110058). Trump has repeatedly sought FCC revocation of broadcasters’ licenses since early in his 2017-2021 administration (see 1710110075). FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel quickly shot down Trump’s threat, going beyond her similar responses to past incidents (see 2409120056) and directly criticizing the former president.

Communications Daily is tracking the lawsuits below involving appeals of FCC actions. Lawsuits added since the last update are marked with an *.

Breaking up Google should be considered a potential remedy to stop the company from self-preferencing on Chrome, Android and the Play Store, DOJ said Tuesday, filing a proposed remedy framework with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (see 2408050052) (docket 1:20-cv-03010-APM). Google and tech associations fired back the next day, calling DOJ’s framework a radical departure from the facts in the case.

Industry groups and ISPs sought several adjustments in FCC requirements on broadband data collection (BDC). Some asked the FCC to permanently remove the rule requiring that a professional engineer (PE) certify availability data. Others sought clarification on the process for providers seeking to restore locations on their availability maps after a challenge process removed such locations. Comments were posted through Tuesday in docket 19-195 (see 2408300036)

NEW YORK -- 2025 isn't a “cliff” for the broadcast TV industry despite falling retransmission consent revenue, ad sales declines and growing streaming competition, said executives at the NAB Show New York Wednesday. “We're not at the cliff,” said Nexstar President-Broadcast Andy Alford. “I think 2025 is going to have its challenges,” but “there is lots of opportunity for 2025 to be a good year." Said CBS News and Stations President Jennifer Mitchell during a TV NewsCheck-hosted panel, “Despite year-over-year declines heading into 2025 there is a lot of optimism.”

ISPs in 24 states could face business challenges in the next decade from the broadband equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program’s low-cost offering requirement if the FCC further moves the needle on what it defines as broadband, NCTA state affairs lead Rick Cimerman said Wednesday. In addition, Jennifer Fritzsche, Greenhill analyst, said she expects consolidation among rural wireline companies akin to what happened with numerous regional wireless operators. They spoke at the Broadband Nation Expo that the Telecommunications Industry Association and Fierce Network organized.

AT&T on Wednesday called for major changes in how 3 GHz, including the citizens broadband radio service band, is configured, going beyond what the FCC proposed in an August NPRM (see 2408160031). Meanwhile, during a Broadband Breakfast webinar Wednesday, experts said the CBRS band has demonstrated the value and importance of spectrum sharing.

NTIA remains “on track” to deliver on initial commitments under the national spectrum strategy that the Biden administration released in November (see 2311130048), NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson said at the Mobile World Congress in Las Vegas. Davidson also defended the administration’s progress under the $42.5 billion broadband equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program, a recurring target of Republican criticism (see 2409270032).

Attorneys general from 13 states and the District of Columbia sued TikTok in 14 separate courts Tuesday. The 10 Democratic and four Republican AGs said TikTok violated state and D.C. consumer protection laws when it allegedly addicted young users and collected their data without consent. TikTok disputed the claims as “inaccurate and misleading.” Separately, more than 20 states asked that a court force TikTok to cooperate with their investigation.