Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser's (D) May 17 order lifting COVID-19 capacity restrictions on large business gatherings by June 11 made ATSC President Madeleine Noland “definitely more optimistic” her group's annual NextGen Broadcast Conference can be in-person Aug. 25-26 at the Reagan Building, Noland told us Monday. ATSC plans a hybrid event, she said. Noland characterizes her outlook as “cautiously optimistic,” saying, “Look at the IFA conference being canceled. I realize that’s another part of the world, but still.” Opening of registrations for NAB Show 2021 (see 2105190028) was “another positive sign,” she said. Some ATSC members see “the light at the end of the tunnel” for COVID-19, while others are “pretty worried” and some “are kind of halfway in between,” said Noland, saying she's in the last category.
The National Lifeline Association seeks waiver of certain emergency broadband benefit rules: the requirement "subscribers receive EBB service from a provider on the snapshot date to receive reimbursement for connected device discounts provided by that provider." The filing posted Monday in docket 20-445 said the FCC should direct Universal Service Administrative Co. to "expeditiously update" the national verifier application programming interface so "all providers have access to accurate data regarding prospective subscribers' eligibility for the connected device benefit."
It's a “golden age of audio” where “everybody’s streaming,” whether it's music, podcasts or socially engaging with audio in new ways, said Sonos CEO Patrick Spence: There's also “the great reshuffling,” where the target audience is rethinking living and work situations as a result of work-from-home trends during the COVID-19 pandemic. Demand combined with component constraints have resulted in significant product delays for installations, he noted, amid a chip crunch. The situation will exist for a while, he said Thursday. “We’ll just try to keep everybody apprised of what we’re seeing.” Demand has been “nonperishable,” Spence said.
The FCC is reviewing its systems for the emergency broadband benefit “on a day-to-day basis” to identify whether changes are needed, acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel told reporters Thursday. There were connectivity issues in applying during EBB's initial days (see 2105180050). Rosenworcel warned providers that make subscribers buy more expensive services instead of their existing plans to “knock it off.” This “violates the spirit of the program,” she said: Those encountering problems should file an FCC complaint.
UScellular withdrew its petition for limited waiver of FCC emergency broadband benefit rules, in a letter Thursday in docket 20-445 (see 2105140063). An attorney for the carrier didn't provide a reason.
The Sept. 3-7 IFA 2021 was canceled due to the pandemic, even as industry-watchers see light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel. Also Wednesday, NAB coincidentally opened registration for the in-person Oct 9-13 NAB Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center. CTA declined comment on IFA 2021's cancellation, but has said it’s committed to returning CES 2022 to the LVCC in early January. “New global health uncertainties” forced IFA 2021's cancellation, said organizers Messe Berlin and gfu. IFA 2020 was one of the few world events to welcome show attendees to a physical exhibition hall, albeit in downsized numbers, while the show’s content was streamed.
UScellular asked for limited FCC waiver of the emergency broadband benefit program requirement that it provide a snapshot of new subscribers by the 15th of each month. It asked for a one-month delay, in a filing Friday. UScellular is the fourth EBB provider to ask for such in recent weeks (see 2105110047).
The FCC asked all stakeholders to help “get the word out” about an emergency broadband benefit and the Emergency Connectivity Fund, blogged acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel Thursday.
Amazon is hiring 75,000 fulfillment and logistics workers in the U.S. and Canada, it said Thursday. New hires already vaccinated for COVID-19 get $100, said Alicia Davis, vice president-global customer fulfillment. Open roles have an average starting pay of over $17 per hour, plus sign-on bonuses in some locations of about $1,000. Locations with the most openings are in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington and Wisconsin.
The FCC made few changes to its Emergency Connectivity Fund rules from the draft (see 2104300084), our analysis found. The application filing window was modified to prioritize prospective purchases, with an additional round if it's determined that more funding for prospective purchases is necessary. The commission moved up the program's start date to May 1, 2020, as sought by education advocates (see 2105050052). The rules in Wednesday's Daily Digest gave limited exceptions to buy datacasting services. The commission is "including datacasting among the technologies eligible for funding,” said America’s Public Television Stations CEO Patrick Butler. “The unanimous endorsement of datacasting by members of the Commission is a powerful testament to the value of this technology in bridging the 'homework gap.'” Rules take effect upon Federal Register publication. Meanwhile, the emergency broadband benefit program started Wednesday (see 2102250066). “This program will have a tremendous, positive impact on so many American households,” said acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.