That the FCC has made such incremental changes to media ownership rules since 1996 was a surprise to Harold Furchtgott-Roth, who became a Republican commissioner the next year. Just-departed Democratic member Michael Copps worries more mergers and acquisitions will continue.

The FCC should carefully consider broadcaster concerns as the commission moves forward with an order requiring public political files to be posted online, Commissioner Mignon Clyburn said Wednesday. Speaking at a Catholic University conference, Clyburn outlined an agenda for the rest of the year including work on spectrum, USF reform and accessibility. Clyburn and a later wireless industry panel urged rules to spur competition in the mobile market.

The FCC and major wireless carriers unveiled an agreement Tuesday aimed at curbing the number of smartphones stolen each day in the U.S. Carriers agreed to launch a database within six months allowing the quick blocking of stolen cellphones, keeping them from being used again. Just last year, the FCC took on wireless “bill shock” by pushing through a similar voluntary agreement from the carriers.

As the government deals with the global challenge of cyber security, it’s important to focus on the little things, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski told computer security professionals Tuesday at a cybersecurity conference sponsored by the Atlantic Council. The FCC’s small business initiatives have included releasing a tip sheet with advice about password-protecting their wireless networks, and a “small biz cyber planner” to help businesses develop a cyber security plan. “Yes, this is low-hanging fruit,” Genachowski said. “There is a lot of low-hanging fruit to tackle in addressing cyberthreats. And we can’t let the larger and more complex challenges keep us from making practical progress on low-hanging fruit."

Critics of the Comcast-NBCUniversal transaction said the FCC’s delay in enforcing some of the conditions on that deal suggest it should no longer approve transactions where serious conditions need to be applied to protect the public interest. Pointing to Bloomberg LP’s long-running channel placement complaint as Exhibit A, Public Knowledge, Free Press and Consumers Union officials said the agency should deny more deals. “Behavioral conditions just do not work in a market that is as consolidated as the market for telecommunications services,” said Joel Kelsey, a policy analyst at Free Press. “It’s a lot easier and cleaner and a better outcome for consumers [for the FCC] to live up to its mandate and start denying transactions that are going to lead to a whole lot of regulation” through conditions, he said.

Papers that TV stations must electronically give the FCC will go in the cloud. The public-inspection files all TV broadcasters must under a draft order soon start giving the commission, so they can be found on fcc.gov and not just in stations’ main studios, will be uploaded to a cloud system, agency and industry officials said. They said the draft Media Bureau order tentatively set for a vote at April 27’s commissioner meeting (CD April 9 p5) says such a cloud mechanism is meant to allow speedy uploading of documents during peak times, such as shortly before elections when campaign ads often sell for the lowest unit charge and must be recorded in broadcasters’ political files.

While LightSquared’s investor considers a bankruptcy filing and awaits a ruling on the FCC’s proposal to revoke its ancillary terrestrial component (ATC) authority, the company’s control of its spectrum license is expected to remain intact, some satellite executives and analysts said. Phil Falcone, Harbinger Capital Partners CEO, said last week that he’s considering bankruptcy as an option for the company that is attempting to integrate a ground-based wireless network with satellite coverage (CD April 6 p14).

Collaboration on cybersecurity inside and outside the U.S. is key to securing cyberspace globally, administration and international officials said Tuesday at a Georgetown University conference. White House cybersecurity coordinator Howard Schmidt urged all agencies of the U.S. government to work together to enhance the nation’s cybersecurity posture. Defense and State department officials told a later panel that all nations must work together to stabilize cyberspace.

Large incumbent LECs cheered a petition by USTelecom for forbearance from enforcement of several “outdated” legacy telecommunications regulations, in comments filed Monday, but others wanted to ensure that ILECs still comply with some reporting rules that they say help competitors and the commission make informed decisions. Several state commissions opposed the petition. While New York regulators don’t oppose the bulk of the petition, they said they're concerned about the potential impact on Lifeline services.

Two public safety officials central to the push by 21 different government groups to build early first-responded networks in the 700 MHz band told us they welcome Friday’s public notice by the FCC Public Safety Bureau asking a battery of questions about 700 MHz transition issues in light of the recently enacted Spectrum Act (CD April 9 p9). With the original licenses due to expire in late summer, Public Safety Spectrum Trust Operator Advisory Committee Chairman Bill Schrier and PSST Chairman Harlin McEwen said Monday the public notice was a necessary next step by the commission.