The U.S. Export-Import Bank said Thursday the U.S. doesn’t have comparative leadership in telecom equipment manufacturing and agreed to move forward on a long-term project to restore it. The Ex-Im board supported 4-1 a policy change to potentially provide additional support for gear made outside the U.S., to better compete with China, and to promote open radio access networks.
A Democratic bill filed in New Hampshire that would treat social media platforms as common carriers and require them to carry speech violates the First Amendment, tech industry associations told New Hampshire’s House Judiciary Committee during a hearing Thursday.
While the lineup of cable operators providing mobile service grows, with others likely to follow, most will rely on mobile virtual network operators and their own Wi-Fi networks to provide the service rather than become more active in acquiring spectrum for their own wireless networks, wireless and cable experts tell us.
Pole attachment stakeholders disagreed on next steps after the California Public Utilities Commission’s October one-touch, make-ready (OTMR) decision in docket I.17-06-027 (see 2210200073). In comments received Tuesday, pole owners resisted attachers urging the CPUC to speed the pole replacement process. Telecom companies rejected more OTMR safety requirements proposed by workers and increased fees for unauthorized attachments sought by two electric companies. San Francisco sought municipal access to private poles.
NTIA requested comment Wednesday on a potential response to data privacy harms inflicted on “marginalized” and “underserved communities.” NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson said the agency will explore the intersection between privacy and civil rights, including digital discrimination impacting economic and social opportunity.
Industry groups asked the FCC to either clarify or reconsider parts of rules for the commission's consumer broadband labels. Some in comments posted Wednesday in docket 22-2 expressed concerns about the types of services and details required in the labels. Commissioners adopted the new labels in November, largely mirroring those established in 2016 (see 2211180077).
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel isn’t signaling what the FCC may do following up on last year’s receiver performance notice of inquiry. Initially, some experts speculated the FCC may focus on a policy statement rather than rules (see 2208050044). At an FCBA webinar Tuesday, an aide to Commissioner Nathan Simington said the commissioner wants a follow-up to the notice (see 2301170072).
The FCC released a long-awaited order and Further NPRM Wednesday on the future of the 4.9 GHz band. Commissioners approved the item 4-0 as expected (see 2211090036). Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel circulated an order in October establishing a national band manager, which would govern the leasing process in the band, with an accompanying FNPRM asking for feedback on details of how the leasing process could work (see 2210260064). None of the commissioners attached statements.
TRENTON -- New Jersey justices challenged Altice on its claim that a state requirement to prorate cable bills is impermissible rate regulation preempted by the Cable Act. The state Supreme Court heard oral argument Tuesday on the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and Division of Rate Counsel's appeal of a lower court’s ruling for Altice. Justices noted the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Maine’s similar rule applying to customers who end service before the month is up.
Standard General’s proposed concessions aren’t enough to prevent higher retransmission consent rates or collusion between Standard and Cox Media Group owner Apollo Global Management, said comments filed in docket 22-162 in response to the FCC’s request for feedback.