Public safety groups urged the FCC to push for more use of location-based routing (LBR) to 911 call centers, in response to a June public notice, approved by commissioners 4-0 (see 2206080040). T-Mobile said how industry addresses the issue should be voluntary without the imposition of new FCC rules. AT&T and T-Mobile said implementation has to be done carefully and takes time.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit unanimously vacated the FCC’s requirement that broadcasters check federal databases to determine if entities leasing time on their stations are agents of foreign governments, said a seven-page opinion Tuesday. The court ruled against the agency because the language of the sponsorship ID statute limits the due diligence required of broadcasters to their employees and sponsors. “The FCC’s verification requirement ignores the limits that the statute places on broadcasters’ narrow duty of inquiry,” said the opinion from Judge Justin Walker. “That is not the law that Congress wrote.” “The FCC overreached,” said Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council Senior Adviser David Honig. MMTC, NAB and the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters were the petitioners in the case.
House Communications Subcommittee leaders intend to combine language from the Extending America’s Spectrum Auction Leadership Act (HR-7783) and Simplifying Management, Reallocation and Transfer of Spectrum Act (HR-5486) with the Spectrum Innovation Act (HR-7624) at a Wednesday Commerce Committee markup, as expected (see 2205190068). House Commerce is planning to mark up the American Data Privacy and Protection Act (HR-8152) next week, a Democratic committee spokesperson confirmed Tuesday. The House Consumer Protection Subcommittee unanimously advanced the bill in June (see 2206230064).
U.S. linear TV ad spending will grow 4.1% to $68.4 billion this year, then trail downward over the next few years to $64.9 billion in 2026, with a slight bump in 2024 due to the presidential election and Summer Olympics, said a June eMarketer report. TV ad spending won’t return to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels through the 2026 forecast period “and most likely it never will," it said. "The golden age of traditional TV advertising is behind us."
A draft FCC notice of inquiry aimed at improving access to communications services for survivors of domestic or sexual violence should include privacy concerns and encourage partnerships with entities at the local level, advocacy organizations told us (see 2206230069). Commissioners will consider the item Thursday, which would seek comment on obstacles survivors face to obtaining broadband services and ways to amend Lifeline or the affordable connectivity program to encourage enrollment among survivors.
Phone and cable companies sought to stop California from adopting affordability metrics for the communications sector. The California Public Utilities Commission plans to vote Thursday on a June 10 proposed decision to apply an affordability framework across its regulated industries. In Friday reply comments in docket R.18-07-006, consumer advocates urged the CPUC to reject the communications industry’s due process and other concerns.
Two broadcast items set for the FCC’s open meeting Thursday are seen as likely to be unanimously approved, industry and FCC officials told us. The order and NPRM on eliminating outdated analog rules for low-power television and the draft NPRM on updating references in the FCC rules to a now defunct Nielsen publication seek comment on relatively minor shifts, said BakerHostetler broadcast attorney Dan Kirkpatrick.
FCC rules creating the enhanced competition incentive program haven’t been controversial since circulated by Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and are expected to be approved Thursday with minimal changes, industry and FCC officials said. The rules proposed don’t differ significantly from what was in a November Further NPRM (see 2111180071). Industry observers see a lack of enthusiasm on the program.
NARUC should press states and the federal government to lower barriers, including through increased funding and awareness campaigns, to enrollment in the affordable connectivity program, Telecom Committee member Crystal Rhoades said in an interview Thursday. The Nebraska Public Service Commission’s lone Democrat said she doesn’t expect controversy over her proposed resolution, which is up for vote at NARUC’s July 17-20 policy summit in San Diego (see 2207060037). However, Next Century Cities Senior Policy Counsel Ryan Johnston raised concerns that the draft omits local governments’ key role in raising awareness.
The Senate Commerce Committee is poised to potentially mark up legislation that would establish a duty of care for social media platforms to protect children’s online privacy (see 2202160055), bill supporters told us.