Comcast is facing growing broadband competition, particularly from fixed wireless and fiber providers, though its churn is at record lows, Comcast Cable CEO David Watson said Thursday, announcing Q1 results. He said its response includes various broadband tiers of service and its increasing convergence of its broadband and mobile services packaging and marketing. The company will do field trials of its first 5G radios as a means for offloading traffic in high-load areas in Q2, he said. Comcast stock closed at $41.70, down 6.2%, in response to what analysts said were soft results.
E-rate groups and industry broadly rejected the FCC’s proposal to establish a centralized online bidding portal for the E-rate program, as expected (see 2112070053). Groups asked the agency to abandon the NPRM, saying the record doesn’t reflect a need for such a change to E-rate, in comments posted Thursday in docket 21-455.
A draft FCC NPRM would seek comment on an Alternative Connect America Cost Model (A-CAM) Broadband Coalition proposal to establish an "Enhanced" A-CAM program, if adopted during the May 19 commissioners' meeting (see 2010300055). The proposal would "achieve widespread deployment of faster 100/20 Mbps broadband service" in rural areas currently receiving A-CAM support, said a fact sheet Thursday. Also on tap are orders updating priority calling rules and clamping down on robocalls. Another order would allow computer modeling to verify the pattern of FM directional antennas.
Private 5G networks are in early stages, with no consistent spectrum available worldwide, experts said during an RCR Wireless webinar Thursday. Speakers warned that no one-size-fits-all solution will meet the needs of companies.
The aviation safety concerns the FAA and airlines voiced about top U.S. wireless carriers’ use of 5G on the C band “won’t be completely resolved by this summer,” though ongoing “dialogue and collaboration” between all parties means “we’re on a better path” now, said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg during a Thursday Senate Appropriations Transportation Subcommittee hearing. Buttigieg’s assessment of the current situation kicked off a new case of heartburn among some communications sector stakeholders.
The 50-50 Charter Communications-Comcast joint venture to develop a national streaming platform on branded 4K streaming devices and smart TVs lacks a brand name. The venture, announced Wednesday, will give consumers a “world-class user experience and navigation designed to simplify the search experience, all the top apps, a voice remote and more choice in the streaming marketplace,” a Charter spokesperson emailed Wednesday. The companies “have nothing to share regarding the brand of the JV at this time,” he said. The closing of the joint venture is subject to customary closing conditions, the companies said.
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission could set broadband service standards, under a bill considered Wednesday by the state's House Commerce Committee. The panel heard testimony but didn’t vote on HF-4455 at a webcast hearing. Republicans said the market is competitive and disagreed with increasing regulation. Communications Workers of America, which is pushing a model bill in multiple states to give utility commissions more authority, supported the bill (see 2104120051).
Profit incentives for streaming services are “very much out of sync” with those of artists, DOJ Antitrust Division Chief Jonathan Kanter said Wednesday: Enforcers will take it into account during its merger guideline review with the FTC (see 2204220056). He and FTC Chair Lina Khan heard from several musicians, content creators and consumer advocates about the effects of consolidation in media and entertainment during the third listening session. The FTC is taking note of the “significant transformation” in the media and entertainment sector over the past decade, Khan said.
The wireless industry needs to cut its own power consumption but can also help other industries become more energy efficient, speakers said Wednesday at the Brooklyn 6G Virtual Summit. Speakers warned that the rapid growth expected as industry moves to 6G will complicate efforts to reduce energy use.
T-Mobile will finish moving all Sprint customers to the T-Mobile network over the next few months and plans to “decommission substantially all” Sprint sites by year-end, executives said Wednesday as the carrier reported Q1 results. T-Mobile continues its strong growth, with 589,000 postpaid phone net adds and 1.3 million postpaid net customer adds. T-Mobile shares closed 3.9% higher Wednesday at $129.84.