FCC Chairman Ajit Pai proposes holding Phase I auctions for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund on Oct. 22. Pai circulated a public notice among commissioners Thursday proposing procedures for the Phase I auctions, which would allot up to $16 billion of the $20.4 billion USF rural broadband program, he blogged, outlining his agenda for the Feb. 28 meeting. The RDOF auction procedural PN is one of eight items for what Pai is calling "spectrum month." Drafts are expected to be released Friday. Pai's proposal Thursday to pay up to $9.7 billion to C-band incumbents to free the spectrum for a Dec. 8 auction (see 2002060057) will lead the February meeting.
Local governments and the FCC are gearing up for oral argument Monday at the 9th U.S. Court of Appeals in Pasadena, California, on two commission orders the agency and industry say are needed to streamline 5G infrastructure deployment. Judges’ decision about whether the commission legally pre-empted local authority in the right of way could have broader impact for local authority in telecom, municipal attorneys and others told us.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai proposed accelerated relocation payments of up to $9.7 billion for C-band incumbents to clear the band quickly for an auction to start Dec. 8, in a speech (see 2002060031) Thursday at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. Those would be above compensation for relocation costs, estimated to be between $3 billion and $5 billion, he said. Pai has the three votes he needs for approval at the commissioners' Feb. 28 meeting (see 2002060048) with quick endorsements of Commissioners Mike O’Rielly and Brendan Carr.
Spotify shares closed down 4.7 percent Wednesday at $147 after the company reported Q4 revenue of $1.85 billion, below its forecast of $1.89 billion. The company reported an earnings-per-share loss of $1.22 vs. a year-ago gain of 41 cents. It agreed to buy sports podcast service Ringer. That brings more “lifestyle value” and marks a trend of things to come, said Spotify CEO Daniel Ek on the company’s earnings call. The deal is expected to close this quarter.
DOJ Antitrust Division Chief Makan Delrahim could recuse himself from other tech industry investigations, he told reporters Wednesday, after news of his Google probe recusal. Asked after a Media Institute event if there could be other conflicts, he said, “There could be perhaps, but we’ll see. I’ll let you all know.” The division is sorting through tech companies to see if there are any “appearance” issues, he said.
A TV white spaces NPRM circulated on the eighth floor by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai Wednesday seems to incorporate concepts pushed by Microsoft, a broadcast industry official said Wednesday. The TVWS NPRM is set for a vote at the Feb. 28 commissioners’ meeting (see 2002050013). The proposal "would allow white space devices to reach users at greater distances, thus enabling improved broadband coverage," said an FCC release. The item includes proposals to increase the minimum separation distances for white space devices operating at higher power.
Chairman Ajit Pai is likely to seek a vote on a proposal for a 10-year, $9 billion 5G Fund for Rural America at the March FCC meeting, industry officials said. The agency opened docket 20-32 on the fund Monday. A vote is possible at the Feb. 28 meeting, but industry officials said the March 31 meeting is more likely. Pai is expected to release a blog Thursday on the February meeting.
Communications sector officials and lobbyists see President Donald Trump’s mention in his Tuesday night State of the Union of prioritizing broadband access improvements (see 2002040070) as a net positive for policymaking efforts on and off Capitol Hill, but also likely having limited effect. Several believe it will draw further attention to existing work at the FCC, Department of Agriculture and Congress. They noted that probably won't change fundamental hurdles likely to prevent lawmakers from advancing an infrastructure funding legislative package before the Nov. 3 presidential election (see 2001240001).
The amount satellite operators would receive to exit the C band on an expedited basis appears to be in flux headed into FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s big unveil Thursday of his proposal. Some at the FCC earlier appeared to take a hard line, suggesting a $5 billion incentive payment for all operators (see 2001290049). Pai may be willing to offer a higher amount but less than $10 billion.
A manufacturer of radiation reduction accessories published findings from an independent testing lab Tuesday, claiming the iPhone 11 Pro emits “more than twice the FCC’s legal safety limit for radio frequency (RF) radiation from a cellphone.” The test could be an indication other phones expose users to more radiation than legally allowed, it said.