FCC action on the 5.9 GHz band appears unlikely until at least November. The Department of Transportation appears to be digging in to defend the use of the band for safety alone, opposing sharing with Wi-Fi. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai told the Wi-Fi World Congress in May the commission would soon take another look at the spectrum (see 1905140050). Pai was expected to circulate a Further NPRM that month but pulled it after Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao objected (see 1906180072). The band is for dedicated short-range communications.
Staff is entering the second phase of a lengthy process to update the FCC's main filing system. After spending about a year on internal communications and other early work, agency employees are now poised to speak with external stakeholders. The update may include ways to help prevent the agency's filing system from being overwhelmed with fraudulent or spam comments that could slow it down, and it could register users, officials told the agency's Consumer Advisory Committee. Unlike past filing system revamps, this one may have bigger changes, staff told CAC.
The FCC's order approving Nexstar’s buy of Tribune with a 2-2 party line split could have consequences for advocacy groups seeking to weigh in on future FCC decisions, said dissents from Commissioners Geoffrey Starks and Jessica Rosenworcel. Many lawyers agreed.
The FTC is drafting a guidance document for applying antitrust law to tech platforms, Chairman Joe Simons said Friday at Fordham University. Tuesday, Simons testifies with DOJ Antitrust Division Chief Makan Delrahim before the Senate Antitrust Subcommittee.
Additional broadcasting, consumer and tech industry groups urged DOJ not end or change the ASCAP and BMI consent decrees, in comments the department published Friday. Almost 900 entities commented on the consent decree review. They reflected divisions between industries evident in filings we reviewed in August (see 1908120045).
The FCC sought comment Friday on a CTIA petition filed a few days earlier (see 1909090051) seeking clarity on wireless siting rules. The Wireless Infrastructure Association filed a similar petition in August (see 1908230052). Industry lawyers said the public notice likely presages what will be the FCC’s next big wireless infrastructure push. Local government groups are expected to oppose it.
Stakeholders interviewed last week want the FCC to delay further Lifeline changes and promptly answer an industry petition requesting a pause on stricter minimum broadband service standards set for Dec. 1 (see 1906280012). A proposed order and Further NPRM has stirred some concern, as the poor could lose access to mobile broadband if the cost to provide new minimum service levels exceeds incentives from federal reimbursements.
The C-Band Alliance is "aggressively looking" at ways to make more than 200 MHz of 3.7-4.2 GHz spectrum available over a three-year span for 5G, Peter Pitsch, head-advocacy and government relations, told us. FCC Commissioners Brendan Carr and Mike O'Rielly may want more than 200 MHz (see 1903210017 and 1905200006). CBA had said 200 MHz was the best it could do near term (see 1810230025). The Competitive Carriers Association, America's Communications Association and Charter Communications are championing a plan they say would provide at least 370 MHz.
FTC Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter welcomed state antitrust probes of Facebook and Google, during a Thursday Media Institute event. She also reinforced her opposition to the commission's recent settlements with the two tech giants on privacy issues. Slaughter and fellow Democratic Commissioner Rohit Chopra voted against the settlements (see 1907240042 and 1909040066). Slaughter broadly encouraged the FTC to do more on tech sector antitrust, stopping short of supporting a proposal by 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts to break up big tech companies (see 1904170046).
Introducing a privacy bill bilaterally with Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., separate from the Senate Commerce Committee working group, is a “thought,” Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., told reporters Thursday. After the group’s apparent fracturing, focus shifted (see 1908010043) to bilateral negotiations between Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and ranking member Maria Cantwell, D-Wash. But Moran and Blumenthal are continuing their own talks, though Blumenthal claims the group is moving forward as one.