Consideration of ViaSat use of the Ka-band for inter-satellite links (ISL) should be put on pause until technical studies are done, EchoStar officials told an aide to Chairman Ajit Pai, according tlo a docket 16-408 ex parte filing posted Friday. EchoStar said Ka-band hasn't been authorized for ISL use largely because there's plenty of spectrum available already for ISL, and ViaSat hasn't shown why a non-conforming use should be allowed. At the least, the agency should defer ViaSat consideration until standards for antenna pointing accuracy and interference avoidance can be addressed internationally and in the U.S. It also repeated its call for the agency to keep the domestic coverage requirement for non-geostationary orbit constellations (see 1801030039). And it said streamlining of earth stations in motion rules should include use of off-axis equivalent isotropically radiated power density limits instead of antenna pointing accuracy requirements, and ending what it said were needless data logging requirements. ViaSat outside counsel John Janka of Latham & Watkins said ViaSat isn't proposing ISLs but satellite-to-satellite links connecting a medium earth orbit constellation with a geostationary orbit constellation and that the FCC and ITU tables of frequency allocation covering fixed satellite service (FSS) include such links. Meanwhile, in a docket 14-177 ex parte filing Friday on a meeting with International Bureau staff, EchoStar said it also backed allowing individually licensed FSS earth stations in the 24.75-25.25 GHz band, but opposed employing spectrum frontiers-like limits on deploying satellite gateways in the bands above 95 GHz, and instead sharing rules should be put off until satellite and terrestrial technologies for those bands are developed.
Sinclair's divestiture trust proposal to bring its planned buy of Tribune into compliance with FCC rules (see 1802210062) doesn’t contain enough specifics to merit turning the deal’s paused shot clock back on, opponents said Wednesday in interviews and filings. “Sinclair hasn’t delivered with this filing,” said Brian Thorn, strategic research associate at the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians (NABET-CWA). “There isn’t enough to assuage our concerns.”
Sinclair's divestiture trust proposal to bring its planned buy of Tribune into compliance with FCC rules (see 1802210062) doesn’t contain enough specifics to merit turning the deal’s paused shot clock back on, opponents said Wednesday in interviews and filings. “Sinclair hasn’t delivered with this filing,” said Brian Thorn, strategic research associate at the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians (NABET-CWA). “There isn’t enough to assuage our concerns.”
The FCC granted the request of AT&T and five consumers to dismiss two complaints alleging the telco engaged in "digital redlining" by discriminating against poorer neighborhoods in provision of broadband service. The parties "resolved their differences" through FCC staff-supervised mediation, said brief joint motions (here and here) to dismiss the complaints with prejudice Tuesday in dockets 17-223 and 17-270. They were stamped "granted" by an Enforcement Bureau official. The parties asked the FCC in October to pause its review as they tried to settle the dispute (see 1710040032), which surfaced in August (see 1708240046). Neither AT&T nor Daryl Parks, the attorney representing the residents of Cleveland and Detroit, commented Tuesday.
The FCC granted the request of AT&T and five consumers to dismiss two complaints alleging the telco engaged in "digital redlining" by discriminating against poorer neighborhoods in provision of broadband service. The parties "resolved their differences" through FCC staff-supervised mediation, said brief joint motions (here and here) to dismiss the complaints with prejudice Tuesday in dockets 17-223 and 17-270. They were stamped "granted" by an Enforcement Bureau official. The parties asked the FCC in October to pause its review as they tried to settle the dispute (see 1710040032), which surfaced in August (see 1708240046). Neither AT&T nor Daryl Parks, the attorney representing the residents of Cleveland and Detroit, commented Tuesday.
After HomePod's first week on the market, customer reviews are coming in for the Siri-controlled speaker, with sound quality leading the “pros” lists and a variety of complaints topping the “cons.” The smart speaker had 89 reviews Thursday afternoon at Bestbuy.com. HomePod had an average 4.1 rating out of five with 79 percent of customers saying they would recommend the product. Reviewers were heavily skewed to the Apple ecosystem, we found.
Most early commenters resisted FCC Lifeline proposals to retarget low-income USF subsidy support toward facilities-based broadband providers and away from resellers. Consumer groups and state regulators opposed the plan, NTCH was supportive, and a group against government waste urged the agency to pause for now. Some comments were filed last week in docket 11-42 on an NPRM and notice of inquiry, even though the FCC Tuesday extended the Jan. 24 deadline to Feb. 21 (see 1801230042). The proposals would eliminate subsidies for wireless resellers, cutting off about 70 percent of Lifeline participants, and move support from urban to rural areas, said Consumer Action, opposing capping program funding and requiring subscriber co-pays. A Pennsylvania collection of low-income individuals, service providers, organizations and consumer groups objected to the proposed facilities-based focus, said voice-only support shouldn't be phased out, and opposed proposals for a hard budget cap and lifetime limits. The LGBT Technology Partnership also opposed cutting off support to resellers. State regulatory commissions from Michigan, Missouri, Indiana and Minnesota expressed concerns about the proposed move to facilities-based support. New York City Council Member Peter Koo of Queens opposed FCC proposals that would scrap service to "75 percent of current participants," shift voice support to rural areas, cap Lifeline benefits and cap the program's funding. Backing the FCC proposals and asking that its previous petition for reconsideration be deemed granted, NTCH said that agency "forbearance" from applying a "facilities-based requirement" of the Communications Act "has led to massive fraud and abuse, a drain on the USF Treasury, and hoodwinking of consumers." Citizens Against Government Waste urged the FCC to wait and reconsider the proposal after it sees whether implementing a national verifier of consumer eligibility cuts down on abuse. Minnesota supported FCC proposals to restore full state ETC authority; Michigan backed removing federal broadband designations, with modifications for states lacking broadband regulatory authority; and Missouri said states need flexibility to make Lifeline program adjustments.
Most early commenters resisted FCC Lifeline proposals to retarget low-income USF subsidy support toward facilities-based broadband providers and away from resellers. Consumer groups and state regulators opposed the plan, NTCH was supportive, and a group against government waste urged the agency to pause for now. Some comments were filed last week in docket 11-42 on an NPRM and notice of inquiry, even though the FCC Tuesday extended the Jan. 24 deadline to Feb. 21 (see 1801230042). The proposals would eliminate subsidies for wireless resellers, cutting off about 70 percent of Lifeline participants, and move support from urban to rural areas, said Consumer Action, opposing capping program funding and requiring subscriber co-pays. A Pennsylvania collection of low-income individuals, service providers, organizations and consumer groups objected to the proposed facilities-based focus, said voice-only support shouldn't be phased out, and opposed proposals for a hard budget cap and lifetime limits. The LGBT Technology Partnership also opposed cutting off support to resellers. State regulatory commissions from Michigan, Missouri, Indiana and Minnesota expressed concerns about the proposed move to facilities-based support. New York City Council Member Peter Koo of Queens opposed FCC proposals that would scrap service to "75 percent of current participants," shift voice support to rural areas, cap Lifeline benefits and cap the program's funding. Backing the FCC proposals and asking that its previous petition for reconsideration be deemed granted, NTCH said that agency "forbearance" from applying a "facilities-based requirement" of the Communications Act "has led to massive fraud and abuse, a drain on the USF Treasury, and hoodwinking of consumers." Citizens Against Government Waste urged the FCC to wait and reconsider the proposal after it sees whether implementing a national verifier of consumer eligibility cuts down on abuse. Minnesota supported FCC proposals to restore full state ETC authority; Michigan backed removing federal broadband designations, with modifications for states lacking broadband regulatory authority; and Missouri said states need flexibility to make Lifeline program adjustments.
Though ATSC 3.0 will enable advancements in emergency alerts, it can’t address the problems of an outdated, underfunded emergency alert system (EAS) operated by personnel who may be undertrained, said Advanced Warning and Response Network (AWARN) Alliance Executive Director John Lawson at an FCBA event on ATSC 3.0 Friday. Panelists at the event also spoke about the upcoming trials of ATSC 3.0 technology and the process remaining for the new standard to go into effect.
Though ATSC 3.0 will enable advancements in emergency alerts, it can’t address the problems of an outdated, underfunded emergency alert system (EAS) operated by personnel who may be undertrained, said Advanced Warning and Response Network (AWARN) Alliance Executive Director John Lawson at an FCBA event on ATSC 3.0 Friday. Panelists at the event also spoke about the upcoming trials of ATSC 3.0 technology and the process remaining for the new standard to go into effect.