House lawmakers sent the FCC a letter Thursday as expected (see 1605040068) with 60 signatures criticizing the set-top box NPRM. “We strongly urge you to press pause,” they told the FCC, citing uncertainty and the possible effects on small businesses. Reps. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., Bob Latta, R-Ohio, Kurt Schrader, D-Ore., and Collin Peterson, D-Minn., led the letter. It prompted praise from the American Cable Association, as expected, and others. The letter, signed mostly by Republicans but also some Democrats, “sent a strong message to the FCC today to consider the threats to rural consumers and small companies before pressing ahead with a mandate requiring implementation of technology that does not yet exist,” said NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield. “The cost of implementing the commission’s set-top box proposal could devastate the video business in rural areas, where many consumers do not receive an over-the-air signal and many small, rural telcos already struggle mightily with the costs of delivering video services. Now that the commission has heard from a broad, bipartisan cross-section of elected officials on an array of concerns with the set-top box proposal, we hope the agency will heed these calls and reconsider the proposed rules.” WTA also lauded the message: “It’s not often you see content providers, distributors, economists, Republicans, and Democrats all aligned against a proposal from the FCC,” said WTA Vice President-Government Affairs Derrick Owens. The Future of TV Coalition, which opposes the NPRM, circulated the letter. “To date, more than 150 Members of Congress -- including nearly half of all House Democrats -- have expressed serious concerns with the proposed mandate,” Future of TV said. The lawmakers began circulating a letter draft and gaining backers last week (see 1604270063). The FCC has received and is reviewing the letter, a spokeswoman said.
The New York Court of Appeals said it will consider Flo & Eddie's lawsuit against Sirius XM on the issue of whether New York law recognizes a public performance right for pre-1972 sound recordings and the scope of the state's law. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals asked the New York court in April to review the Flo & Eddie lawsuit, pausing its own review of the case because the status of pre-1972 sound recordings under New York law constitutes a “significant and unresolved issue” of state law that “is determinative” in the 2nd Circuit's eventual decision on Sirius XM's appeal of the case (see 1604130063). The New York Court of Appeals said Tuesday it will consider the state law issue “after briefing and argument,” but didn't set a schedule for considering the case in a brief memo.
The New York Court of Appeals said it will consider Flo & Eddie's lawsuit against Sirius XM on the issue of whether New York law recognizes a public performance right for pre-1972 sound recordings and the scope of the state's law. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals asked the New York court in April to review the Flo & Eddie lawsuit, pausing its own review of the case because the status of pre-1972 sound recordings under New York law constitutes a “significant and unresolved issue” of state law that “is determinative” in the 2nd Circuit's eventual decision on Sirius XM's appeal of the case (see 1604130063). The New York Court of Appeals said Tuesday it will consider the state law issue “after briefing and argument,” but didn't set a schedule for considering the case in a brief memo.
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler “didn’t answer the question about whether he would delay rendering a decision until after the GAO impact study is out” regarding his set-top box proposal, said Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., in an interview Thursday about a private meeting between Wheeler and the House Democratic caucus the day before. “I didn’t hear him make a response to that. … he spoke about some interests that he felt were in favor of his proposal, and that was basically it.” The issue was known to have come up in the exchange between Wheeler and House Democrats, among many other topics (see 1604270063). Clarke has joined with Communications Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., to call for a GAO impact study of the set-top proposal. She has led several members outlining concerns, including more than 50 Democrats requesting a pause in the FCC proceeding. “He didn’t address the concerns at all,” Clarke said of the meeting with Wheeler. “He came with his perspective, presented it and that was basically it. … I intend to go about educating my colleagues as much as possible so they can make an informed decision as we continue to press for them to delay and have the GAO do a study of the impact and hopefully we’ll get a louder chorus of members who will be interested in doing a study.” She said the issue is “to be continued” and with “more conversation” inevitable. The Wheeler meeting with House Democrats was an “opening salvo,” she said. “Certainly, he tried to make it seem as though his perspective is a global perspective with respect to the set-top box issue,” Clarke said. “And I think there’s just a lot more to uncover here than he presented. I’m sure there’ll be subsequent presentations to members because it’s a very complex issue. And I think that people are concerned that they’re not drawn in the middle of sort of a clash of the titans but have a far more in-depth understanding of what the implications are for future communications, if you will.”
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler “didn’t answer the question about whether he would delay rendering a decision until after the GAO impact study is out” regarding his set-top box proposal, said Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., in an interview Thursday about a private meeting between Wheeler and the House Democratic caucus the day before. “I didn’t hear him make a response to that. … he spoke about some interests that he felt were in favor of his proposal, and that was basically it.” The issue was known to have come up in the exchange between Wheeler and House Democrats, among many other topics (see 1604270063). Clarke has joined with Communications Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., to call for a GAO impact study of the set-top proposal. She has led several members outlining concerns, including more than 50 Democrats requesting a pause in the FCC proceeding. “He didn’t address the concerns at all,” Clarke said of the meeting with Wheeler. “He came with his perspective, presented it and that was basically it. … I intend to go about educating my colleagues as much as possible so they can make an informed decision as we continue to press for them to delay and have the GAO do a study of the impact and hopefully we’ll get a louder chorus of members who will be interested in doing a study.” She said the issue is “to be continued” and with “more conversation” inevitable. The Wheeler meeting with House Democrats was an “opening salvo,” she said. “Certainly, he tried to make it seem as though his perspective is a global perspective with respect to the set-top box issue,” Clarke said. “And I think there’s just a lot more to uncover here than he presented. I’m sure there’ll be subsequent presentations to members because it’s a very complex issue. And I think that people are concerned that they’re not drawn in the middle of sort of a clash of the titans but have a far more in-depth understanding of what the implications are for future communications, if you will.”
Charter Communications hopes to close on Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks "within a few days" of the California Public Utilities Commission's expected May 12 vote, if the CPUC approves it and the FCC has given approval by then, CEO Tom Rutledge said during the company's Q1 earnings call. TWC CEO Rob Marcus, in a separate earnings call also on Thursday, said the company is "optimistic the transaction will close sometime next month."
Charter Communications hopes to close on Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks "within a few days" of the California Public Utilities Commission's expected May 12 vote, if the CPUC approves it and the FCC has given approval by then, CEO Tom Rutledge said during the company's Q1 earnings call. TWC CEO Rob Marcus, in a separate earnings call also on Thursday, said the company is "optimistic the transaction will close sometime next month."
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler privately addressed his much-debated set-top box proposal Wednesday in a meeting with the House Democratic caucus, House Communications Subcommittee ranking member Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., said in an interview. She had invited Wheeler last year, she said. Invitations for the caucus meeting had circulated earlier this week (see 1604250055).
Tom Wheeler hasn't reached the point in his FCC chairmanship where he will be unable to launch new major rulemakings, but if he wants to wrap them up before the Nov. 8 election he will need to start them soon, officials said. Last week, Wheeler started what's expected to be his final nine months as chairman. The FCC didn't comment.
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler privately addressed his much-debated set-top box proposal Wednesday in a meeting with the House Democratic caucus, House Communications Subcommittee ranking member Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., said in an interview. She had invited Wheeler last year, she said. Invitations for the caucus meeting had circulated earlier this week (see 1604250055).