Competitive Carriers Association President Steve Berry said the FCC should ignore a letter by Max Media CEO Gene Loving seeking a pause of the TV incentive auction and a rethink of the auction rules (see 1701120059). “Many people in Washington have quipped that election season is ‘silly season,’ but this recent letter from the CEO of Max Media proves that ‘silly season’ is not quite over,” Berry said in a statement. “The FCC should take Gene Loving’s request for what it truly is -- a ridiculous stall tactic in an attempt to distract policymakers from getting more mobile broadband services to consumer, and as such, the FCC should reject the request without hesitation.” The kind of delay Loving proposes would “violate the law, counter congressional intent and negatively impact auction participants who have spent countless hours and resources planning auction strategies,” Berry said. Thanks for letting me know "I'm part of the continuing 'silly season,'' Loving said in an emailed response. It would cost about $10 billion to close the auction now, new figures show (see 1701130077).
The design of the incentive auction is flawed, and FCC Commissioners Ajit Pai and Mike O'Rielly should pause it and rethink “the entire process of spectrum allocation,” said broadcast company Max Media CEO Gene Loving in a letter to the commissioners Thursday. “Taking a cue from President-Elect Trump’s efforts to reevaluate all government programs, I urge you to consider whether this auction, which was started under the previous administration, will likely end up as 'failed' just as the new commission takes over, leaving the new administration holding the proverbial bag,” said Loving. “I’m certainly not an expert in auction theory, but the results of the forward auction are clear evidence of a flaw in the design, possibly due to the wireless bidders being told over and over that if they don’t like the price, the auction will be rerun again and again and again,” the letter said. “Perhaps rather than announce the clearing values, the commission should have kept that information confidential. Wireless bidders should have been told only how much spectrum would be made available.” Under the new FCC administration, the auction could be temporarily halted and redesigned “to ensure the future spectrum needs are truly met that reflect the reality of the market, not a flawed auction process,” said Loving. “In line with the Trump administration business approach to running government, all 126 megahertz cleared in Stage 1 could be purchased by a specific purpose entity financed through the issue of bonds. That entity could then be charged with selling spectrum when demand merits the sale, meaning when prices are high enough so that the US Treasury could make a profit, or even better, leasing spectrum to the wireless industry at a monthly fee to create a long term income stream for the government and an ongoing return to U.S. taxpayers.”
LAS VEGAS -- Comcast is previewing at CES a whole-home networking solution that will be enabled automatically in first half 2017 for its 10 million existing internet customers with an Xfinity Wireless Gateway. That number is expected to grow to 15 million by year-end when its next-generation wireless gateway becomes available to customers, it announced.
LAS VEGAS -- Comcast is previewing at CES a whole-home networking solution that will be enabled automatically in first half 2017 for its 10 million existing internet customers with an Xfinity Wireless Gateway. That number is expected to grow to 15 million by year-end when its next-generation wireless gateway becomes available to customers, it announced.
LAS VEGAS -- Comcast is previewing at CES a whole-home networking solution that will be enabled automatically in first half 2017 for its 10 million existing internet customers with an Xfinity Wireless Gateway. That number is expected to grow to 15 million by year-end when its next-generation wireless gateway becomes available to customers, it announced.
LAS VEGAS -- Roku took to the wires Tuesday to promote its position in the smart TV streaming market following the news that Seiki, Westinghouse Electronics and Element Electronics will begin shipping this year 4K Ultra HD TVs with Amazon Fire TV built in.
LAS VEGAS -- Roku took to the wires Tuesday to promote its position in the smart TV streaming market following the news that Seiki, Westinghouse Electronics and Element Electronics will begin shipping this year 4K Ultra HD TVs with Amazon Fire TV built in.
The New York State Court of Appeals ruled 4-2 Tuesday against Flo & Eddie’s claim that New York common law allows a performance royalty right for sound recordings made before 1972. Flo & Eddie, owners of The Turtles’ music, argued for a pre-'72 performance right as part of their lawsuit against SiriusXM seeking compensation for performances of such Turtles recordings. The ruling likely means the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will in turn rule against Flo & Eddie in its review of SiriusXM's appeal of a 2015 U.S. District Court ruling in New York in the Flo & Eddie suit there, industry lawyers told us. The 2nd Circuit paused its review until the New York court could rule on the pre-'72 performance right question (see 1604130063 and 1605030055).
The New York State Court of Appeals ruled 4-2 Tuesday against Flo & Eddie’s claim that New York common law allows a performance royalty right for sound recordings made before 1972. Flo & Eddie, owners of The Turtles’ music, argued for a pre-'72 performance right as part of their lawsuit against SiriusXM seeking compensation for performances of such Turtles recordings. The ruling likely means the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will in turn rule against Flo & Eddie in its review of SiriusXM's appeal of a 2015 U.S. District Court ruling in New York in the Flo & Eddie suit there, industry lawyers told us. The 2nd Circuit paused its review until the New York court could rule on the pre-'72 performance right question (see 1604130063 and 1605030055).
Commissioner Mignon Clyburn believes the FCC can find bipartisan solutions on most issues when Republicans take the agency helm under incoming President Donald Trump Jan. 20. Clyburn said commissioners of both parties share many goals, including encouraging broadband deployment and access. While they have certain disagreements, particularly over net neutrality and broadband reclassification, she believes they should be able to find much common ground.