Over four in 10 U.S. consumers plan to buy a TV this holiday season, with smart TVs leading gift-giving and receiving tech lists, said a Roku survey conducted by Harris. Some 70% plan to spend the same or more on gifts this holiday season, said Tuesday's report. Average holiday spending is expected to be $885, up 2.5% from the 2019 survey; a third plan to buy more gifts due to sheltering in place rules barring them from visiting family and friends. Also due to COVID-19 concerns, consumers expect to do 65% of their holiday shopping virtually. Most consumers are primary streamers, with nearly one in three having cut the cord. For the first time in the survey’s history, Americans reported spending more time streaming than watching pay TV; average reported streaming hours grew 19% year over year vs. traditional TV viewing hours, which fell 13%. Some marketers are adapting their advertising strategies to meet consumers where they spend most of their viewing time, said Roku Chief Marketing Officer Matthew Anderson. About 43% of consumers (including two-thirds of millennials) said an ad on a streaming service led them to pause content, go online and shop for the product advertised. Citing a “tipping point” for the future of TV, Abbey Lunney, director-trends and thought leadership at Harris Poll, said the shift to streaming shows that marketers need to adjust their engagement strategies. The survey polled 2,000 U.S. adults Sept. 8-12.
A trio of Hill Republicans is urging the FCC not to move forward with a July draft order that would raise the Lifeline wireless broadband minimum service standard to 4.5 GB per month (see 2007300064). The proposal has drawn opposition (see 2009150072). “The formula the FCC adopted to update the [MSS] for Lifeline mobile broadband data capacity” in 2016 (see 1603310056) was flawed, “resulting in drastic, year-over-year increases that would undoubtedly impact the ability of Lifeline carriers to continue providing affordable service,” said Sen. David Perdue of Georgia in a letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. The FCC in 2019 “rightfully stepped in to avoid this outcome, limiting the increase from 2 GB to 3 GB per month, instead of an unsustainable 8.75 GB per month.” Perdue’s “concerned that another increase will serve only to cause Lifeline carriers to drastically raise prices, thereby forcing subscribers to drop out of the program in order to avoid costly co-pays.” He encouraged the FCC to “pause” any further increase until it has “completed and reviewed” a planned 2021 Lifeline market report and can “strike a more feasible balance between affordability and robustness.” Reps. Mark Green of Tennessee and Jody Hice of Georgia also sought a pause, urging the FCC to temporarily increase the monthly Lifeline benefit to at least $18 from the current $9.25 amid the pandemic. “We are concerned that although Americans need more mobile broadband data, it seems contrary to free market principles that a government agency would mandate that a private company must provide a costly service without compensation,” the GOP lawmakers wrote Pai. “It is a classic unfunded mandate” that appears the FCC is taking “without statutory authority.” The agency didn’t immediately comment Tuesday.
Over four in 10 U.S. consumers plan to buy a TV this holiday season, with smart TVs leading gift-giving and receiving tech lists, said a Roku survey conducted by Harris. Some 70% plan to spend the same or more on gifts this holiday season, said Tuesday's report. Average holiday spending is expected to be $885, up 2.5% from the 2019 survey; a third plan to buy more gifts due to sheltering in place rules barring them from visiting family and friends. Also due to COVID-19 concerns, consumers expect to do 65% of their holiday shopping virtually. Most consumers are primary streamers, with nearly one in three having cut the cord. For the first time in the survey’s history, Americans reported spending more time streaming than watching pay TV; average reported streaming hours grew 19% year over year vs. traditional TV viewing hours, which fell 13%. Some marketers are adapting their advertising strategies to meet consumers where they spend most of their viewing time, said Roku Chief Marketing Officer Matthew Anderson. About 43% of consumers (including two-thirds of millennials) said an ad on a streaming service led them to pause content, go online and shop for the product advertised. Citing a “tipping point” for the future of TV, Abbey Lunney, director-trends and thought leadership at Harris Poll, said the shift to streaming shows that marketers need to adjust their engagement strategies. The survey polled 2,000 U.S. adults Sept. 8-12.
A trio of Hill Republicans is urging the FCC not to move forward with a July draft order that would raise the Lifeline wireless broadband minimum service standard to 4.5 GB per month (see 2007300064). The proposal has drawn opposition (see 2009150072). “The formula the FCC adopted to update the [MSS] for Lifeline mobile broadband data capacity” in 2016 (see 1603310056) was flawed, “resulting in drastic, year-over-year increases that would undoubtedly impact the ability of Lifeline carriers to continue providing affordable service,” said Sen. David Perdue of Georgia in a letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. The FCC in 2019 “rightfully stepped in to avoid this outcome, limiting the increase from 2 GB to 3 GB per month, instead of an unsustainable 8.75 GB per month.” Perdue’s “concerned that another increase will serve only to cause Lifeline carriers to drastically raise prices, thereby forcing subscribers to drop out of the program in order to avoid costly co-pays.” He encouraged the FCC to “pause” any further increase until it has “completed and reviewed” a planned 2021 Lifeline market report and can “strike a more feasible balance between affordability and robustness.” Reps. Mark Green of Tennessee and Jody Hice of Georgia also sought a pause, urging the FCC to temporarily increase the monthly Lifeline benefit to at least $18 from the current $9.25 amid the pandemic. “We are concerned that although Americans need more mobile broadband data, it seems contrary to free market principles that a government agency would mandate that a private company must provide a costly service without compensation,” the GOP lawmakers wrote Pai. “It is a classic unfunded mandate” that appears the FCC is taking “without statutory authority.” The agency didn’t immediately comment Tuesday.
Senate floor proceedings are delayed until Oct. 19, complicating the timeline for consideration of Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett and FCC nominee Nathan Simington. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was expected to have sought unanimous consent Monday for the chamber to meet pro forma through next week after GOP members Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Mike Lee of Utah and Thom Tillis of North Carolina tested positive for COVID-19. Johnson and Lee are members of the Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Simington pick. Lee and Tillis are on the Judiciary Committee, which is handling the Barrett nomination. Lee and Tillis attended the event last month where President Donald Trump announced he was picking Barrett. Trump (see 2010020044) and other attendees also tested positive. Johnson attended Senate GOP caucus lunches with Lee and Tillis last week. McConnell said the delay in floor proceedings won’t preclude committees from holding hearings virtually, a practice that’s been in place since the spring (see 2005180042). Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., intends to begin hearings on Barrett next week. A committee vote to advance Barrett is planned for Oct. 22; it's unclear whether Lee and Tillis will recover by then. Republicans hold a 12-10 Judiciary majority, making Lee's and Tillis' presence crucial for advancing Barrett amid likely unanimous Democratic opposition. Commerce could hold a virtual hearing on Simington; there’s no chatter about one coming (see 2009300022). The committee has postponed Wednesday's railroads hearing and didn't comment on any further schedule changes.
Senate floor proceedings are delayed until Oct. 19, complicating the timeline for consideration of Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett and FCC nominee Nathan Simington. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was expected to have sought unanimous consent Monday for the chamber to meet pro forma through next week after GOP members Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Mike Lee of Utah and Thom Tillis of North Carolina tested positive for COVID-19. Johnson and Lee are members of the Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Simington pick. Lee and Tillis are on the Judiciary Committee, which is handling the Barrett nomination. Lee and Tillis attended the event last month where President Donald Trump announced he was picking Barrett. Trump (see 2010020044) and other attendees also tested positive. Johnson attended Senate GOP caucus lunches with Lee and Tillis last week. McConnell said the delay in floor proceedings won’t preclude committees from holding hearings virtually, a practice that’s been in place since the spring (see 2005180042). Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., intends to begin hearings on Barrett next week. A committee vote to advance Barrett is planned for Oct. 22; it's unclear whether Lee and Tillis will recover by then. Republicans hold a 12-10 Judiciary majority, making Lee's and Tillis' presence crucial for advancing Barrett amid likely unanimous Democratic opposition. Commerce could hold a virtual hearing on Simington; there’s no chatter about one coming (see 2009300022). The committee has postponed Wednesday's railroads hearing and didn't comment on any further schedule changes.
Comcast’s next-generation xFi Pod, available Thursday, delivers twice the Wi-Fi speed of its predecessor, said the company. The Pod, $119 for one or $199 for two at Xfinity stores and xfinity.com/xfipods, has a tri-band radio and works with the xFi gateway to extend Wi-Fi coverage via a mesh network. Users can add the device to a network using the Xfinity mobile app; they can also view connection status and monitor and pause Wi-Fi devices, it said. It has two Ethernet ports. Since March, Comcast has seen demand for Pods double as households increase their Wi-Fi use, said Dana Strong, president-Xfinity Consumer Services.
Comcast’s next-generation xFi Pod, available Thursday, delivers twice the Wi-Fi speed of its predecessor, said the company. The Pod, $119 for one or $199 for two at Xfinity stores and xfinity.com/xfipods, has a tri-band radio and works with the xFi gateway to extend Wi-Fi coverage via a mesh network. Users can add the device to a network using the Xfinity mobile app; they can also view connection status and monitor and pause Wi-Fi devices, it said. It has two Ethernet ports. Since March, Comcast has seen demand for Pods double as households increase their Wi-Fi use, said Dana Strong, president-Xfinity Consumer Services.
Comcast’s next-generation xFi Pod, available Thursday, delivers twice the Wi-Fi speed of its predecessor, said the company. The Pod, $119 for one or $199 for two at Xfinity stores and xfinity.com/xfipods, has a tri-band radio and works with the xFi gateway to extend Wi-Fi coverage via a mesh network. Users can add the device to a network using the Xfinity mobile app; they can also view connection status and monitor and pause Wi-Fi devices, it said. It has two Ethernet ports. Since March, Comcast has seen demand for Pods double as households increase their Wi-Fi use, said Dana Strong, president-Xfinity Consumer Services.
The FCC monthly meeting's livestream had technical difficulties just under two hours after it started Wednesday, and Chairman Ajit Pai considered approving the remaining items on circulation, according to a text transcript generated on the FCC Live webpage while video and audio were frozen and unavailable. The virtual meeting paused for about half an hour. The FCC Live page transcribes audio from FCC meetings as they take place and, while the glitch was happening, showed Pai consulting with General Counsel Tom Johnson and other agency staff about legal and technical workarounds. Johnson told Pai it may not be legal for the FCC to continue the meeting without the public being able to observe, and Pai asked about switching to the audio-only format of previous pandemic-era FCC meetings. “I guess we could circulate an ad hoc notice,” the transcript showed Pai saying. “We were making such good time.” The transcript showed FCC staff mentioning a Comcast service upgrade and issues with connectivity to YouTube as related to the malfunction. The FCC didn’t respond to requests for comment Thursday. “It’s the nature of the beast, I’m afraid.” Pai said on the transcript. The meeting stream experienced similar glitches in February (see 2002280054). The agency responded to our Freedom of Information Act request on the February matter with no documents. We continue seeking details.