Questions continue about a $20.4 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) proposed in a Friday speech at the White House by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai (see 1904120065) and whether it will have much effect on closing the digital divide. Pai said the program would connect up to 4 million rural homes and small businesses to high-speed internet. Critics said the FCC appears to be rebranding the Connect America Fund, without any new proposed spending. Some hope the FCC won’t dig into funding for Lifeline and other USF programs.
Commissioners Mike O'Rielly, Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks all pushed back against Commerce Department suggestions regarding the orbital debris proceeding (see 1904080033). After Friday's agency meeting, O'Rielly said he was "troubled" by the Commerce notion the FCC should pause its proceeding given that Commerce hasn't made any proposal to move forward on its own. Rosenworcel said she was concerned about the idea that the FCC, with authority over commercial spectrum and commercial actors, cede that authority to Commerce, which oversees federal actors. "The space age is big enough to accommodate both" and the FCC "should be sitting in the front" instead of "letting others take the lead," she said. Echoed Starks, "We have a congressional and statutory mandate to be in this lane" and the agency needs to address the issues in the fashion Congress tasked it with doing. Commissioner Brendan Carr said he hadn't read the Commerce filing. Chairman Ajit Pai's office didn't comment.
The FCC approved a process for sharing in the upper 37 GHz band, despite complaints from Commissioners Mike O’Rielly, Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks (see 1904100071). The two Democrats partially dissented. Chairman Ajit Pai, meanwhile, announced that the 37, 39 and 47 GHz auction will start Dec. 10 -- the FCC's third high-band auction. Commissioners approved a public notice on rules for the auction amid complaints by Rosenworcel and O’Rielly. Agency members also approved telecom and cable items.
Tower companies are reporting a general slowdown in carrier investment, Wells Fargo’s Jennifer Fritzsche told investors Thursday. Fritzsche cited discussion at a recent dinner she hosted for tower and wireless executives. AT&T is investing but not at the same level as the end of 2018, she said: T-Mobile is still building out its 600 MHz licenses, but there's “somewhat of a pause of lighting up new capacity sites until it sees how the [Sprint] merger plays out” (see 1904110026). Verizon is “taking a breath” on macro towers, she said. It seems "Q1 is not as robust as we hoped earlier the year in terms of carrier activity,” Fritzsche said. “All executives were positive as to the long term outlook on the business but our sense is muted expectations should be in place for the March quarter.”
Tower companies are reporting a general slowdown in carrier investment, Wells Fargo’s Jennifer Fritzsche told investors Thursday. Fritzsche cited discussion at a recent dinner she hosted for tower and wireless executives. AT&T is investing but not at the same level as the end of 2018, she said: T-Mobile is still building out its 600 MHz licenses, but there's “somewhat of a pause of lighting up new capacity sites until it sees how the [Sprint] merger plays out” (see 1904110026). Verizon is “taking a breath” on macro towers, she said. It seems "Q1 is not as robust as we hoped earlier the year in terms of carrier activity,” Fritzsche said. “All executives were positive as to the long term outlook on the business but our sense is muted expectations should be in place for the March quarter.”
The FCC, asked by the Commerce Department to pause its orbital debris proceeding (see 1904080033), is expected to comply. With Commerce also talking about interagency discussions on one federal authority for all things orbital debris related, some experts said single-agency oversight makes sense.
FCC moves to update orbital debris rules in light of proposed non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) mega constellations raised questions of authority, as expected (see 1902080009). The Commerce Department in a docket 18-313 posting Monday said the FCC could be duplicative with other federal agencies, sowing confusion. The department asked the agency delay the proceeding until,White House space policy directives wrap up.
The FCC restarted the 180-day informal shot clock on its review of T-Mobile buying Sprint Thursday, at day 122. It paused the shot clock in early March, seeking additional comment on new data from the companies (see 1903070045). The 4Competition Coalition said none of the late data submissions by the two carriers makes a bad deal better. The group said: “The evidence in the record is clear: None of these submissions change the reality that this merger would mean more concentration, less competition, and higher prices for millions of American consumers. As the shot clock resumes, we look forward to the completion of the thorough review process and, ultimately, the rejection of this merger.” Completion of the deal would mean more jobs, from the beginning, T-Mobile CEO John Legere blogged Thursday. “This merger is all about creating new, high-quality, high-paying jobs, and the New T-Mobile will be jobs-positive from Day One and every day thereafter. That’s not just a promise. That’s not just a commitment.” The combined company will create nearly 5,600 new American customer care jobs by 2021, he said: “New T-Mobile will employ 7,500+ more care professionals by 2024 than the standalone companies would have.” A top T-Mobile official expressed optimism Thursday. “We are very optimistic about the combination and its approval,” T-Mobile Chief Technology Officer Neville Ray said at the CTIA 5G summit (see 1904040048). The two companies are “moving the ball up the field,” he said. “We are scoring big points.” T-Mobile and Sprint reached agreement with Hawaii’s consumer advocate to clear the path to state OK, the carriers and advocate told the Public Utilities Commission. In a letter posted Thursday, they urged the PUC to adopt parties’ stipulation and OK the deal before June 1, the expected end date of the FCC’s review. The carriers agreed to “strive to deliver” 5G coverage to 90 percent of its Hawaii points of presence within three to five years of the deal closing, and annually meet with the consumer advocate and PUC to review T-Mobile Form 477 data through 2024. The carriers also need state OKs from California and Pennsylvania.
The FCC restarted the 180-day informal shot clock on its review of T-Mobile buying Sprint Thursday, at day 122. It paused the shot clock in early March, seeking additional comment on new data from the companies (see 1903070045). The 4Competition Coalition said none of the late data submissions by the two carriers makes a bad deal better. The group said: “The evidence in the record is clear: None of these submissions change the reality that this merger would mean more concentration, less competition, and higher prices for millions of American consumers. As the shot clock resumes, we look forward to the completion of the thorough review process and, ultimately, the rejection of this merger.” Completion of the deal would mean more jobs, from the beginning, T-Mobile CEO John Legere blogged Thursday. “This merger is all about creating new, high-quality, high-paying jobs, and the New T-Mobile will be jobs-positive from Day One and every day thereafter. That’s not just a promise. That’s not just a commitment.” The combined company will create nearly 5,600 new American customer care jobs by 2021, he said: “New T-Mobile will employ 7,500+ more care professionals by 2024 than the standalone companies would have.” A top T-Mobile official expressed optimism Thursday. “We are very optimistic about the combination and its approval,” T-Mobile Chief Technology Officer Neville Ray said at the CTIA 5G summit (see 1904040048). The two companies are “moving the ball up the field,” he said. “We are scoring big points.” T-Mobile and Sprint reached agreement with Hawaii’s consumer advocate to clear the path to state OK, the carriers and advocate told the Public Utilities Commission. In a letter posted Thursday, they urged the PUC to adopt parties’ stipulation and OK the deal before June 1, the expected end date of the FCC’s review. The carriers agreed to “strive to deliver” 5G coverage to 90 percent of its Hawaii points of presence within three to five years of the deal closing, and annually meet with the consumer advocate and PUC to review T-Mobile Form 477 data through 2024. The carriers also need state OKs from California and Pennsylvania.
Sonos revised its privacy statement Wednesday ahead of a software update adding new features. One addition, called “Recently Played,” will allow users quick access to the last 40 tracks they listened to at home, said Sonos. Users who don’t want to use the new personalization features can go into an advanced section in settings and turn off “additional usage data,” it said.