Communications Daily is tracking the lawsuits below involving appeals of FCC actions. New cases since the last update are marked with a *.
The National Radio Astronomy Observatory and SpaceX are assessing how to limit RF interference coming from Starlink satellites that causes issues with the Very Large Array (VLA) observatory in New Mexico, according to NRAO Deputy Spectrum Manager Chris De Pree. In addition, NRAO is considering implementing those methods with its additional telescopes and sharing successes with other U.S. observatories.
The FCC’s Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council held its first meeting under new FCC Chairman Brendan Carr on Wednesday, hearing updates on 6G and from its two other working groups. CSRIC last met in December (see 2412180041).
The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judges didn’t appear to greatly favor either side in arguments Wednesday on the FCC’s 2018 quadrennial review order, but broadcast industry officials and attorneys said they saw it as a positive sign that the panel apparently embraced the idea that broadcasting is under threat. Aren’t FCC rules intended to promote viewpoint diversity “short-sighted” if they lead to broadcasters going out of business and no longer offering news? asked Judge Duane Benton of FCC attorney James Carr. “Isn’t AM radio dying?” Benton asked at another point. “I hear they’re not even going to put it in new cars.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that President Donald Trump's administration plans to defend his Tuesday firing of Democratic FTC Commissioners Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter (see 2503180067). The Trump administration is seeking U.S. Supreme Court reversal of Humphrey's Executor v. U.S., a unanimous 1935 high court decision that set a precedent preventing the president from firing members of commissions like the FTC (see 2503040019). The firings drew swift opposition from congressional Democrats.
Lawyers for the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition and the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society were cautiously optimistic Wednesday that their side would prevail at the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the FCC and the USF contribution factor in FCC v. Consumers’ Research. But they also expect a divided decision. SCOTUS is to consider the case March 26.
FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks plans resigning this spring ... President Donald Trump appoints Adam Cassady, formerly chief of staff to FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington, as acting assistant secretary of commerce-communications and information and acting NTIA administrator; once an assistant secretary is sworn in, Cassady becomes NTIA principal deputy assistant secretary and deputy administrator ... Broadcasters Foundation of America elects to board: Kristin Cantrell, Seven Mountains Media and CapCity Communications; Kate Riley, America’s Public Television Stations; and Peter Smyth, formerly Greater Media … Synthetic aperture radar firm Synspective names Kumar Navulur, formerly GeoCognition, CEO and president, Synspective USA … Crest Hill Advisors taps Victoria Flood, ex-Mehlman Consulting, as partner.
Looming Chinese competition in the global maritime distress and safety service (GMDSS) equipment universe is making the need to allow use of such equipment other than Inmarsat's more urgent, according to Iridium. In a filing Tuesday recapping a meeting with FCC Wireline Bureau staff, Iridium said the agency's Part 80 rules, governing maritime radio use, should be amended so they apply to all recognized GMDSS providers, including itself. With China's BeiDou satellite radio navigation system recognized by the International Maritime Organization as a GMDSS provider, U.S. GMDSS leadership is in jeopardy, Iridium said. In addition, other GMDSS providers will enter. Iridium said its provision of GMDSS today under a Part 80 waiver "puts [it] on a weaker footing" for international coordination. The Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services petitioned in 2016 for a Part 80 rules update.
Globalstar is urging FCC Space Bureau Chief Jay Schwarz to approve its proposed C-3 constellation (see 2502280001). In a filing Tuesday recapping a meeting with Schwarz, Globalstar said SpaceX -- which has argued there first should be a rulemaking proceeding regarding the big low earth orbit band (see 2410020029) -- has never offered technical explanations of how it could operate on a co-frequency basis in the 1.6/2.4 GHz bands without interfering with Globalstar's mobile satellite service (MSS) offerings. Globalstar said the big LEO MSS licensing status quo "has been an extraordinary success, based on the regulatory and investment certainty ... and there is no justification for modifying this framework."
Consumers would pay more under an ATSC 3.0 tuner mandate, the Consumer Technology Association told an aide to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and Media Bureau staff in an ex parte meeting last week, according to a filing posted Tuesday. NAB has called for a tuner requirement in its recent ATSC 3.0 petition (see 2502260051). A search of TVs sold by a nationwide retailer showed that the average price of those with 3.0 tuners was $80 higher than 1.0 models, CTA said. “Given this sample, in addition to other known factors, such as patent licensing costs, it is reasonable to conclude that consumers would pay more if all televisions were mandated to include an ATSC 3.0 tuner,” the filing said. CTA “strongly believes the transition to ATSC 3.0 must remain voluntary and market-based, not guided by government mandates, and has consistently advocated this position in the record.”