Charter Communications dropped its quest to have the FCC sunset two conditions put on the Time Warner Cable/Bright House Networks transaction (see 2006180050), the Wireline Bureau said in a public notice Tuesday. That means the data caps and settlement-free interconnection conditions will remain until May 18, 2023, it said. Charter told us that with some conditions vacated by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (see 2008140040) and the COVID-19 pandemic's effect on subscribers, "we want to offer them the assurance that they will continue to benefit from unlimited access to broadband and the accompanying financial certainty it provides during these trying times" and thus withdrew the petition. Incompas said the withdrawal "is good news for consumers and open internet advocates. Pressure from Congress, consumer groups and small business leaders helped walk back the cable giant, but it’s a clear sign for why we need strong interconnection and open internet policy on the books to prevent these attempts to raise prices and inflate consumers’ bills.”

Charter Communications dropped its quest to have the FCC sunset two conditions put on the Time Warner Cable/Bright House Networks transaction (see 2006180050), the Wireline Bureau said in a public notice Tuesday. That means the data caps and settlement-free interconnection conditions will remain until May 18, 2023, it said. Charter told us that with some conditions vacated by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (see 2008140040) and the COVID-19 pandemic's effect on subscribers, "we want to offer them the assurance that they will continue to benefit from unlimited access to broadband and the accompanying financial certainty it provides during these trying times" and thus withdrew the petition. Incompas said the withdrawal "is good news for consumers and open internet advocates. Pressure from Congress, consumer groups and small business leaders helped walk back the cable giant, but it’s a clear sign for why we need strong interconnection and open internet policy on the books to prevent these attempts to raise prices and inflate consumers’ bills.”

Charter Communications dropped its quest to have the FCC sunset two conditions put on the Time Warner Cable/Bright House Networks transaction (see 2006180050), the Wireline Bureau said in a public notice Tuesday. That means the data caps and settlement-free interconnection conditions will remain until May 18, 2023, it said. Charter told us that with some conditions vacated by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (see 2008140040) and the COVID-19 pandemic's effect on subscribers, "we want to offer them the assurance that they will continue to benefit from unlimited access to broadband and the accompanying financial certainty it provides during these trying times" and thus withdrew the petition. Incompas said the withdrawal "is good news for consumers and open internet advocates. Pressure from Congress, consumer groups and small business leaders helped walk back the cable giant, but it’s a clear sign for why we need strong interconnection and open internet policy on the books to prevent these attempts to raise prices and inflate consumers’ bills.”

Regulators cleared three items circulated by Chairman Ajit Pai last week -- opening the 12 GHz band to 5G, proposing bidding procedures for a 2.5 GHz auction and unveiling the first round of selections for the agency's Connected Care pilot program (see 2101060061). Pai, who leaves next week, effectively forced a vote.

The FCC will disburse $3.2 billion in emergency broadband assistance as the pandemic has boosted broadband demand and usage (see 2012220061). How the money will be spent and whether it will reach the hardest-hit communities remain uncertain, said experts in interviews this month. Some telecom stakeholders are optimistic, however.

The FCC doesn’t plan to release drafts on the 12 GHz NPRM or the 2.5 GHz auction notice before next week’s commissioners’ meeting, a spokesperson confirmed. Chairman Ajit Pai circulated both (see 2101060061) for a vote at Wednesday’s meeting, as expected (see 2101050053). Pai also circulated a public notice announcing the first round of selections for the $100 million Connected Care pilot program. Not posting drafts is in keeping with past precedent for items not circulated by the chairman three weeks before the meeting. “Because the commission is in the sunshine period, parties are not permitted to communicate with FCC staff," said Michael Calabrese, director of the Wireless Future Program at New America. "So there is no point in encouraging attempts by making the draft public.” Lobbying focused on Commissioners Geoffrey Starks and Jessica Rosenworcel. Public Knowledge and the Open Technology Institute at New America endorsed the 12 GHz NPRM in a call with an aide to Starks, said a filing posted Wednesday in RM-11768. An "NPRM is most appropriate at this time because there has already been considerable comment in response to the [multichannel video and data distribution service] petition and because it is clear that the band is grossly underutilized, particularly in rural areas, and is a near-term candidate for the authorization of at least opportunistic and/or unlicensed access aimed at reducing the digital divide,” they said. Incompas CEO Chip Pickering told a Rosenworcel aide that member companies "potentially could use the 12 GHz Band to deploy broadband and offer competitive alternatives,” the group said. “Move forward with an NPRM to seek comment on ways in which new terrestrial broadband services can be introduced while also allowing existing services to continue to operate and evolve unimpeded,” Federated Wireless executives asked a Starks aide.

Both houses of Congress were expected to vote Monday night on the combined FY 2021 appropriations and COVID-19 aid omnibus bill (HR-133), after Hill leaders reached a deal on the measure, which includes $6.82 billion for broadband and a raft of other tech and telecom policy provisions. HR-133 also includes increases in annual funding for the FCC, FTC, NTIA and other agencies compared with FY 2020. The Senate was, meanwhile, set to hold a revote on invoking cloture on FCC inspector general nominee Chase Johnson after failing a first try Saturday.

Both houses of Congress were expected to vote Monday night on the combined FY 2021 appropriations and COVID-19 aid omnibus bill (HR-133), after Hill leaders reached a deal on the measure, which includes $6.82 billion for broadband and a raft of other tech and telecom policy provisions. HR-133 also includes increases in annual funding for the FCC, FTC, NTIA and other agencies compared with FY 2020. The Senate was, meanwhile, set to hold a revote on invoking cloture on FCC inspector general nominee Chase Johnson after failing a first try Saturday.

Goodfriend Group hires Earl Ash, ex-aide to Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., as senior director-public policy and government relations, specializing in telecom, technology and media, succeeding Meagan Sunn, named tech, telecom and judiciary counsel at office of Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich. ... Cooley global cyber/data/privacy team adds Tiana Demas from Facebook as partner.

Goodfriend Group hires Earl Ash, ex-aide to Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., as senior director-public policy and government relations, specializing in telecom, technology and media, succeeding Meagan Sunn, named tech, telecom and judiciary counsel at office of Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich. ... Cooley global cyber/data/privacy team adds Tiana Demas from Facebook as partner.