The FCC proposed to extend by 15 years a freeze on federal-state separations rules apportioning rate-of-return telco regulated costs and revenue between interstate and intrastate jurisdictions. The commission made the proposal in a unanimous Further NPRM in docket 80-286, noting the freeze was instituted in 2001 and repeatedly extended, with the current one to expire Dec. 31. Also Wednesday, NARUC passed a resolution saying any extension shouldn't last longer than two years (see 1807180018).
The FCC voted to unanimously approve the draft order designating Sinclair's proposed purchase of Tribune for an administrative law judge hearing, the agency announced Wednesday evening, noting the document will be released Thursday. This came the same day the companies changed their plan. Many in the industry said pre-announcement that releasing the HDO could kill the entire deal.
After four straight quarters of “under-forecasting” net subscriber additions, Netflix in Q2 “over-forecasted the business,” said Chief Financial Officer David Wells in the company’s quarterly earnings interview Monday after U.S. markets closed. The company had 5.15 million global net subscriber adds in the quarter, 17 percent below its April forecasts (see 1807160066).
APCO and the National Emergency Numbering Association urged the FCC to impose new 911 reliability rules. Industry commenters said rules would do nothing to make emergency calling more reliable. The Public Safety Bureau sought comment in June on reliability of 911 networks and whether current rules should be “modified to adapt to advancements in technology or other changes, including notification to Public Safety Answering Points of network outages affecting 911 service." Initial comments were due Monday in docket 13-75.
Congress must do more to encourage rural broadband deployment, House Communications Subcommittee members said at a hearing Tuesday. There was general bipartisan agreement on the need to promote various technological solutions and on certain ongoing legislative efforts to remove deployment barriers. Discord was heard on federal infrastructure spending and municipal broadband.
Social media platforms continue to struggle with distinguishing legitimate posts from harmful content, resulting in bias against conservatives, House Judiciary Committee Republicans told witnesses from Facebook, Twitter and YouTube Tuesday (see 1807130061). Democrats dismissed that as false and criticized the majority for not addressing President Donald Trump’s denial of Russian interference online in the 2016 election.
Commenters said NTIA could improve broadband data quality and accuracy to help mapping efforts, including by using geocoding, but some also noted limitations. An NTIA notice "recognizes that the starting point for any discussion of broadband mapping is the FCC’s Form 477 data program," said NCTA, urging NTIA to work closely with the FCC without duplicating its work. "NTIA could augment the FCC’s broadband availability data" to "ensure that any future national broadband map includes information on locations where providers have committed to future construction in exchange for government subsidies." NTIA hasn't yet posted comments due Monday, but some parties forwarded us their filings.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- State commissions should have ethics codes to protect ratepayers, Arizona Corporation Commission member Robert Burns said in a Monday interview on the sidelines of NARUC. The ACC’s new ethics code for commissioners (see 1804060058) “keeps honest people honest,” though it's less likely to be effective against those lacking honesty, he said. It's an important step in improving the image of an agency that faced controversy for some officials' actions, he said.
Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., delivered a double dose of hope Tuesday to supporters of rescinded FCC 2015 net neutrality rules, supporting a Congressional Review Act resolution aimed at restoring the rules (House Joint Resolution-129) and filing his 21st Century Internet Act. Coffman was the first House Republican to support the CRA resolution, with a discharge petition aimed at forcing a floor vote with signatures of 176 Democrats by Tuesday. Coffman told us in May he was wavering from his earlier opposition to the CRA (see 1805290002).
The road to approval for T-Mobile buying Sprint may be getting steeper. The Trump DOJ and the FCC continue to signal major communications transactions will get close scrutiny. Monday, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said he circulated an order sending Sinclair/Tribune to an administrative law judge (see 1807170053). Last week, Justice notified the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit it plans to appeal a lower court’s judgment that let AT&T complete buying TW (see 1807130034). Industry officials said none of the latest developments augers an easy path for T-Mobile/Sprint, noting every transaction is different and presents a new fact set.