The FCC posted Friday its notice of inquiry concerning the upper C band and the NPRM asking questions in preparation for an AWS-3 auction, both of which commissioners approved 4-0 on Thursday (see 2502270042). As indicated during the meeting, the NPRM now contains a section on a possible tribal priority window that wasn’t proposed in the draft.
A group of more than 50 unions, public interest and consumer groups released a statement last week opposing White House control of independent agencies like the FCC. Meanwhile, major telecom and media trade associations and companies have been mostly quiet concerning the Donald Trump administration's actions to assert control of independent agencies and its dismissal of Democrats serving on federal commissions.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said Thursday that staffing changes are coming to the FCC and that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency is likely headed to the agency. Democratic Commissioner Anna Gomez warned about the Donald Trump administration’s continuing moves against the federal workforce. Commissioners agreed on three wireless items (see 2502270042) and Calm Act rules at the meeting, as well as taking additional steps on robocalls.
The FCC on Thursday approved a pair of spectrum auction notices 4-0 at the first commission meeting under Chairman Brendan Carr. In one change of note, the FCC agreed to a tribal priority window in the AWS-3 NPRM and to mention it in the upper C-band notice of inquiry. A few changes were expected (see 2502260029).
Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition Executive Director John Windhausen said Wednesday that the group is holding out hope that it can still head off a Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval (S.J.Res. 7) to undo the FCC's July 2024 order allowing schools and libraries to use E-rate support for off-premises Wi-Fi hot spots and wireless internet services. Windhausen, who will retire next month, spoke during a SHLB webinar.
After years of discussions, wired/wireless convergence is happening this year, consultant John Cankar, COO of Wiverse and managing director at GravityPath, said Wednesday during a Georgetown Center for Business and Public Policy webinar. Other speakers said the outlook on spectrum auctions remains unclear. A top Verizon executive said separately that the carrier won't need more spectrum in the near future.
A notice of inquiry on the upper C-band and an NPRM on a proposed AWS-3 auction saw calls for changes from the drafts that FCC Chairman Brendan Carr circulated. However, industry officials said they expected only limited tweaks, with a vote scheduled at Thursday's open meeting.
AT&T remains hopeful that Congress will extend current tax cuts, CFO Pascal Desroches said Tuesday during a Barclays financial conference. “When the first [Donald] Trump administration passed the tax incentives in 2017, it was really successful in stimulating investment,” Desroches said: “We added jobs, both nationally and in individual states. … I am hopeful, based on all the discussions, that we will see an extension of those tax cuts."
The top officials at American Tower and SBA offered a mostly rosy outlook on investments by major wireless carriers this year in calls with analysts. American Tower released financial results Tuesday; SBA did so Monday, after the close of the financial markets.
The satellite industry is changing rapidly, with many smaller companies making investments and seeking roles, speakers said Tuesday during a Technology Policy Institute (TPI) webinar. They agreed that continued growth depends on spectrum but cautioned that regulators are struggling to keep up with change.