FCBA canceled the annual December FCC chairman's dinner. It's one of the further-out telecom and tech events canceled so far due to the pandemic and resulting public gathering precautions.
NTIA has filled at least two policy roles, the agency confirmed Friday afternoon. Michigan State University law professor Adam Candeub was named deputy assistant secretary of commerce for the agency and former Charter Communications Group Vice President-Advanced Engineering Jim Medica became senior adviser.
ICANN rejected the Internet Society's proposed sale of Public Interest Registry to Ethos Capital after "completing extensive due diligence," Chairman Maarten Botterman blogged Thursday night. Directors found withholding consent to the transfer "is reasonable, and the right thing to do." The deal had attracted scrutiny from legislators and from at least one attorney general, while nonprofit advocates opposed it. The decision "sets a dangerous precedent with broad industry implications," said Ethos.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai wants ISPs to not cut off services to customers for an additional approximately month and a half, through June. He extended his Keep Americans Connected pledge until June 30, the agency announced Thursday.
As COVID-19 continues to affect the U.S., ISPs are beginning to extend the period of time they will delay disconnecting telecom services. Within minutes of each other Monday afternoon, Cox and Verizon made such commitments. More companies are expected to follow.
AT&T's Randall Stephenson is retiring as CEO. The 60-year-old who has been chief for 13 years will become executive chairman until January; he had been CEO-chair. The board elected Chief Operating Officer-President John Stankey, 57, as CEO effective July 1, and a director on June 1.
The FCC is poised to act against four companies it alleges are controlled by China's government. The agency issued show cause orders Friday to China Telecom Americas, China Unicom Americas, ComNet and Pacific Networks. They are asked to explain why the commission shouldn't “start the process of revoking their domestic and international section authorizations enabling them to operate” in the U.S. The materials are here.
FCC members unanimously approved Ligado's use of its L-band spectrum for terrestrial use, the agency announced Monday morning. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai called the vote "another step forward for American leadership in 5G and advanced wireless services.” The vote "reflects the broad, bipartisan support that this order has received," he said.
The FCC and the Office of the Solicitor General filed a cert petition at the Supreme Court seeking reversal of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision in Prometheus IV. Parties to the case sent us the filing, which wasn't yet online or confirmed by the FCC.
T-Mobile/Sprint got its final OK, as the California Public Utilities Commission voted 5-0 Thursday for a revised proposal that reasserted the agency’s authority to review the deal while adjusting some conditions.