Lawyers for the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition and the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society said Wednesday that groups defending the USF had a good day last week, as the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in the Consumers' Research case (see 2503260061). They spoke during a SHLB webinar.
With the FCC launching a notice of inquiry last week (see 2503270042) on alternatives to GPS for positioning, navigation and timing (PNT), several options will likely move forward, experts said during an FCBA webinar Wednesday. But the U.S. faces a significant risk of remaining too dependent on GPS, they warned.
Consumers’ Research has filed another challenge to the legality of the FCC’s USF contribution factor, this time for Q2 of this year, at the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The group chose what's likely the friendliest circuit for an appeal; the U.S. Supreme Court is currently considering an appeal of a 5th Circuit en banc decision last summer, which found that the USF contribution factor is a "misbegotten tax.” Justices heard oral arguments in that case last week (see 2503260061).
In comments posted Tuesday about competitive bidding procedures for the upcoming AWS-3 auction, CTIA opposed a tribal window that could allow tribes to obtain spectrum to serve some of the least connected communities in the U.S. The tribes pushed back firmly in their filings. Other commenters called for rules that would give smaller providers a better chance to succeed in the auction, which will offer licenses returned to the FCC by affiliates of Dish Network in 2023 and unsold licenses from the initial AWS-3 auction 10 years ago (see 2501230041). Comments were due Monday in docket 25-70 (see 2503110061).
T-Mobile and EQT closed a deal to buy stakes in fiber-to-the-home provider Lumos, the companies said Tuesday. The launch of the joint venture follows the FCC’s approval of the underlying transaction last week (see 2503280023). T-Mobile is investing $950 million for a 50% stake in the joint venture, with plans for an additional $500 million investment in 2027-28. T-Mobile said when the deal was announced last April (see 2404250047) that it hoped it could be finalized in late 2024 or early 2025.
The FCC made few but potentially significant changes to a Further NPRM on 911 wireless location accuracy that commissioners approved 4-0 on Thursday (see 2503270042). An FNPRM on next-generation 911 was also tweaked, based on a side-by-side comparison of the FNPRMs. Both were posted in Monday’s Daily Digest.
Instead of alternatives to GPS for positioning, navigation and timing (PNT), the GPS Innovation Alliance (GPSIA) prefers discussing “complementary PNT,” Executive Director Lisa Dyer said in an interview. The FCC, meanwhile, released the final version of its notice of inquiry, approved 4-0 by commissioners on Thursday (see 2503270042), adding questions not proposed in the draft.
Telecom carriers are under pressure from the FCC to end their diversity, equity and inclusion programs, with Chairman Brendan Carr saying last week that the FCC won’t bless mergers by companies that have DEI policies in place. Carr sent a warning letter Friday to Disney on its DEI programs. Industry officials say companies have no choice to comply, though the FCC moves have created regulatory uncertainty. T-Mobile explained in a letter to the FCC how it’s getting rid of DEI.
FCC commissioners on Thursday approved by 4-0 votes a notice of inquiry on alternatives to GPS, a Further NPRM on 911 wireless location accuracy and an FNPRM on next-generation 911. FCC officials said that while the GPS item saw some tweaks that reflect outreach to the commission (see 2503240043), there were no significant changes to the 911-related items.
Verizon Chief Revenue Officer Frank Boulben warned Wednesday that the carrier had a rocky start to 2025 in subscriber churn. Speaking at a New Street financial conference, Boulben said Verizon ended its holiday promotions in January, as it does every year. “For the first time, certainly since I've been with Verizon, our competitors didn't follow,” he said. AT&T and T-Mobile buyout promotions “have been particularly aggressive,” he said. “We've seen a lot of switching activity as a result.”