The Technology Policy Institute is the latest organization in media, technology and telecom to reschedule an event due to COVID-19. TPI moved its annual conference from Aug. 16-18 in Aspen, Colorado, across the country to Boar's Head Resort in Charlottesville on Oct. 16-18, we were told this week. It's one of the farthest out on the calendar events to be rescheduled due to COVID-19.
Jonathan Make
Jonathan Make, Executive Editor, is a journalist for publications including Communications Daily. He joined the Warren Communications News staff in 2005, after covering the industry at Bloomberg. He moved to Washington in 2003 to research the Federal Communications Commission as part of a master’s degree in media and public affairs at George Washington University. He’s immediate past president of the Society of Professional Journalists local chapter. You can follow Make on Instagram, Medium and Twitter: @makejdm.
COVID-19 effects continue to be felt in media, telecom and technology. NAB won't move when planned, we were told Tuesday afternoon.
Three experts Wednesday lent support to revisiting the growing phenomenon of skepticism about technology. Their view has gained steam in recent weeks as technology companies and their platforms, products and services are being heavily depended upon by those staying at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Not all are on board with their view.
The FCC Office of General Counsel and Media Bureau won't investigate any allegedly inaccurate statements by President Donald Trump on COVID-19 that broadcasters carried. FCC staff "today wholly rejected a petition by Free Press demanding a government investigation into broadcasters that have aired" such statements during White House Coronavirus Task Force briefings and related commentary "regarding the coronavirus pandemic by other on-air personalities." That's per a letter/order the commission announced Monday.
Lacking California OK, T-Mobile completed the purchase of Sprint. The deal completion was announced Wednesday morning by T-Mobile, which earlier this week and as we previously reported signaled its intention to complete the multibillion-dollar deal without California Public Utilities Commission approval.
In court documents emailed to stakeholders a few hours after deal completion was announced, T-Mobile got the final federal nod for buying Sprint. The final judgment on the deal and divestiture to Dish Network was in U.S. District Court in Washington, which had been reviewing the transaction on antitrust grounds.
In a new twist for the COVID-19 age, commissioners approved, before they gathered electronically, all five regulatory items at a truncated monthly meeting held virtually and webcast live, agency officials told us. All or many of the votes appeared to have been unanimous. Items weren't discussed in detail and voting was done on circulation, as planned. Spokespeople said vote counts weren't immediately available.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is circulating plans for some $300 million of telehealth spending. One plan is for $200 million and would support healthcare providers' telehealth services to fight the coronavirus, under the Cares Act. The rest of the money is for the agency's connected care pilot. It would use USF money over three years.
Tegna confirmed it got "four unsolicited acquisition proposals in recent weeks," saying two plans led to discussions that have since ended amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Without identifying any of the would-be buyers, the TV station owner said Sunday "these two parties made their proposals shortly before the recent market dislocation due to the COVID-19 pandemic and both subsequently informed" the company "they were ceasing discussions."
FCC staff delayed deadlines on the agency "seeking to refresh the record" on net neutrality and Lifeline, it announced Wednesday afternoon. "With this 21-day extension, comments are due" April 20, replies May 20. A Feb. 19 public notice sought feedback on aspects of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit’s Mozilla v. FCC ruling.