While traditional and virtual MVPDs will always be "a critical pathway" for distributing its sports content, Monumental Sports & Entertainment sees the clear cord-cutting trend and has to be able to go direct-to-consumer (DTC) as well, according to Zach Leonsis, its president of media and new enterprises. The company, which had a 33% stake in NBC Sports Washington, D.C., bought out Comcast's 67% stake in the regional sports network (RSN) in 2022. A year ago, it launched its Monumental+ app.
While SpaceX is challenging at least one state, saying it was unfairly precluded from BEAD locations it should have won, a Vernonburg Group analysis points to low earth orbit (LEO) satellites being able to serve at most 26% of BEAD-eligible unserved and underserved locations nationwide. That lines up with the concerns of fiber advocates and others about LEO networks' ability to meet the legislative definition of a priority project -- such as delivering 100/20 Mbps service -- at BEAD scale, former BEAD Director Evan Feinman told us.
A White House executive order on regulation of novel space activities by the Commerce Department leaves uncertain what role, if any, the FCC will have in overseeing in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing, we're told. The EO, which President Donald Trump issued Wednesday, also looks to ease the regulatory hurdles for commercial space launches. The FCC commissioners unanimously approved an ISAM licensing framework NPRM 18 months ago (see 2402150053).
Regulatory approval of cable ISP WideOpenWest going private should be "relatively straightforward," UBS analyst Batya Levi told us Tuesday. WOW announced the $1.5 billion all-cash deal with investment funds DigitalBridge and Crestview Partners after the market's close Monday. The transaction should close by year-end or in Q1 2026, with shareholder and regulatory approval to come, WOW said.
The FCC’s proposed $4.5 million robocall-related fine against Telnyx (see 2503050026) seems to be dead, CEO David Casem told us. "At this point, it's our understanding that there's going to be no pursuit" of the notice of apparent liability, he said in a recent interview. The FCC didn't comment. The NAL got strong pushback from parts of the voice-service provider industry (see 2503110023).
The FCC "will stay in touch" with the post-merger Paramount and track its compliance with conditions the agency placed on Skydance Media's acquisition of Paramount Global, Chairman Brendan Carr said Thursday. Skydance Media closed on Paramount Global on Thursday, as expected (see 2507280007).
The FCC hacked away at licensing requirements for satellite and earth stations and slashed an array of broadcast rules in its August meeting Thursday. Four of the five items -- orders on submarine cable licensing and satellite and earth station licensing and NPRMs on improving emergency alerts and reviewing the commission's National Environmental Protection Act rules (see 2508070052) -- were approved unanimously. Democratic Commissioner Anna Gomez partially dissented on an order repealing 98 broadcast rules and requirements.
The FCC is facing persistent calls from one unsuccessful bidder for Paramount Global to revisit the approval of the company's sale to Skydance Media, but we're told the commission is unlikely to heed them. The agency didn't comment Wednesday.
Under fire from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr for its supposed warehousing of its AWS-4 spectrum, EchoStar unveiled a $5 billion plan Friday for a direct-to-device satellite constellation using that spectrum. CEO Hamid Akhavan said the low earth orbit (LEO) constellation would start commercial service in 2029 and provide a 5G level of service to mobile devices.
Trade groups are urging federal agencies to treat deliberate damage to communications networks, such as fiber-optic cable cuts, as domestic terrorism in some instances and increase investigative and enforcement resources in regions with more incidents. Widespread, organized attacks on communications networks represent "a significant and rapidly growing threat demanding urgent, coordinated federal, state, and local action," the groups said in a letter Wednesday to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and FBI Director Kash Patel.