The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit on Wednesday upheld a $46.9 million fine against Verizon for violating FCC data rules in a decision that could trigger the U.S. Supreme Court to take the case, given the current split in the circuits (see 2509100019). In August, the D.C. Circuit upheld a similar fine against T-Mobile (see 2508150044), while the 5th Circuit earlier rejected a fine imposed on AT&T (see 2504180001).
Paramount Global has appointed Kenneth Weinstein, a former CEO of the conservative policy think tank the Hudson Institute, to serve as the ombudsman for CBS News, it said in a release Monday. The Center for American Rights and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr praised the hiring, but academics told us Paramount’s creation of the ombudsman position under government pressure raises concerns about Weinstein’s independence. CBS News was recently targeted by the Department of Homeland Security over an interview with Secretary Kristi Noem and announced changes to its interview process last week.
The FCC released drafts Tuesday providing the details of items slated for votes at the agency’s Sept. 30 open meeting, including a Further NPRM on jamming contraband cellphones smuggled into correctional facilities and kicking off its 2022 quadrennial review of broadcast ownership rules. Two infrastructure items and an order scrubbing wireline regulations as part of the “Delete” proceeding round out the agenda (see 2509080060).
Commenters urged the FCC not to go too far to limit the information it reports in its Telecom Act Section 706 reports to Congress. Commissioners approved a notice of inquiry in August on the preparation of the reports, with an eye on more narrowly focusing them based on statutory language (see 2508050056). Comments were due Monday in docket 25-223.
Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., a Congressional Next-Generation 911 Caucus co-chair, told us Monday night that she’s exploring shifting some pools of Department of Homeland Security money and other “offsets” from existing federal funding to pay for upgrades to the newer emergency technology, now that Congress has ruled out using spectrum auction revenue for that purpose (see 2507080065). Several other lawmakers have thus far not identified other funding alternatives (see 2509080055).
Twenty states and territories have received extensions from NTIA to file their revised final proposals for the $42.5 billion BEAD program, with deadlines now staggered through late October after 36 of 56 eligible entities submitted plans by the Sept. 4 cutoff (see 2509050028).
The 3rd Generation Partnership Project’s initial approval of non-terrestrial network (NTN) technology as part of terrestrial networks was critical to the growth of satellite connections, experts said Tuesday during an RCR Wireless virtual forum. They agreed that the opportunities offered by NTN are just starting, with significant growth expected.
The FCC dropping its twin probes against EchoStar seemingly shows that the agency is all for EchoStar selling its AWS-4 and H-block spectrum to SpaceX and its 3.45 GHz and 600 MHz licenses to AT&T, wireless and spectrum experts told us. Some also said the SpaceX deal could open the door to the satellite operator becoming a wireless competitor.
Some top lawmakers indicated in recent interviews that they lack a clear plan to fund next-generation 911 tech upgrades, months after Congress decided against allocating future spectrum auction revenue for them in the budget reconciliation package, previously known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (see 2507080065). NG911 advocates said they expect that the lack of an alternative will come up during Tuesday's House Communications Subcommittee hearing on public safety communications issues. The hearing is also likely to address a looming legislative renewal of FirstNet that must happen before the existing mandate expires in February 2027 (see 2509030058).
FCC commissioners are expected to take up an item next month that will reopen the agency’s prison-calling rules, approved last summer (see 2407180039), it said in a filing Sunday at the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The court is considering the order's legality and in July declined to hold the case in abeyance (see 2507160027).