Wireless carriers are concerned that mobile broadband has “maxed out” its opportunities for revenue growth, Hans Hammar, Ericsson head-business strategy for business area networks, said during a Mobile World Live webinar Monday. Other speakers agreed that 5G faces challenges, including living up to what providers promised the new technology can do.

State agencies and rural carriers urged the Utah Public Service Commission to give heightened scrutiny to a Lumen petition seeking statewide exemption from carrier of last resort (COLR) requirements for new customers. In prehearing briefs and written testimony filed last week in docket 23-049-01, they disputed how Lumen’s CenturyLink framed its arguments that relief won’t harm landline customers and that effective competition exists across the state. The PSC plans hearings Wednesday on the petition and has a March 17 deadline to reach a decision (see 2311290043).

A three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit pressed Consumers' Research Friday on its challenge of the FCC's Q2 2023 USF contribution factor (case 23-1091). During oral argument, judges also questioned the group and the FCC about Universal Service Administrative Co. calculations to determine quarterly factors and definition of universal service (see 2401100044).

An FCC draft order on collecting broadcaster workforce diversity data using form 395-B has three votes but may not be approved until next week or later under the agency’s “must vote” procedures, industry officials told us. The draft equal employment opportunity item would make broadcaster diversity data publicly available in an online portal and includes a Further NPRM on extending the rules to cable, industry officials told us. “Broadcasting has such a great influence, it is essential that any hint of discriminatory intent or impact” be considered when assessing a broadcaster’s qualifications to hold a license, said Multicultural Media Technology and Internet Council Senior Adviser David Honig, a longtime supporter of the EEO proposal.

Telephone and Data Systems and UScellular stock prices rose Friday after T-Mobile Chief Financial Officer Peter Osvaldik said his company was eyeing UScellular. The boards of TDS and UScellular are exploring the future of the carrier and “strategic alternatives," the companies said in August (see 2308070043). TDS was up 5.85% to $20.08 Friday, UScellular 3.26% to $46.51.

The Competitive Carriers Association, NTCA and seven other communications industry groups urged House Ways and Means and Senate Finance committee leaders Thursday night to include language from the Broadband Grant Tax Treatment Act (HR-889/S-341) in a broader tax legislative package. Congressional leaders are weighing bringing up the funding package for a vote. HR-889/S-341, first filed in 2022 (see 2209290067), would amend the Internal Revenue Code to say broadband grants enacted via either statute don’t count as “gross income.”

The FTC is examining Alphabet, Amazon and Microsoft to see if they are unfairly exerting undue control over AI markets, Chair Lina Khan announced Thursday.

FCC commissioners unanimously approved an order Thursday requiring carriers to implement location-based routing (LBR) for calls and real-time texts to 911 within six months of when the rules become effective for nationwide providers and 24 months for small providers.

Wireless carriers in comments this week condemned a “dynamic approach” to data and other proposals for California’s low-income program. The California Public Utilities Commission received feedback Wednesday on an Oct. 30 staff proposal for setting California LifeLine specific support amounts (SSA) and minimum service standards (MSS). Some urged the CPUC to tap the brakes, especially with uncertainty about continued funding for the federal affordable connectivity program (ACP).

The FCC will continue updating Congress about the affordable connectivity program's status in hopes of convincing lawmakers for money to keep it running, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel told reporters Thursday after the commissioners’ open meeting (see 2401250064). The FCC expects the initiative will exhaust its $14.2 billion allocation in April. The Wireline Bureau said earlier this month it would freeze new enrollments Feb. 8 as part of the program's wind-down process (see 2401110072).