FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez warned at the CES in Las Vegas that the U.S. could fall behind other nations unless the agency once again has authority to conduct spectrum auctions. The remarks were her first at a CES as an FCC member. Meanwhile, Commissioner Brendan Carr, also at the show, said the FCC is moving backward on spectrum. Carr slammed the administration’s national spectrum strategy for not opening any new spectrum (see 2401100032), which he called “a bit of a miss.” CTA officials said Carr and Gomez toured the CES show floor together Wednesday.

More funding is "urgently needed" to maintain the FCC's affordable connectivity program, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel told lawmakers in a letter Monday. Reps. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., and Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., plan to introduce legislation Wednesday that would provide ACP with stopgap funding, though Congress’ appetite for providing the program more money remains in question given misgivings among top Republicans on the House and Senate Commerce committees (see 2312210074), communications policy-focused lobbyists told us.

CTA is fighting the same policy battles today it has been fighting for years, CTA President Gary Shapiro said at the start of CES in Las Vegas Tuesday. Every company “can be, or perhaps should be, a tech company,” he said. “We’re urging policymakers in Washington, and around the globe, to adopt rules and laws that protect consumers but also promote innovation and growth,” Shapiro said. “That means developing lighter touch rules” supporting existing businesses and those seeking market entry, Shapiro said.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., told us Tuesday he remains opposed to confirmation of FTC nominee Andrew Ferguson and is awaiting outreach from Ferguson and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. In interviews Tuesday Republicans offered varying opinions about Hawley’s dispute with McConnell (see 2312200052).

Numerous satellite operators welcomed the idea of expanding the range of minor satellite and earth station modifications that can be done without having to first notify the FCC. But support was far more mixed in docket 22-411 filings posted Tuesday when it came to use of deadlines on FCC decisions regarding applications. Commissioners in September by a 4-0 vote adopted a Further NPRM regarding streamlining of satellite and earth station applications (see 2309210055). Reply comments in the docket are due Feb. 6.

Statistics suggest antitrust enforcement by the FTC and DOJ hasn’t been markedly different from previous administrations, but the numbers don’t fully capture the deterrent effect of policies championed by FTC Chair Lina Khan and DOJ Antitrust Division Chief Jonathan Kanter, antitrust experts told us in interviews.

The five-year satellite disposal requirement that just went into effect won't trigger a faster pace of low earth orbit satellite launches as operators won't try to put vehicles in orbit under the regulatory wire, space experts tell us. In addition, the new rule shouldn't propel LEO missions to seek licensing in nations outside the U.S., they believe. The five-year deorbit rule adopted in 2022 (see 2209290017) covers all launches after Sept. 29.

As the FCC sees increased dissent votes by Republican minority commissioners, those dissents frequently challenge agency authority. That's becoming a more common line of argument among GOP commissioners across federal regulatory agencies, often based on the U.S. Supreme Court's major questions doctrine, administrative law experts tell us. Republican commissioners and former commissioners say dissent votes are a reflection of the Democratic majority pushing partisan issues. Commissioner Nathan Simington in a statement said he is "disappointed that the Commission is now focused on misguided, partisan items, but I remain hopeful that we can continue making progress on real, non-partisan solutions to long-standing technical issues."

Congressional backers of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (HR-3413/S-1669) are eyeing alternate routes to have it pass this year amid continued obstacles that stymied the measure in both chambers in 2023. The legislation would require a Transportation Department mandate for inclusion of AM radio technology in future vehicles. Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Ted Cruz, R-Texas, failed to get unanimous consent approval of S-1669 in December (see 2312060073) amid opposition from Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. Senate Commerce advanced the measure in July (see 2307270063).

“A fluke event outside of Lumen's control” resulted in a nearly statewide 911 outage in Nebraska four months ago, the telecom company’s attorney Katherine McNamara said during a Nebraska Public Service Commission hearing Thursday. During the livestreamed session, Lumen and 911 officials said the outage resulted from contractors' accidental fiber cuts: The first occurred in Minneapolis Aug. 30 and the second in Omaha Aug. 31. The 911 outage lasted from the evening of Aug. 31 until early morning the next day (see 2309010021).