Regulators shouldn’t be concerned about the effect of vertical transactions such as AT&T/Time Warner on programming prices, said the Phoenix Center in a release on a study. “The evidence is strong -- there was no price effect on programming prices resulting from the Comcast-NBCU merger,” said Chief Economist George Ford. “When behavioral remedies are available, excessive concern about the prices of programming following a vertical merger in the MVPD market appear unwarranted.” The study shows either that vertical combinations don’t encourage programming prices to rise, or that conditions are effective in stopping rising prices, Ford said.

The FCC invited input on a Sprint request to reconsider a California waiver extension order provision affecting Lifeline USF-supported service (see 1710260025). Comments are due Jan. 8, replies Jan. 23, said a Wireline Bureau public notice in docket 11-42. The PN noted Sprint asked "that if the California Public Utilities Commission does not update its eligibility process to comply with federal eligibility rules by April 30, 2018, California [eligible telecom carriers] 'will be responsible for ensuring that California Lifeline subscribers enrolled or recertified after that date are eligible under the Commission’s revised eligibility criteria.'"

The FCC deregulatory push should open the door to the next big tech thing, which occurs on average every 10-15 years, blogged American Enterprise Institute visiting scholar Mark Jamison Thursday. The last “shockingly thrilling" launch was the iPhone in 2007, he wrote. “Deregulation is the key,” Jamison said. “I don’t mean an absence of contract laws or consumer protections that allow markets to work well. Rather, I mean an absence of regulations that stand in the way of businesses and customers voluntarily engaging in ways that are mutually beneficial.” Deregulation “keeps customers in charge of whether innovations succeed or fail,” he said. Jamison was on the Trump FCC transition landing team.

The Alaska Telephone Association asked the FCC to adjust some Lifeline service duties in the state to account for remote geography and other factors. The commission should clarify a mobile wireless Lifeline eligible telecom carrier (ETC) "in remote Alaska provides 3G service when it offers 3G or better in part of its service area and ensures that its customer can access that service," said a petition posted Tuesday in docket 10-90. ATA asked the FCC to waive the 3G duty for remote Alaska ETCs that don't yet offer at least that service level, and to waive the 3G requirement for all remote Alaska ETCs if the agency denies the service area clarification. "For fixed ETCs that do not yet offer broadband meeting the minimum speed standards, the Commission should facilitate remote Alaskans’ access to fixed broadband services by allowing Lifeline-eligible consumers to apply the Lifeline discount to broadband offerings under 4/1 Mbps when no 4/1 Mbps offering is available, and to any of the ETC’s available broadband offerings," ATA added.

Arris completed its $800 million cash buy of Ruckus, it said Friday. Arris said Ruckus will operate as Ruckus Networks, preserving "the much-respected Ruckus brand," part of the Arris enterprise networks business segment. The deal was announced in February.

The Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council meets Dec. 12, 1-5 p.m., in the FCC commission meeting room, says Tuesday's Federal Register.

An FCC order to facilitate identification of parties making threatening calls, by giving law enforcement and security personnel quick access to blocked caller ID information, will mostly take effect Jan. 2, under the rule published Friday in the Federal Register. "The Commission exempts threatening calls from blocked numbers from its caller privacy rules," said the rule, noting "a disturbing increase in threatening calls in recent years," many coming from blocked numbers. The order also allows "non-public emergency services to obtain blocked Caller ID information associated with calls requesting assistance." The rule said new or modified information collection requirements won't take effect until after the Office of Management and Budget approves them under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The order was approved 5-0 Oct. 24 (see 1710240052) .

Comments are due Dec. 29, replies Jan. 16 on an application by Perry Johnson Laboratory Accreditation for recognition as a lab accreditation body with authority to accredit test laboratories that perform testing for radio, telecom and electromagnetic compliance requirements, the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology said in a public notice in Thursday's Daily Digest.

First responder groups criticized what they said was an Office of Management and Budget decision Tuesday to not reclassify "public safety telecommunicators" in a "protective service” category in its standard occupational classification, as advocates sought so that 911 call takers are in a category that includes police and firefighters (see 1704100015). OMB staff has failed 911 professionals as "call takers & dispatchers aren’t 'protective' occupations," tweeted APCO. "@realDonaldTrump @POTUS Please fix." The group "consulted with a top law firm in DC and decided that pursuing a remedy in court is not a viable option," it said on its website. "This decision is within OMB’s discretion, which means OMB, or even President Trump, has the power to correct it." National Emergency Number Association President Rob McMullen, calling it an "emotionally-charged issue," said NENA made evidence-based comments consistent with "OMB’s data-driven approach to this statistical classification. OMB has made it clear that this is the only way to achieve our long-term goal of full reclassification." OMB didn't comment Wednesday.

Flagging extensive California wildfire damage to schools, the state Department of Education sought waiver of FCC E-rate deadlines in eight counties eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance, plus surrounding areas. Monday's request in docket 02-6 sought additional Category 2 funds for damaged schools and libraries.