FCC Chairman Brendan Carr names Joseph Calascione, ex-Akin Gump and FCC, Wireline Bureau chief, replacing acting Chief Trent Harkrader ... Vonage promotes Seckin Arikan to COO; Christophe Van de Weyer, formerly Proximus Group, replaces him as president and head of business unit API … Changes at TowerCom: George Davis promoted to CEO; Matt Richard to CFO, replacing Dave Olson, a board member; Chip Bulloch to senior vice president-East, a new position; John Stevens, ex-Boingo Wireless, joins as regional vice president-West, replacing Chris Colton, deceased ... Correction: Trent Harkrader, who has stepped down as acting FCC Wireless Bureau chief, has been at the agency since 1999 (see 2504280019).
The House voted 409-2 Monday night to approve the Senate-passed Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act (S-146), which President Donald Trump is likely to sign into law. In addition, the House cleared five other tech and telecom bills Monday night on voice votes: the Removing Our Unsecure Technologies to Ensure Reliability and Security Act (HR-866), Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act (HR-906), Rural Broadband Protection Act (HR-2399), Future Uses of Technology Upholding Reliable and Enhanced Networks Act (HR-2449) and the Secure Space Act (HR-2458). The chamber earlier Monday passed two other measures (see 2504280055): the Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act (HR-2480) and NTIA Reauthorization Act (HR-2482).
The House passed the Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act (HR-2480) and NTIA Reauthorization Act (HR-2482) Monday on voice votes. HR-2480 and its Senate Commerce Committee-approved companion (S-97) would direct the Commerce Department’s SelectUSA program to work with state-level economic development organizations on strategies to attract investment in U.S. semiconductor manufacturers and supply chains (see 2503120069). HR-2482 would renew NTIA's mandate through the end of FY 2026 and elevate the NTIA administrator's role to also be a Commerce Department undersecretary. Rep. April McClain Delaney, D-Md., a deputy NTIA administrator during the Biden administration, was among the lawmakers who backed HR-2482 on the floor Monday.
The House plans to vote as soon as Monday night on the NTIA Reauthorization Act (HR-2482) and eight other telecom and tech bills that the Commerce Committee advanced earlier this month (see 2504080070), the office of Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., said Friday. Also on the House’s agenda: the Senate-passed Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act (S-146), Informing Consumers About Smart Devices Act (HR-859), Removing Our Unsecure Technologies to Ensure Reliability and Security Act (HR-866), Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act (HR-906), Rural Broadband Protection Act (HR-2399), Future Uses of Technology Upholding Reliable and Enhanced Networks Act (HR-2449), Secure Space Act (HR-2458) and Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act (HR-2480). The House Commerce Committee advanced S-146’s identical House companion (HR-633) earlier this month. Previous versions of all nine measures on the House agenda were part of a scuttled December continuing resolution (see 2412180033).
Incompas CEO Chip Pickering said Tuesday’s White House memorandum on permitting “will accelerate the deployment of high-speed broadband networks, robust energy grids and advanced data centers” and help America win the global AI race, according to a release Friday. “By directing federal agencies to eliminate paper-based processes, implement automation and establish the Permitting Innovation Center, the administration is removing the roadblocks that have hindered our technological advancement,” Pickering said. The memorandum called for the Council on Environmental Quality and the National Energy Dominance Council to issue a plan for modernizing federal environmental review and permitting processes for infrastructure projects. “The administration's commitment to deliver results at 21st-century speeds demonstrates a clear understanding that America's AI leadership depends on our ability to build physical infrastructure efficiently,” Pickering said.
Global smartphone shipments increased 1.5% year over year in the first three months of 2025, despite potential headwinds looming, IDC said Monday. Shipments rose to 304.9 million units, said an IDC report, which came after a confusing weekend for smartphones and the Trump administration's China trade policy.
The House Commerce Committee easily advanced the NTIA Reauthorization Act (HR-2482) and 10 other tech and telecom bills Tuesday, despite pushback from panel Democrats over SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's actions that led chamber leaders to jettison a December continuing resolution that included near-identical versions of most of the measures the committee was considering (see 2412170081).
LAS VEGAS – An ATSC 3.0 datacasting joint venture that combines the spectrum of the four largest TV groups is viable now but would be capable of nearly 10 times the capacity if the FCC requires a nationwide transition, said executives from Sinclair, Nexstar, Gray and E.W. Scripps in a news conference Monday at NAB Show 2025. Their joint venture, Edgebeam Wireless, was announced in January (see 2501070079).
Globalstar promotes Vice President Tamer Kadous to add general manager and head of the terrestrial spectrum and network solutions business to his responsibilities; names Daaman Hejmadi, ex-7Rays Semiconductors, vice president, general manager and leader of wholesale satellite capacity business … Infrastructure construction firm MasTec taps Chris Mecray, formerly DuPont de Nemours, as vice president-investor relations, replacing Marc Lewis, who is retiring but remains an adviser during the transition … Comviva Technologies appoints Bhagwati Shetty, formerly Mahindra Group, as chief human resources officer … The Internet Society names Yogesh Khanna, formerly Sev1Tech, as executive vice president and managing director, succeeding Sally Wentworth, now president and CEO.
5G broadcast supporters say HC2’s petition to allow low-power TV stations to transmit in that standard and reach mobile devices could represent a lifeline for an LPTV industry in distress, while some critics say it appears to be aimed at allowing low-power TV owners to get out of the broadcast business.