The House China Committee urged the FCC on Wednesday to add Chinese company Unitree Robotics to its covered entities list to block its equipment’s use on U.S. telecom infrastructure. Committee Chairman John Moolenaar, R-Mich., ranking member Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., and other panel members cited Unitree’s “well-documented ties to [China’s People’s Liberation Army]-affiliated institutions and Chinese Communist Party (CCP) entities. Reporting indicates that Unitree has participated in military-civil fusion programs, received [Chinese] state funding, contributed to defense research, and produces robotic systems with clear military utility -- including autonomous mobility, surveillance, and payload capabilities.”
Communications Daily is tracking the lawsuits below involving appeals of FCC actions.
The FCC’s recent pressure campaign against broadcast networks continued this week as Commissioner Nathan Simington blasted ABC and American Idol for hiring Lin-Manuel Miranda. Meanwhile, a group of nine Senate Democratic caucus members pressed Paramount Global not to settle President Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against CBS over 60 Minutes’ October 2024 interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris, who was then the Democrats’ presidential nominee (see 2411010044).
The importance of AI and other new technology to wireless industry growth and success was a major topic at this week’s CTIA 5G Summit. Other discussions centered on the need for more high-power licensed spectrum in the U.S. and the threat from China (see 2505060036).
Arguments that employment and labor concerns aren't germane to Skydance Media's pending acquisition of Paramount Global and shouldn't be considered by the FCC aren't correct, according to Fuse Media and Teamsters Local 399. In a docket 24-275 filing posted Tuesday to recap a meeting with FCC Media Bureau and Office of General Counsel staffers, Fuse and the union said the transaction directly ties to likely job cuts at New Paramount, including at stations owned and operated by CBS. Station staffing can affect a licensee's ability to uphold the localism part of the public interest standard, they said. Fuse and the union suggested a station-level staffing requirement that would keep full-time employment stable for eight years. It also would bar New Paramount from consolidating operations across stations or outsourcing work previously done by full-time staffers.
A spike in unlawful robocalls since January might be due to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals striking down part of the FCC's 2023 robocall and robotext order (see 2501240067), Telephone Consumer Protection Act lawyer Eric Troutman of Troutman Amin wrote Tuesday. Illegal robocalls are at their highest level to start the year since 2019, after a significant decline in 2024, Troutman said. "Just a massive (and sudden) turn around," he said. "The bad actors out there are plainly winning," meaning "heavy-handed (and misguided) action from Congress or the regulators" is coming. The increase in unlawful robocalls eliminates any hope of tort reform to rein in "the insane number of frivolous TCPA suits against small businesses."
EchoStar, parent of Dish Wireless, filed at the FCC on Tuesday a list of cellsites where it offers 5G. EchoStar redacted the entire list and asked for confidential treatment. The report demonstrates that EchoStar has satisfied a commitment to the FCC to deploy at least 24,000 5G sites by June 14, said the filing in docket 22-212.
Comments are due June 6, replies July 7, on a Further NPRM on wireless location accuracy, said a notice for Wednesday’s Federal Register. The FNPRM, which commissioners approved 4-0 in March (see 2503270042), focuses on the importance of dispatchable location, an FCC priority for the last 10 years.
Projected USF demand for Q3 is $2.114 billion, which is $72.4 million less than Q2, a 3.3% drop, said a recent filing by the Universal Service Administrative Co. “The decrease in overall USF demand is caused by decreases in demand for three of the constituent funds of the USF, offset by an increase in the Rural Health Fund,” USAC said.
Mountain Communications will pay a $12,000 civil penalty after reaching a settlement with the FCC Enforcement Bureau over unauthorized transfers of control, said a consent decree released Tuesday. Mountain self-reported four prior transactions that resulted in a minority owner, Larry Sisler, acquiring 100% ownership in the company. Mountain didn’t get FCC approval for the transfers, the consent decree said. Along with the monetary penalty, Mountain has agreed to create a compliance plan and file compliance reports with the FCC for three years.