CEO Jennifer Prather and others from Totelcom Communications discussed concerns about the enhanced-alternative connect America cost model with aides to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and Commissioners Anna Gomez and Olivia Trusty. They raised “potential issues with locations being added to the map that had already been challenged and adjudicated, and concerns that the latest E-ACAM interim file was not complete as it relates to challenges,” said a filing on the Carr meeting posted Monday in docket 10-90.
Republican FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty voiced support Monday for Congress’ narrow passage last week of the 2025 Rescissions Act (HR-4), which includes a clawback of $1.1 billion in advance CPB funding for FY 2026 and FY 2027 (see 2507170045). Commissioner Anna Gomez opposes the rescissions, as do congressional Democrats (see 2507180048).
Consumers’ Research said the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals should look more closely at an issue raised in the dissent and a footnote in the majority opinion of the Supreme Court’s decision in June upholding the legality of the USF. The FCC and DOJ last week asked the 5th Circuit not to require further briefing but close the case (see 2507170063).
Verizon is seeing a continuing hit from the current administration’s cuts to the federal workforce, CEO Hans Vestberg acknowledged Monday as the company announced Q2 results. Verizon was the first of the big three carriers to release quarterly results.
Industry commenters broadly supported a CTIA petition asking the FCC to extend a temporary waiver that allows use of the interim volume control testing method for hearing-aid compatibility (HAC) compliance (see 2507020051). Groups representing consumers said any additional waiver must be limited and come with “safeguards and guardrails.” The current waiver expires Sept. 29.
The House Appropriations Financial Services Subcommittee’s FY 2026 budget bill, which the subpanel planned to mark up Monday evening, would maintain the FCC’s annual funding level and bar the agency from using money to enforce certain policies that originated during the Biden administration and have been in Republicans’ crosshairs.
The FCC Media Bureau has reached consent decrees with a number of smaller broadcasters that appealed $20,000 forfeitures related to children’s programming violations, according to three orders released Friday. Under the terms of the settlement, the broadcasters -- Waitt Broadcasting, New Age Media and GoCom Media -- won’t pay a penalty and will have their licenses renewed. The broadcasters were part of a widespread series of violations involving ads for Hot Wheels toys aired during a Hot Wheels-themed TV program. The FCC reached a $500,000 settlement in June with Sinclair, which had faced a $2.6 million penalty, over the same incident (see 2506300064). Under the terms of the settlement, the three broadcasters have to develop compliance and training plans and self-report noncompliance for two years.
Analyses of Versions 5 and 6 of the FCC's broadband data collection show the number of unserved locations in the U.S. dropping significantly, broadband consultancy CostQuest said Friday. Version 5 captures data from June 2024 and Version 6 from December 2024. CostQuest said that in those six months, unserved locations in the U.S. decreased 27%, while underserved locations grew by 22%. Its analysis of Version 5 showed 108 million broadband-serviceable locations served, 2.45 million underserved and 5.1 million unserved, versus 109 million served, 2.99 million underserved and 3.75 million unserved in Version 6. The analyses don't include unlicensed fixed wireless in determining coverage status, CostQuest noted.
NextNav filed at the FCC a report by the Brattle Group arguing that the 900 MHz band can be used safely to provide positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) as a GPS alternative without harming other band incumbents. The new report, posted Friday in docket 24-240, counters a previous study -- written by Harold Furchtgott-Roth, an economist and former FCC commissioner, and filed by the International Bridge, Tunnel & Turnpike Association -- that raised interference concerns (see 2504300022).
The C-band Relocation Payment Clearinghouse has concluded its operations, with all reimbursement claims reviewed and every claim approval invoiced, it said Friday in its final quarterly status report (docket 18-122). The FCC Wireless Bureau in June approved the clearinghouse ceasing operations at the end of that month (see 2506040046). The new status report covers April 1 through Friday. Earth station operator Anuvu is appealing its reimbursement for relocation costs (see 2506180021).