The FCC Wireline Bureau on Friday opened docket 25-223 on its proposed update of how the agency prepares its Telecom Act Section 706 reports to Congress. Chairman Brendan Carr is seeking a vote at the Aug. 7 FCC meeting on an NPRM soliciting comment on the issue (see 2507170048). The docket is captioned “Inquiry Concerning Deployment of Advanced Telecommunications Capability to All Americans in a Reasonable and Timely Fashion.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., several Senate Democrats and the Writers Guild of America are questioning whether CBS’ Thursday announcement that it’s canceling The Late Show, hosted by Stephen Colbert, stemmed from Trump administration pressure related to the federal review of Skydance’s $8 billion purchase of network owner Paramount Global. That company recently reached a $16 million settlement in President Donald Trump's lawsuit over CBS’ editing of a 60 Minutes interview last October with former Vice President Kamala Harris. Some attorneys see that settlement as aimed at easing the path to FCC approval of Skydance's deal, but Paramount has denied those claims (see 2507020053).
Pearl TV pushed back on critics of ATSC 3.0’s use of encryption in an FCC filing Friday that said a popular DVR “gateway” device is blocked from receiving 3.0 broadcasts because it incorporates tech from Chinese company Huawei. Pearl’s claims about the HDHomeRun are “false,” said Nick Kelsey, president of SiliconDust, which makes the device. “We have zero association with the Chinese government. Proudly designed and developed in the United States of America.”
NCTA is challenging some changes sought by utility company interests to the FCC's pole attachment item on its July agenda. The proceeding continues to attract significant lobbying from broadband and utility advocates (see 2507160024), particularly over contractor approvals.
President Donald Trump on Friday hailed the House’s passage (see 2507170045) just after midnight of a Senate-amended version 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. As expected, the House voted for HR-4 216-213, with only two Republicans -- Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Mike Turner of Ohio -- joining Democrats against the measure. Several Democratic leaders and other advocates predicted dire consequences for many local public broadcasters.
Despite pressure from tribal and public interest groups, the FCC appears unlikely to change rules for the AWS-3 auction to allow a tribal window, industry officials and observers said Friday. With Olivia Trusty, a second Republican, joining the commission, Chairman Brendan Carr probably has the votes to approve auction rules regardless of opposition from Democratic Commissioner Anna Gomez, officials said. The agency is scheduled to vote on the order Thursday.
An FCC draft order on the July 24 open meeting agenda that would give the bureaus authority to delete FCC rules without seeking notice and comment is drawing warnings from public interest groups, but communications industry officials told us they aren’t concerned. The agency has also recently skipped notice and comment while shifting the language of existing rules.
FCC Media Bureau Video Division Chief Barbara Kreisman retires Aug. 1, after 50 years … Nexstar promotes Dan Lanzano to president of national advertising sales, a newly created position … Digital infrastructure firm Equinix names Shane Paladin, ex-Siteimprove, executive vice president and chief customer and revenue officer.
SES said Thursday it had closed on its $3.1 billion acquisition of Intelsat, 15 months after the deal was announced (see 2404300048). FCC approval came last week (see 2507110066). “Today, we’re not just merging two companies -- we’re creating a stronger company, built for the future,” said SES CEO Adel Al-Saleh. SES said the purchase helps it explore potential growth markets such as IoT, direct-to-device communications, inter-satellite data relay, space situational awareness and quantum key distribution.
The FCC has opened a docket, 25-233, on Charter Communications' proposed $34.5 billion purchase of Cox Communications, the Wireline Bureau said Thursday. The cable ISPs filed their application for FCC approval of the change of control earlier this week (see 2507150051).