Mapping EchoStar's supposed coverage in the San Francisco area raises more questions about whether the company reached roughly 80% of the U.S. population as of the end of 2024, as it claimed, said Kristian Stout, innovation policy director for the International Center for Law & Economics. In a docket 22-212 filing posted Friday, Stout said it appeared that EchoStar attested that it covers adjacent markets using spectrum for which it doesn't hold a license.
The Utility Broadband Alliance supported a transaction announced in March, in which Grain Management would buy all of T-Mobile's 800 MHz spectrum in exchange for cash and Grain's 600 MHz spectrum portfolio (see 2503210033). Comments were due Friday in docket 25-178.
The Fixed Wireless Communications Coalition on Friday asked the FCC to rethink its approval of waivers for Comsearch and C3Spectra, which provide automated frequency coordination systems in the 6 GHz band, to take building entry loss into account for “composite” standard- and low-power devices that are restricted to indoor operations (see 2505200016). The Office of Engineering and Technology approved the waivers last month.
Comments are due July 7 on CenturyLink’s application to discontinue legacy voice services in several communities in Florida, said a public notice in Friday’s Daily Digest. The application will be granted automatically on July 21, unless the FCC notifies CenturyLink otherwise.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr on Friday confirmed a report that the FCC is investigating participants in its voluntary cyber trust mark program for possible ties to China. Carr and all the other commissioners voted for the launch of the program in March 2024 (see 2403140034). It has been championed, in particular, by the Consumer Technology Association, which didn’t comment Friday.
The FCC Media Bureau’s move to seek comment on relaxing national broadcast ownership limits just a day after the confirmation of incoming Commissioner Olivia Trusty is an indication that the agency will act quickly to enact Chairman Brendan Carr’s agenda now that he has a majority, industry officials told us. That agenda likely “picks up some pace” in the next couple of months as Carr can move on items he couldn’t advance with a 2-2 FCC, said former Commissioner Mike O’Rielly. The FCC is likely to swear in Trusty as a commissioner on Monday or Tuesday, a former Republican FCC aide told us.
The U.S. Supreme Court handed down a ruling Friday that likely means less certainty for FCC actions and those of other federal agencies under the Hobbs Act. The decision comes a year after SCOTUS overruled the Chevron doctrine, which had required courts to give deference to agency decisions, in the Loper Bright case (see 2406280043). The latest from the court was Friday's 6-3 decision in McLaughlin Chiropractic Associates v. McKesson, a much-watched case on the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (see 2506200011).
Comcast shareholders reelect board members: Brian Roberts, Comcast (chairman); Kenneth Bacon, RailField Partners; Thomas Baltimore, Park Hotels & Resorts; Madeline Bell, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; Louise Brady, Piedmont Capital; Edward Breen, DuPont de Nemours; Jeffrey Honickman, Pepsi-Cola and National Brand Beverages; Wonya Lucas, formerly Hallmark Media Networks; Asuka Nakahara, Triton Atlantic Partners; and David Novak, David Novak Leadership … Stop Scams Alliance adds Rosemary Harold, ex-FCC, to its board … The FCC names Louis Libin, Sinclair, to the 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference Advisory Committee; Del Parks, Sinclair, replaces Libin on the North American Broadcasters Association board ... C Spire appoints Erick Evans, ex-Ramey, as senior vice president of marketing.
IHeartMedia wants the FCC to allow Global Media and Entertainment Investments (GMEI), an existing foreign-owned investor in iHeart, to transfer its interest in iHeart to a related corporate-owned entity, said a petition for declaratory ruling posted Wednesday in docket 25-200. GMEI is organized in the Bahamas and principally owned by U.K. citizens, including British horse-racing and media entrepreneur Michael Tabor. The FCC has previously approved foreign ownership of up to 100% of iHeart’s equity and voting interests, as well as the specific participation of GMEI, iHeart said. The petition stems from “anticipation” that Tabor’s son, Ashley Tabor-King, who is currently executive president of two of GMEI's sister companies, “will serve as a close advisor to Mr. Tabor and exert some degree of influence with respect Mr. Tabor’s investment in iHeart,” the filing said. It sought permission for Tabor-King, several GMEI-associated companies, and multiple U.K.-based people who could have influence over the companies to hold up to a 5% interest in iHeart. “The proposed changes described in the Petition do not change the aggregate amount of foreign ownership of iHeart,” the filing said. Comments on the petition are due July 18, replies Aug.4.
Industry officials expect Chairman Brendan Carr to circulate an NPRM Wednesday evening on relaxing the national broadcast ownership cap, they told us after Breitbart reported on the proposal. Carr has repeatedly said he believes the FCC has the authority to change the cap, and he wants to empower local broadcasters to reduce the power imbalance between station owners and national networks (see Ref:2505160064]). The current rules limit a single company from owning stations that reach more than 39% of U.S. TV households. With Wednesday’s confirmation of incoming FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty, Carr is seen as having the votes to relax the rules. Opponents of broadcast deregulation have said the FCC doesn’t have the authority to alter the ownership limit, and any FCC action to change it is certain to draw a legal challenge.