Most comments appeared to support proposals in a January NPRM on a voluntary, negotiation-based process to transition 10 MHz in the 900 MHz band to broadband. But some commenters continued to raise concerns about the interference risk for the current band incumbent (see 2505190025). Reply comments were due this week in docket 24-99. In 2020, the FCC approved use of 3/3 MHz channels in the band for broadband while retaining 4 MHz for narrowband operations (see 2005130057).
The FCC Media Bureau issued a public notice late Wednesday seeking comment on eliminating or modifying the broadcast national ownership cap. The item sought comment about changing the cap, modifying the UHF discount and treating ownership of non-top-four affiliate stations differently under the rules. If the FCC “retains a national audience reach cap, should common ownership of stations that are not affiliated with major national broadcast networks (i.e., ABC, CBS, NBC, or FOX) be excluded from the cap?” the notice asked.
The Senate voted 53-45 Wednesday to confirm Republican Commissioner-designate Olivia Trusty to a full, five-year term that begins July 1, as expected. The chamber already confirmed her Tuesday to finish the term of former Democratic Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, which ends June 30. Once sworn in, Trusty will shift the FCC to a 2-1 Republican majority and restore the commission's quorum.
The Senate confirmed Republican Olivia Trusty to the FCC Tuesday on a largely party-line, 53-45 vote, as expected (see 2506130065). The vote covered only her nomination to finish the term of former Democratic Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, which expires June 30. The chamber planned to vote Wednesday to confirm Trusty to a full five-year term, which will begin July 1. Lobbyists expect the Senate to approve her for the additional term by a similar margin. Once sworn in, Trusty will shift the FCC to a 2-1 Republican majority. The simultaneous resignations earlier this month of Republican Commissioner Nathan Simington and Democratic Commissioner Geoffrey Starks left the agency without a quorum and in a 1-1 tie (see 2506060051).
Priorities for the FCC Space Bureau include modernizing its licensing process, ensuring spectrum availability for satellite services and tackling outdated technical rules that might slow the provision of satellite services, bureau Chief Jay Schwarz said last week on American Enterprise Institute's Explain to Shane podcast.
Nexstar is holding hostage retransmission consent for its WDTN Dayton, Ohio, until altafiber meets "significant financial demands" unrelated to the Dayton designated market area, the fiber operator said. In a docket 12-1 retrans consent complaint posted Monday, altafiber said Nexstar is demanding altafiber carry Nexstar's NewsNation cable network in the Cincinnati area, where Nexstar has no broadcast TV stations. Altafiber said Nexstar is seeking rates higher than what other broadcasters charge, and if the FCC lifts the national TV audience cap, Nexstar would be able to buy more stations and charge yet higher retrans consent fees. Nexstar isn't meeting its good-faith negotiation obligation, and its retrans agreement proposal is a per se violation of FCC rules, the complaint said. WDTN has been blocked out for roughly 1,000 altafiber video subscribers in the Dayton area since May 31, it added. Nexstar didn't comment Monday.
A broadcaster who executed a sham transfer of his radio and TV stations to his 17-year-old niece and falsely certified that he was a U.S. citizen doesn’t have the character to be an FCC licensee, ruled FCC Administrative Law Judge Jane Halprin in an order in Monday’s Daily Digest (see 2504090035). Antonio Guel is barred from future broadcast ownership and must pay a penalty of $188,491, and any broadcaster that uses him as a consultant is required to attach a copy of Halprin’s decision against him to all their FCC filings, the order said. The Media Bureau designated Guel and his company Hispanic Christian Community Network’s 2010 sale of stations to Guel’s niece for hearing in 2023.
The Electronic Privacy Information Center, the R Street Institute and Public Knowledge jointly defended the FCC's January declaratory ruling and NPRM in response to the Salt Typhoon cyberattacks (see 2501160041). The groups met with staff from the FCC Public Safety Bureau, said a filing posted Monday in docket 22-329.
Progeny updated the FCC on its progress in meeting the buildout requirements for parts of its 900 MHz multilateration location and monitoring service (M-LMS) licenses, urging the agency to act on a request by parent company NextNav to use the spectrum for terrestrial position, navigation and timing (see 2404160043). This was Progeny’s 22nd FCC progress report. It also mentioned the notice of inquiry that commissioners approved 4-0 in March on alternatives to GPS for PNT (see 2503270042).
Apple and Meta Platforms representatives met with FCC Office of Engineering and Technology staff on a proposed geofenced variable power (GVP) device class in the 6 GHz band (see 2408270034). They discussed GVP use cases, said a filing posted Monday in docket 18-295. “GVP will help enable a class of body-worn devices that can operate at power levels higher than very low power device power levels within permissible zones,” the companies said. “These higher powers will help address significant body loss that body-worn devices will experience.” Body loss is a form of signal attenuation.