Democracy
Gomez Sounds Alarm on Trump-Era ‘Campaign to Chill Speech’
On First Amendment Tour, commissioner urges FCC to ‘pivot away from sham investigations.’
Spectrum
EchoStar Pushes Back on SpaceX Bid to Open Satellite Spectrum
The FCC had sought comment on claims that EchoStar was underusing spectrum.
Digital Inclusion
AT&T Says it Will Keep DEI Policies in Place Ahead of Merger
Company could face standoff with FCC Chairman Carr, but AT&T already rolled back major DEI policies in March.
Expert Opinion
New Council on National Security Bolsters the FCC’s Arsenal against China
The Council on National Security will help the FCC articulate a consistent strategy on matters concerning technological innovation and national security.
Commerce
FCC Votes to Block Foreign-Controlled ‘Bad Labs’
Also proposed opening 20,000 megahertz of spectrum for space-based internet at May meeting.
Brendan Carr
Democratic FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks Retires, Attends Last Meeting
Advocates urged President Trump and the Senate to preserve the requirement for bipartisanship among agency's commissioners.
Spectrum
Trump Backs $88 Billion House Spectrum Plan
Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., reiterated opposition to a 600 megahertz auction pipeline.
House Appropriations
Carr Pressed Over FCC’s ‘Speculative’ Savings as No Budget Request Submitted
Lawmakers say only a fraction of Carr’s $567 million in cuts may be realized .
Pole Attachments
Cable, Utilities at Odds on Contractor Approval for Pole Work
NCTA proposed a 30-day deadline for utilities to greenlight an ISP's contractor.
House Appropriations
Carr Touts Job Cuts, Savings Ahead of Congressional Hearing
Agency has reduced staff, trimmed budget in recent months.
FCC
FCC Approves $20 Billion Verizon–Frontier Merger
Democrat Gomez condemned the approval as a 'backroom deal.'
Charter
Charter-Cox Merger Provides Convergence Runway
Analysts don't expect the deal to face regulatory hurdles.
mergers
Verizon Ends DEI Programs as FCC Reviews $9.6B Frontier Deal
FCC Chairman Carr previously warned diversity efforts could jeopardize merger approval.
FCC
White House Pressure on Newsrooms a ‘B.F.D.,’ FCC’s Gomez Warns
Gomez said White House-directed effort to chill speech in newsrooms and online was working.
Spectrum
FCC Reviews EchoStar’s 2 GHz Spectrum Rights
Move follows SpaceX's push to open the band to new satellite entrants.
Defense Department
Guthrie Wants FCC Spectrum Auction Pipeline to Raise $88 Billion
The House Energy and Commerce Committee is marking up its contribution to a budget package on Tuesday.
