1. Monthly archive
  2. October 2023

October 2023

Senators Urge FCC Improve Access to Local Journalism

Twenty senators penned a letter to the Federal Communications Commission urging the agency to improve access to local media on streaming platforms. Current law and FCC rules state that traditional cable and satellite networks must work directly with a local television station before broadcasting local news, sports, and other programming. However, linear streaming services over the internet are not required to negotiate directly with local television stations.

Dish agrees to pay $100 million to T-Mobile for extension on 800 MHz purchase

Dish and T-Mobile have resolved their dispute over 800 MHz spectrum, with Dish agreeing to pay $100 million now toward the spectrum, in exchange for an extension to buy the spectrum fully. Dish made an SEC filing on October 19, saying the two companies entered into an amendment to their License Purchase Agreement, extending the date by which Dish may purchase the 800 MHz spectrum to April 1, 2024.

FCC Adds Additional Languages and Features to Wireless Emergency Alerts

The Federal Communications Commission adopted rules to improve Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) by making WEA messages available in more than a dozen additional languages, including American Sign Language; adding increased functionality; and providing public information on where and how WEA is available. At present, WEA messages are available only in English or Spanish. In a new Order, the FCC required wireless providers that participate in WEA to support messages in the 13 most commonly spoken languages in the US as well as English and American Sign Language.

FCC Seeks Partners to Test Delivering Wireless Alerts During Outages

The Federal Communications Commission's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau seeks to partner with any entities that have a solution for delivering Wireless Emergency Alerts to mobile devices that are not connected to functioning cell towers. The Bureau asked interested parties to submit detailed information about their solution, including whether it would work with mobile devices currently in use by consumers, how to address any issues with delivering geographically targeted alerts, and how best testing should be conducted.

FCC Seeks Comment on Petitions Seeking Reconsideration Of The Restoring Internet Freedom Remand Order

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on petitions for reconsideration of the Restoring Internet Freedom (RIF) Remand Order filed by Common Cause, INCOMPAS, Public Knowledge, and the County of Santa Clara. The petitioners request that the FCC reconsider its decision in the RIF Remand Order, reverse or vacate that Order, and initiate a rulemaking proceeding to address the concerns raised by the DC Court of Appeals pertaining to the 2018 RIF Order. In addition to the issues raised in the petitions, the FCC invites comment on how the issues under con

Chairwoman to Host Incarcerated People's Communications Services Listening Session in Chicago, Illinois

On October 27, 2023, Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Rosenworcel will host a listening session in Chicago (IL) to hear from formerly incarcerated people and their loved ones about their experiences using incarcerated people's communications services (IPCS). Participants will explain the critical importance of affordable communications services to incarcerated people, as the FCC works to implement the Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act of 2022 (Martha Wright-Reed Act).

Windstream dishes on long-haul fiber progress

Windstream Wholesale, Windstream’s optical transport division, touted it’s reached a “major construction milestone” on its CanAm2 long-haul fiber build, a 440-mile route that will eventually connect Montreal, Canada, to New York City. The Canadian portion of the route—from Montreal to the New York state border—is substantially complete, said Karl-Arne Hegewald, Windstream’s SVP of network infrastructure and program management. He noted Montreal is “an important growth hub” for content providers and other data centers.

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