The FCC will stop performing the functions of an accounting authority for international maritime mobile communications on April 22, 2020, said a public notice in Tuesday's Daily Digest. Commissioners voted 4-0 last year for the FCC to no longer be accounting authority of last resort for those customers in maritime mobile and maritime mobile-satellite radio services who haven't otherwise designated one (see 1812210015). “Users that have relied on the FCC as an accounting authority need to affirmatively select a different accounting authority,” the FCC said. “Failure to do so could render users unable to transmit maritime communications other than distress messages.”
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has openings on its advisory committee on admissions and grievances and its advisory committee on procedures, it said Monday. The three-year terms start July 1. Interested members of the bar should submit a resume by May 20 to Circuit Executive Elizabeth Paret at VacancyCommittee@cadc.uscourts.gov.
Promoting STEM learning and career development is the goal of a CTA collaboration with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington to address the worsening U.S. tech-talent shortage, said the association Friday. CTA wants to help local students “better understand the career opportunities the tech field offers and learn the skills they'll need in the workforce of today and tomorrow,” it said. CTA hopes through the partnership to “demystify STEM and create a rich pipeline for future tech jobs,” said Tiffany Moore, senior vice president-political and industry affairs. U.S. demand for skilled tech workers is rising, but tech company optimism for finding the right talent is waning, a CTA survey last year found (see 1810150005).
Various parties reached consensus on parts of the process as the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals considers challenges to FCC infrastructure orders, said a joint report Thursday (in Pacer) on a case management conference. In earlier orders, the court consolidated challenges by Sprint and 11 others to a September order restricting local fees and reviews of small-cell siting applications (see 1903200045) under Sprint v. FCC, No. 19-70123. The September order case will be assigned to the same merits panel that reviews Portland and American Electric Power Service challenges to an August ruling/order barring local infrastructure moratoriums and revising pole-attachment processes. The latter two also were consolidated under Portland v. FCC, No. 18-72689. “The parties agree that it makes sense to have the AEP Appeal briefing proceed separately from the Portland Appeal and Small Cell Appeals,” the report says. “The parties also agree that there should be consolidated briefing for the Portland Appeal and Small Cell Appeals. The parties agree that, unless matters are held in abeyance, the record would be filed for all appeals within 20 days of the conclusion of the case management conference.” There was also agreement the schedule for the AEP appeal should require principal briefing about 15 days after the date scheduled for the principal briefs in the Portland and small-cell appeals, “unless the Portland and Small Cell Appeals are stayed or held in abeyance, in which case the AEP Appeal petitioners request that the briefing in their case move forward,” the report said. The parties discussed, but didn’t agree on, the briefing schedule for the Portland and small-cell appeals “and possible expedited calendaring for all appeals,” the document says: “Local government petitioners and intervenors and publicly-owned utilities and petitioners on the AEP Appeal also wish to briefly discuss the relationship of the schedule and a possible motion to stay the effectiveness of the orders on appeal.”
Windstream was granted an advertising-related temporary restraining order against Charter Communications during its Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding. Charter, opposing Windstream's restraining order ask (see 1904080020), told the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in White Plains, New York, its ads targeting Windstream customers only repeated what the company itself said about the bankruptcy possibly affecting service or ending up in liquidation (see here, in Pacer, docket 18-8246). But Judge Robert Drain in an order Tuesday said Windstream had "a substantial likelihood of success" on its false advertising claim, and it could suffer irreparable harm without the restraining order. He also ordered Charter to stop any discontinuation to Windstream customers through the companies' reseller agreement and to restore service to those who had been cut off. Charter didn't comment Wednesday.
Government entities and nonprofit health and safety organizations have until May 16 to petition for an 833 toll-free number for public health and safety purposes, the FCC Wireline Bureau said in a docket 17-192 public notice Tuesday. It then will release a public notice seeking comment on those petitions and establishing a comment period, followed by grants of petitions, it said.
FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly responded to groups and fellow FCC commissioners who participated in Monday’s #SaveLifeline tweet storm (see 1904150061) with his own tweets. “I’d vote for a cap on Lifeline any day of week but that’s about responsible management, not harm to program,” he said. Others, including Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks, commented on the importance of Lifeline and railed against possible cuts.
AT&T has sold its 9.5 percent stake in Hulu back to the streaming service joint venture for $1.43 billion, they said Monday. Hulu said it anticipates that AT&T's WarnerMedia "will remain a valued partner ... for years." AT&T said it will use the money to pay down debt.
The Arctic Slope Telephone Association Cooperative and GVNW Consulting met with aides to the five FCC commissioners on the progress of their Alaska Plan performance obligations (see 1812200010). They also met with staff from the Wireless Bureau, said a filing posted Monday in docket 16-271. It didn’t offer other details.
Numerous groups, including Free Press, the National Consumer Law Center and Public Knowledge, took part in a #SaveLifeline tweet storm Monday, commenting on the importance of the service and railing against possible cuts (see here, here and here). FCC Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel (see here and here) and Geoffrey Starks (see here) also chimed in.