Advanced Television

Ajit Pai

Intelsat’s Spengler denies aiding insider trading

Steve Spengler, Intelsat’s CEO, firmly denies being the conduit for any alleged insider trading information over the sale of Intelsat stock by certain shareholders and the company’s chairman Dave McGlade. It has been alleged that two major investors, and Intelsat’s chairman Dave McGlade, sold in total some $260 million (€230m) of Intelsat stock ahead of […]

December 8, 2021

C-band clearance on schedule

Intelsat and SES, the two largest operators of C-band frequencies over the US, have completed Phase 1 of their clearance of spectrum by the important June 1st deadline. It means that the two, plus Eutelsat and Telesat of Canada, can qualify for the FCC’s initial end-of-year pay-out of some $2 billion in so-called incentive payments. […]

June 4, 2021

Departing FCC Chair issues China warning

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai used his departing comments to issue a warning about China’s role in potential espionage and threats to networks. Pai stepped down from his role just hours before new US President Joe Biden was sworn in. In his final statement he told the Reuters press agency that there is a wide array […]

January 22, 2021By Chris Forrester

Report: ‘US digital divide closing’

The Federal Communications Commission has released its annual Broadband Deployment Report, which it says shows that significant progress has been made to bridge the digital divide. For example, the gap between urban and rural Americans with access to 25/3 Mbps fixed broadband service has been nearly halved, falling from 30 percentage points at the end […]

January 20, 2021

US Senate confirms Trump FCC nominee

The US Senate has confirmed outgoing President Trump’s nomination of Nathan Simington to a seat on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Simington’s nomination followed Trump’s withdrawal of sitting member Michael O’Rielly’s candidacy shortly after the cancellation of his second confirmation hearing before Senate having reportedly expressed reservations about the President’s attempt to use his executive […]

December 9, 2020By Colin Mann

Pai to leave FCC; Rosenworcel new Chair?

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai has announced his intention to leave the Commission on January 20, 2021, coinciding with the incumbency of President-Elect Biden. “It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve at the Federal Communications Commission, including as Chairman of the FCC over the past four years,” said Pai in a […]

December 1, 2020By Colin Mann

FCC TVWS boost for rural broadband

The Federal Communications Commission has amended its rules governing unlicensed wireless services provided over spectrum in the television broadcasting bands – the so-called TV White Spaces (TVWS). The amended rules will allow for expanded use of this spectrum for the delivery of broadband services in rural and underserved communities while protecting broadcast television stations and […]

October 28, 2020By Colin Mann

FCC to free up more 5G mid-band spectrum

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has, as expected, proposed freeing up more mid-band spectrum for use by 5G operators in the US. Currently the frequencies (3.45-3.55 GHz) is primarily used by the US military and the US Department of Defense (DoD). The DoD used the spectrum for radar systems amongst other communications needs on fixed, […]

October 2, 2020By Chris Forrester

FCC’s O’Rielly stepping down

FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly has confirmed that he will step down from his role when his term is up, and has made clear that he is not seeking any support in staying in the job. His time is up either in January or should a replacement be appointed, whichever is the sooner. O’Rielly is a […]

October 2, 2020By Chris Forrester

FCC to open up more spectrum for 5G

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai has shared with his colleagues a draft proposal which would take steps toward making the 3.45-3.55 GHz band available for commercial use throughout the contiguous United States. This item will be on the agenda of the FCC’s September 30th Open Meeting and, if adopted, would position this 100 megahertz […]

September 9, 2020By Colin Mann