Broadcasting&Cable

Twenty-two US senators wrote Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai asking the FCC to stop making impacting the broadcast industry until it has taken a "holistic look" at the state of broadcasting and the media. They said they had noted Pai's elimination of local TV and radio ownership limits with growing concern. 

At a meeting of the Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee, David Redl, head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration said that the Administration was working on "a spectrum strategy" that should be unveiled "soon," but provided no more details. But that was enough to fire up wireless carriers looking for all the spectrum strategies, and new spectrum, they can get.

The Senate Commerce Committee has unanimously approved the nomination of Rebecca Slaughter to the Federal Trade Commission, and Committee Chairman John Thune (R-SD) said he hoped the full Senate could approve the new full FTC slate as early as the week of April 30. The other four nominees, Joseph Simons (chairman), Noah Joshua Phillips, Christine Wilson, and Rohit Chopra were already reported favorably by the committee Feb. 28.

President Donald Trump is using his planned absence from the White House Correspondents Association dinner Saturday, April 28, to try and raise money for his next election. The President didn't show up for 2017's dinner, either, where the press and the President customarily get together to trade barbs and toasts, a temporary glove-dropping that had become a regular stop for President's of both parties before the current one.

INCOMPAS, whose members including streaming services, edge providers, and competitive carriers, has officially filed suit against the Restoring Internet Freedom order. Part of their argument is the Federal Communications Commission did not include important information in the comment record for the decision. 

The American Cable Association, which represents small and midsized cable operators, has a response to broadcasters' proposals to double their audience reach: No way. The ACA told the Federal Communications Commission that the proposal is both ill-conceived and unlawful. The National Association of Broadcasters wants the FCC to extend the UHF discount to VHF stations, which means all broadcast groups could effectively double their audience reach cap from 39% to 78% of the national audience.