Jimm Phillips

The Senate Commerce Committee plans to hold a second hearing with Democratic FCC nominee Gigi Sohn Feb. 9, Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., confirmed to us Wednesday. The hearing will focus on “whatever questions people have” about the nominee, including her commitment to temporarily recuse herself from some FCC proceedings involving retransmission consent and broadcast copyright matters, Cantwell said. The panel delayed a planned Wednesday vote on Sohn and FTC nominee Alvaro Bedoya after news circulated that Communications Subcommittee Chairman Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., was recovering from a stroke and wouldn’t be available to give the nominees unified Democratic support.

The House Rules Committee will consider several telecom- and tech-focused amendments to the America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing, Pre-Eminence in Technology and Economic Strength Act (HR-4521) Tuesday, for a potential floor vote on the measure later this week. The measure mirrors some elements of the Senate-passed U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (S-1260), including $52 billion in subsidies to encourage U.S.-based semiconductor manufacturing (see 2201260062). Many proposed amendments aim to make changes to the chips language.

The Senate Commerce Committee will “probably” postpone planned Wednesday votes on Democratic FCC nominee Gigi Sohn and FTC nominee Alvaro Bedoya amid expectations that Senate Communications Subcommittee Chairman Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., would be unable to appear at the meeting after having a stroke, Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., told reporters Tuesday afternoon. Lujan’s expected vote in favor of Sohn would be crucial to ensure Sohn receives the 14 Democratic votes needed to reach a Senate Commerce tie given expectations that no Republicans will back her, lobbyists said.

Democratic FCC nominee Gigi Sohn’s proposal Thursday to temporarily recuse herself from some retransmission consent and broadcast copyright proceedings if confirmed (see 2201270073) is unlikely to satisfy her most vocal opponents but may be enough to solidify support from the Senate Democratic caucus, communications lobbyists and others told us. The Senate would be able to confirm Sohn if all 50 Democratic caucus members vote for her because of Vice President Kamala Harris’ tie-breaker role. The additional recusals aren’t likely to significantly affect Sohn’s role as a commissioner since neither retrans nor broadcast copyright items were matters the commission was expected to take up under Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.

Democratic FCC nominee Gigi Sohn told the FCC Thursday she will, if confirmed, recuse herself during the first three years of her term “from any proceeding before the Commission where retransmission consent or television broadcast copyright is a material issue.” Sohn’s recusal pledge appears to be the result of negotiations with Senate Commerce Committee leaders aimed at securing support from all 14 Democrats before a planned Wednesday panel vote to advance her nomination to the full chamber, lobbyists told us. Some panel Republicans pressed for concessions from Sohn over ethics concerns about her role as a board member for Locast operator Sports Fans Coalition (see 2201130071).

Democratic FCC nominee Gigi Sohn told the agency Thursday she will, if confirmed, recuse herself during the first three years of her term “from any proceeding before the Commission where retransmission consent or television broadcast copyright is a material issue.” Sohn’s pledge appears to be the result of negotiations with Senate Commerce Committee leaders aimed at securing support from all 14 Democrats ahead of a planned Feb. 2 panel vote to advance her nomination to the full chamber, lobbyists told us. Some panel Republicans had been pressing for concessions from Sohn over ethics concerns about her role as a board member for Locast operator Sports Fans Coalition.

Senate Commerce Committee officials are hoping they will be able to act next week on Democratic FCC nominee Gigi Sohn, after repeated delays in scheduling an advancement vote over the past two months. The committee is eyeing including Sohn and Democratic FTC nominee Alvaro Bedoya (see 2201240055) on the agenda for a potential Feb. 2 executive session, Senate aides and communications lobbyists told us. Opponents hope the delays resulted in traction for their ethics concerns about Sohn’s role as a board member for Locast operator Sports Fans Coalition (see 2201130071).

Administrator Alan Davidson said he sees NTIA as a “one-stop shop” for entities to seek assistance as they apply for broadband money from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The $65 billion in connectivity funding included in IIJA, including $48 billion under NTIA administration, is an “incredible chance to connect everyone,” Davidson told a U.S. Conference of Mayors event Friday. He took office Jan. 14. Davidson urged applicants to “have a plan” since “there are so many pots of money” available via IIJA for broadband. The more than $42 billion in state grants coming from NTIA is “the biggest pot, but there are lots of other pots of money,” he said. NTIA’s “got information about where to find grants” and staff will “provide you technical assistance” during the application process. The agency seeks comment through Feb. 4 on rules for its IIJA broadband grant programs (see 2201070048).

Facebook, Amazon and other tech and communications companies had Q4 lobbying spending increases, while most industry groups' outlays remained level or decreased from the same quarter in 2020. Huawei, the Computer & Communications Industry Association, the now-defunct Internet Association (see 2112150026), and ViacomCBS had the largest percentage increases; BSA|The Software Alliance, NCTA and Broadcom had the steepest decreases. Facebook was again the biggest tech and communications spender, reporting $5.42 million, up more than 15%. Amazon spent $4.92 million, almost 4% higher. NCTA laid out $4.17 million, down 19%. CTIA's was $4.1 million, declining 11%. Comcast spent $3.49 million, dropping almost 11%. Charter and Verizon each spent $2.99 million, a 24% increase for Verizon and a 2% decrease for Charter. AT&T spent $2.94 million, more than 11% up. T-Mobile reported $2.64 million, a 10% increase. Qualcomm posted $2.49 million, a more than 33% jump. Microsoft was $2.47 million, a more than 12% rise. Google disclosed $2.21 million, a more than 4% increase. NAB spent $1.96 million, a more than 8% decrease. Apple spent $1.86 million, a 28% increase. ViacomCBS spent $1.597 million, a 79% jump. Dell had $1.25 million, 37% higher. IBM expended $1.06 million, an almost 1% increase. Huawei spent $980,000, a 48-times jump. Cox spent $840,000, a 1% boost. Disney spent $800,000, up 11%. USTelecom was $720,000, an 11% decrease. The Information Technology Industry Council spent $650,000, up 16%. IA expended $470,000 on lobbying during its final quarter, up more than 113%. Broadcom spent $410,000, down 16%. Twitter was $310,000, 16% lower. BSA spent $240,000, dropping more than 38%. The Wireless Infrastructure Association was $190,000, up more than 5%. ACA Connects spent $160,000, little changed. CCIA's $115,000 was up 475%. The Wireless ISP Association spent $72,000, level with 2020. The Telecommunications Industry Association spent $70,000, also level.

President Joe Biden defended Wednesday his administration’s role in addressing claimed aviation safety implications of commercial wireless operations on the C band amid pushback from FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr and top Republicans on the House Commerce and Transportation committees. AT&T and Verizon launched C-band operations Wednesday but are deferring around some airports amid frustration with FAA (see 2201180065). AT&T started to turn on its C-band spectrum in these areas Wednesday, a spokesperson emailed: Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, Chicago, Detroit, Miami, Jacksonville and Orlando. AT&T expects to reach 200 million people this year, the spokesperson said.