The FCC’s 2.5 GHz auction ended Monday, after 73 bidding rounds, hitting net proceeds of $427.8 million. The FCC found winning bidders for 7,872 of the 8,017 licenses offered. New Street’s Phillip Burnett predicted the imminent closing in a Sunday note to investors. “Assuming the auction ends this week, we should get results about a week following close, putting us in the ‘early-to mid-September’ timeframe,” he said.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit Friday upheld the FCC’s 2020 5.9 GHz order, allocating 45 MHz of the band for Wi-Fi and 30 MHz for cellular vehicle-to-everything technology. In January oral argument, judges appeared sympathetic to the FCC in a case brought by ITS America and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

The FCC’s 2.5 GHz auction rose above $200 million Thursday, hitting $208.2 million after two bidding rounds for the day. Sasha Javid, BitPath chief operating officer, predicted Wednesday the auction would hit that mark Thursday but questioned whether total bids will rise above $300 million. The auction started July 29. Two more rounds are scheduled for Thursday.

Senate Democratic leaders have abandoned talk of seeking a vote this week to discharge FCC nominee Gigi Sohn from the Commerce Committee’s jurisdiction, panel Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., told us Thursday night. Democratic leaders had earlier been eyeing whether they could pursue a discharge vote this week because all 50 Democratic caucus members were available and a handful of Republicans were absent from the chamber.

The FCC will reopen for visitors Thursday, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced at the end of Wednesday’s commission meeting. This will be the first time the FCC’s new headquarters has been open to the public. The FCC’s July 14 meeting will be open to the public, she said.

The Supreme Court blocked Texas’ social media law HB 20 from being enforced while under consideration by the lower courts with a 5-4 emergency ruling late Tuesday in NetChoice v. Ken Paxton. Justices Elena Kagan, Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch opposed the request from CCIA and NetChoice to vacate the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ lifting of a preliminary injunction against HB 20. The only opinion provided was a dissent from Alito, joined by Thomas and Gorsuch, arguing that the tech groups aren’t likely to prevail on the merits and that by vacating the stay, SCOTUS is interfering with the authority of lower courts and the Texas state government. “The preliminary injunction entered by the District Court was itself a significant intrusion on state sovereignty, and Texas should not be required to seek preclearance from the federal courts before its laws go into effect,” Alito wrote. Said CCIA in a release: “We are encouraged that this attack on First Amendment rights has been halted until a court can fully evaluate the repercussions of Texas’s ill-conceived statute ... This ruling means that private American companies will have an opportunity to be heard in court before they are forced to disseminate vile, abusive or extremist content under this Texas law.” The Texas Attorney General’s office did not immediately comment.

Government may not restrict content moderation by social media platforms, the 11th U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in a 3-0 opinion Monday on Florida’s law that makes it illegal for social media sites to deplatform political candidates and requires them to be transparent about policing. The court allowed most of the law’s disclosure rules.

Grant Spellmeyer, UScellular vice president-government affairs, will take over the reins of ACA Connects when President Matt Polka leaves in July, the trade group said Tuesday. Spellmeyer "is highly respected for his knowledge and thought leadership. He understands the challenges ACAC members face every day, and he has the expertise to advocate on our behalf to influence positive change," said Patty Jo Boyers, Boycom Vision president and ACA board chairwoman.

Tech groups asked the Supreme Court for an emergency stay late Friday of a 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals order allowing a Texas social media law to be enforced. Plaintiffs NetChoice and the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA) applied for the stay with Supreme Court Justice for the 5th Circuit Samuel Alito, who may rule unilaterally or circulate the matter with the full court.

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel tested positive for COVID-19, she tweeted Monday. Rosenworcel, who is fully vaccinated and has "mild" symptoms, said she will "follow CDC guidance" and work from home "for now." The FCC didn't immediately comment on whether any staffers are quarantining or whether commissioners will meet again in person for their April 21 meeting.