Bingham McCutchen and Morgan Lewis are combining, the law firms said Monday. The deal includes 226 partners and 525 other lawyers and staff from Bingham, said Morgan Lewis in a news release. It said "Morgan Lewis gains new or expanded capabilities by welcoming top-tier lawyers who counsel clients in areas including telecommunications," intellectual property and antitrust. All of Bingham's Telecom, Media & Technology (TMT) group will continue at Morgan Lewis, said an email from Bingham TMT lawyers Andy Lipman and Catherine Wang.

Clarification: NAB Executive Vice President-Strategic Planning Rick Kaplan didn't take a position on the outcome of the AWS-3 spectrum auction (see 1411200041).

"The big dogs are going to sue” in opposition to any net neutrality regulations, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said, and the agency “needs to make sure we have sustainable rules” that could survive a court challenge. Responding to several questions from reporters about net neutrality after Friday’s commission meeting, Wheeler gave no timeline. He said he wanted to create net neutrality rules “with dispatch, but I also want Open Internet rules that are going to be sustained.” To do that, he said the agency has “to address a multitude of issues that are likely to be raised.” Wheeler said he hasn't been in touch with President Barack Obama since the president released a statement backing a Title II approach to Internet regulation (see 1411100035), and said Obama “has every right” to express his perspective. Asked about the potential for legislation from the Republican Congress reining in the agency’s authority, Wheeler said he has “a good relationship” with both sides of the aisle.

The FCBA and its foundation unveiled new websites (see here and here), "after many months in development," the association said in emails to members Tuesday. "A few of our goals were to make the websites more functional, user-friendly, and easier to navigate." The association's new site has photos on the home page that rotate every several seconds, and a listing of events. The FCBA has been looking to focus more on technology, its members have told us.

Corrections: Public Knowledge is no longer a member of the American Television Alliance, after leaving it earlier this fall (see 1411180049). PK Senior Staff Attorney John Bergmayer told us the organization still shares the coalition's enthusiasm for retransmission consent overhaul but doesn't support an ATVA-backed Senate Commerce Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act reauthorization bill due to inclusion in the bill of the set-top box integration ban repeal ... AT&T's statement on next-generation 911 referred to a 911 location accuracy consensus plan filed Tuesday by the company, other carriers and public safety groups at the FCC (see 1411180051).

President Barack Obama touted his ConnectED initiative and praised the recent FCC E-rate proposal (see 1411170042) during a White House event with educators Wednesday. “Just this week, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler unveiled his plan to help us finish the job,” Obama said, referring to the five-year ConnectED goal of connecting 99 percent of students to high-speed broadband. He lamented what he sees as shortcomings to that end, but also cited earlier FCC commitments from earlier in the year: “The FCC decided to double its investment for broadband in schools.” He announced the release of the infrastructure guide and learning tool kit the Department of Education will release, pegged to this initiative. It’s time to “yank our schools into the 21st century when it comes to technology,” Obama said, describing other countries' efforts on this front. Schools “literally don’t have the bandwidth,” he said. “There aren’t enough computers to go around.” He highlighted the role of industry and commitments from 10 companies amounting to more than $2 billion to help. “According to the FCC, 68 percent of school districts report that not a single school in their district can meet high-speed connectivity goals,” a White House fact sheet about the event said. It said Wheeler "announced plans to dramatically expand investments in the E-rate program, increasing the program by $1.5 billion annually. This proposal -- scheduled for consideration by the FCC in December -- constitutes an essential step to provide the resources needed to meet the goals the President outlined last June.”

FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai used his keynote remarks at a Media Institute dinner Tuesday night to again slam the FCC's long-mothballed Critical Information Needs study. Through the CIN study, the FCC wanted to "grill reporters," Pai said at the Washington event. "The FCC wanted to inject itself into internal disputes." The agency cancelled the CIN study earlier this year following heavy criticism, including from Pai. "This was a big win for the First Amendment," Pai told the dinner guests, drawing applause when he mentioned the cancellation. Pai also referred to the "threat" that has emerged surrounding the NFL team name of the Redskins. Pai called it "disturbing" that some people want the FCC involved in banning the use of the name on the airwaves. The agency would be "squelching debate" to intervene on that count, he said, making clear he was not voicing support or disapproval of the name itself. "No federal agency should cross that line."

Corrections and clarifications: Cablevision, not Charter Communications, was the second cable company that the Computer & Communications Industry Association invited to its Monday panel discussion on media issues (see 1411170037)... The proposal FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler plans to circulate to increase the E-rate spending cap will be in the form of a draft order (see 1411170042)... Florida Public Service Commissioner Ronald Brisé was the name of the commissioner who had concerns with a resolution that NARUC’s Telecom Committee advanced Monday (see 1411170044)... The Recording Academy believes that just as digital broadcasters should pay performance royalties for pre-1972 sound recordings, terrestrial broadcasters should also pay such royalties for pre- and post-'72 sound recordings, said Daryl Friedman, chief advocacy and industry relations officer (see 1411170043).

Corrections: An NPRM seeking comment on redefining multichannel video programming distributors to include over-the-top services does briefly seek comment on the obligations that go with being a cable system, said FCC Special Counsel for External Affairs Gigi Sohn, clarifying her statement at a Practising Law Institute conference last week (see 1411130040) ... Stéphane Boyera spoke about mobile payments in his role as World Wide Web Consortium Web payments group leader (see 1411140001).

Broadband services should be added to Lifeline, FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn said at an American Enterprise Institute panel Wednesday on reforming the program. Internet access is “the greatest equalizer of our time” and “key in helping to break the cycle of persistent poverty,” Clyburn said. She said 70 percent of American adults have connectivity at home, but only 64 percent with incomes of less than $30,000 have online access. Saying adding broadband alone is “insufficient” in reforming the program, Clyburn also proposed establishing minimum service standards for any provider getting the $9.25 monthly Lifeline subsidy, to “ensure we get the most value for each universal service dollar and better service for Lifeline recipients.” Providers shouldn't be responsible for determining customer eligibility, Clyburn said, saying such a change would eliminate incentives for waste, fraud and abuse. Customers would also not have to provide sensitive financial information to providers, she said. As the commission did with the E-rate program, Clyburn said, allowing consumers to apply for Lifeline at the same time they apply for other government benefits would “provide a better experience for consumers and streamline our efforts,” Clyburn said. The FCC should also enter into public-private partnerships to coordinate outreach efforts for the program, she said.