The COVID-19-induced “demand drops everywhere” about nine months ago forced semiconductor makers to take their “demand signals” and “cut them abruptly,” said Jabil CEO Mark Mondello on an earnings call Tuesday for fiscal Q2, ended Feb. 28. “Very few people anticipated the rebound that we’ve seen,” resulting in global chip shortages, he said. The strong demand enduring unabated, beyond anyone's expectations, is what continues to “drive constraints” on the supply side, he said.

The FCC draft notice of inquiry on open radio access networks is likely to be expanded by adding a few additional questions, as reflected in various ex parte filings, FCC and industry officials said. Commissioners vote Wednesday and are expected to approve the NOI 4-0.

Sports leagues, facing flagging TV viewership, have placed hope in sports betting “to help secure the future of engagement, the value of rights and open new avenues of monetization,” LightShed Partners wrote investors Tuesday.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, acting at the “direction” of President Donald Trump, had the authority under the 1974 Trade Act to impose the Lists 3 and 4A Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports, argued a DOJ "master answer" (in Pacer) Friday in one among a series of “anticipated defenses” it plans to mount against the massive litigation inundating the U.S. Court of International Trade. The defenses were layered with a series of fallback arguments, some contradicting others. Lawyers we polled Monday said the tactic was common, based on the proven strategy that DOJ needs only one argument to stick.

Electric vehicles will help propel wireless power to a household term, Powercast CEO Charles Goetz told Consumer Electronics Daily. The coming transition to electric and autonomous vehicles will make wireless charging pervasive, but “there’s so much more that can be done and will be done with wireless power,” said Goetz.

AT&T has no regrets about the $27.4 billion it bid in the C-band auction and will have the cash flow to pay for the spectrum, CEO John Stankey said on CNBC Friday. Executives had a similar message during an investor/analyst day presentation. Verizon defended its C-band spending Thursday (see 2103110034).

Technicolor CEO Richard Moat doubts other studios will replicate AT&T’s “interesting move” to funnel WarnerMedia’s 2021 slate of feature film releases direct to streaming (see 2012030053), he said Thursday on a Q4 earnings call. “I don't see that as being a fundamental shift in the industry paradigm,” he said. Key Technicolor customers include Apple TV, Disney, Netflix and Universal for film and episodic TV content production, but not Warner.

After a “corporately life-threatening” year, AMC Entertainment delivered what CEO Adam Aron called an “immensely satisfying report” on its Q4 call Wednesday, despite dismal pandemic-driven Q4 results. Revenue for the world’s largest theater chain plummeted 89% year on year for the quarter ended Dec. 31, to $162.5 million.

Executives defended Verizon’s decision to go big in the C-band auction during an investor day presentation Wednesday. They pegged the total buy at $52.9 billion, including clearing costs. Verizon has been trying to add midband to counter T-Mobile, with its extensive 2.5 GHz holdings (see 2102250046). AT&T, the second-biggest bidder, has an analyst day Friday.

Sonos’ launch of the Roam portable Bluetooth speaker (see 2103090046) is its expansion outside the four walls of the home, said Ted Dworkin, senior vice president-product management and customer experience, on the company’s virtual investor meeting Tuesday. The $169 portable is available for preorder at Sonos.com and due to deliver by April 20.