AT&T outlined its much-anticipated HBO Max service Tuesday. It said subscribers will have access on launch day to six “Max Originals”: scripted comedy Love Life; feature documentary On the Record; dance competition series Legendary; Craftopia; new Looney Tunes Cartoons; and Sesame Workshop’s The Not Too Late Show with Elmo.
Country of origin cases
The FTC postponed its workshop on the safeguards rule until July 13 and moved it online. It was originally scheduled for May 13 (see 2004200062). Also in a 5-0 vote, commissioners delayed by about two months the comment deadline to Aug. 12.
The full FCC unanimously approved a reconsideration order clarifying some aspects of the agency’s previous clarification of its political file rules (see 2003300046). As industry sought, the regulator clarified that the political advertising reporting policies it instituted in October apply only to third-party issue ads, not candidate ads. The agency said it will use “a standard of reasonableness and good faith” in judging whether broadcasters are complying with rules for commercials in determining whether the spots trigger disclosure obligations, concern a national issue, or appropriately use acronyms or abbreviations. All other issues raised in recon petitions by NAB and broadcasters including Scripps and Meredith are “pending,” said a footnote.
The FCC isn't backing down against robocalls, Wireline Bureau Chief Kris Monteith told an FCBA webinar Tuesday. “Work is ongoing at the commission and growing on all fronts,” she said. “We will continue to make policy to allow for better enforcement to promote industry efforts to prevent robocalls."
The “past few weeks” have seen a “dramatic drop” in robocall reports FTC Consumer Protection Bureau Director Andrew Smith said Monday, citing COVID-19’s economic disruption as one potential reason. Many robocalls originate in India, and stay-at-home orders might be affecting the volume, he told the American Bar Association, noting the agency’s recent warning letters with the FCC against VoIP service providers (see 2004030052). When the FTC acts against VoIP providers, it sees measurable drops in robocall volume, which shows existing laws are helping, he said.
FCC rules requiring originating and terminating voice service providers implement the secure telephone identity revisited (Stir) and secure handling of asserted information using tokens (Shaken) caller ID authentication framework in the IP portions of their networks by June 30 take effect May 21, says Tuesday's Federal Register. Commissioners approved rules electronically before their meeting last month (see 2003310067). For an accompanying NPRM on further changes to the rules, comments are due May 15, replies May 29. Dockets include 20-67.
The FCC and the Office of the Solicitor General took aim at the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’s longtime oversight by the same three-judge panel (see 1909230067) over the commission’s quadrennial review process. The government's petition for certiorari was filed with the Supreme Court Friday, as expected (see 2004170050). “Intervention is necessary to restore the Commission’s discretion to regulate in the public interest,” the government told SCOTUS. A similar petition from broadcasters was also filed.
The FCC-proposed satellite operator indemnification requirement that has been challenged by operators (see 2004140052) is likely moving from the orbital debris draft order on commissioners' Thursday agenda to the accompanying Further NPRM, satellite officials told us. An FCC official said calls for the order to be delayed instead of being part of this week's agenda seem like a long shot, however.
Extend comments 60 more days on public safety and other items after a court net neutrality remand, cities asked the FCC in a filing posted Friday in docket 17-108. Los Angeles, California's Santa Clara County and New York cited the ongoing public health emergency. The FCC extended the original deadline 21 days to Monday (see 2003250041).
Carriers will lead the bidding in the July citizens broadband radio service band auction, but questions remain about the COVID-19 pandemic's effect on credit markets, said Joe Madden, chief analyst at Mobile Experts. The FCC delayed the auction for a month to July 23 (see 2003250052). Speakers Tuesday said another delay isn’t likely.