Communications Daily

. @Echostar to @FCC: making us put some spectrum sale money in escrow to pay off wireless network suppliers could jeopardize those spectrum sales. Also says it's settled with many of those suppliers @Comm_Daily

. @dishwireless to pay $17M fine to settle fraud allegations it signed up ineligible people for the FCC's Emergency Broadband Benefits Program and Affordable Connectivity Program, DOJ says. @Comm_Daily justice.gov/opa/pr/dish-wi…

.@NTIAgov's @ArielleRoth at @NTCAconnect conference: asked about BEAD non-deployment funds, gives no specifics. Timing of Commerce guidance? 'As quickly as possible.' Lists many of the non-deployment use ideas NTIA has heard, sez agency still sorting thru feedback. @Comm_Daily

Satellite Systems Are Seeking Bond Waivers, Citing FCC Move Away From the Requirement communicationsdaily.com/article/2026/0…

Judge Nunley has extended the Nexstar/Tegna TRO by seven days while relaxing some of its terms. He appears to be aiming at a longer term injunction: “There is no evidence in the record to contradict the Court’s findings" from the original TRO order, he wrote.

34 yrs ago this week, projection TV sales going along swimmingly, per #TelevisionDigest. Also reports that FCC unlikely to delay deadline for stations to implement HDTV. From the @Comm_Daily longbox.

. @GAO floats space-use fees or bonds on satellite operators to pay for private clean-ups of orbital debris. @Comm_Daily gao.gov/assets/gao-26-…

NEWS: @RepHudsonNC & @GLFOP's Jim Pasco in interviews voiced starkly different views of FOP's willingness to negotiate on @FirstNetGov reauthorization bill the group opposes. Hudson says FOP "didn't come to the table." From me for @Comm_Daily: communicationsdaily.com/article/2026/0… (1/3)

FCC Bureau-Level Approval of Nexstar/Tegna Seen as Riskier but Harder to Challenge communicationsdaily.com/article/2026/0…

52 plans are approved for BEAD - a federal program to expand internet access. $21.66 BILLION of those funds remain. The NTIA delayed issuing guidance on what to do with what's left. @Comm_Daily dives into what that could mean ➡️bit.ly/4ujv3co #ConnectedNation

. @SpaceX to @FCC: Make @AST_SpaceMobile explain its Americanness. @Comm_Daily

. @NTIA listening session about $21B in #BEAD non-deployment funds heard calls for using it for #broadband affordability, #NG911. Also heard multiple calls from small-govt groups of 'send it back to Treasury.' @Comm_Daily

Benton's Drew Garner at @naruc policy event: NTIA's March 11 notice about state AI policies also apparently will spell out what are permitted state uses for BEAD non-deployment $$. @Comm_Daily

NEWS: @RepHudsonNC told me after House Communications Subcomm. hearing yesterday there may be minor "tweaks" to the draft FirstNet reauthorization bill, but positive reception from lawmakers shows it's "in good shape." More from me in @Comm_Daily: communicationsdaily.com/article/2026/0… (1/2)

NTIA chief of staff: lots of governors been asking us, 'is this or that law that maybe impacts AI running afoul of what the White House wants?' @Comm_Daily at @INCOMPAS #incompastechpolicy

🚨🚨🚨🚨 @GLFOP opposes current @HouseCommerce draft FirstNet reauthorization draft bill, which could be significant in shaping the Communications Subcommittee's hearing tomorrow on the measure.

As expected, @FCC OKs letting geofenced variable-power devices like types of wearable tech operate in the 6 GHz band. Reinforces US leadership in WiFi tech, sez @OliviaTrustyFCC. 'Expect more-compelling AR/VR, short‑range hotspots and more,' sez @BrendanCarrFCC

NEWS: @SenateCommerce moving planned Tuesday FirstNet hearing to 10 a.m. Wednesday.

ICYMI: Last night, I reported for @Comm_Daily that 2 former @FirstNetGov Board chairs are objecting to a FirstNet reauthorization bill draft @RepHudsonNC is writing they believe will inject "a malaise of political red tape" into the public safety network: communicationsdaily.com/article/2026/0…

NEWS: Ahead of @SenateCommerce notice of 1/27 FirstNet hearing, @RepHudsonNC told me he's drafting a bill to renew that public safety network's authority. He says that proposal won't seek to impact @ATT control of FirstNet. More from me for @Comm_Daily: communicationsdaily.com/article/2026/0…