Jimm Phillips

NCTA and Amazon were the top telecom and tech lobbying spenders in Q4, indicated new records. ViacomCBS and Twitter had the biggest percentage gains in spending compared with the year-ago quarter. Several entities had major decreases, including Huawei, NAB and Disney. NCTA spent $5.26 million, up more than 10%. Amazon had $4.74 million, up more than 12%. Facebook laid out $4.69 million, an almost 6% increase. CTIA spent $4.6 million and Qualcomm $1.86 million, both up more than 4%. Comcast reported $3.92 million, Charter more than $3 million and AT&T $2.63 million, all up more than 7%. Verizon spent $2.41 million, down over 7%. T-Mobile spent $2.4 million, about even with 2019. NAB expended $2.14 million, a drop of more than 24%. Google reported $2.11 million, Apple $1.45 million and Disney $720,000, all down about 23%. IBM spent just over $1 million, a decrease of more than 6%. Dell spent $910,000, down 14%. ViacomCBS spent $890,000, up more than 25%. Cox reported $830,000, down more than 3%. USTelecom spent $810,000, 8% higher. CenturyLink laid out $520,000, more than 8% lower. Twitter doled out $370,000, up more than 23%. The Competitive Carriers Association at $180,000 was little changed. Huawei spent $20,000, dropping 98%.

President Joe Biden named Jessica Rosenworcel as acting FCC chair Thursday (see 2101210053), and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter as acting FTC chair (see 2101210048). The Commerce Department said Evelyn Remaley, head of NTIA’s Office of Policy Analysis and Development, will temporarily lead that agency.

Transportation Secretary nominee Pete Buttigieg would “welcome the opportunity to make sure” the Department of Transportation “is open to supporting” policies that allow “dig-once” broadband deployment work in conjunction with other transportation infrastructure projects. Buttigieg was responding to a question from Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., during Thursday's Commerce Committee confirmation hearing. Lead committee Republican Roger Wicker of Mississippi and others more generally noted DOT’s role in any infrastructure proposals that President Joe Biden decides to send to Congress. Lead Communications Subcommittee Republican John Thune of South Dakota was among those raising concerns about how Biden proposes to pay for any new infrastructure funding. ­­

The FCC Tuesday night denied a petition seeking a stay of its order granting Ligado's L-band plan amid a review of NTIA's petition for reconsideration, as expected (see 2006120033). The vote was 3-2, with Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks dissenting. The decision drew fresh ire from Ligado opponents, including outgoing Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe, R-Okla. Commissioners unanimously approved the Ligado plan in April (see 2004200039).

Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts is in contention to get the Communications Subcommittee gavel as soon as this week after Democrats take control of the chamber, lobbyists and officials told us. Plans to swap out Communications' current lead Democrat, Brian Schatz of Hawaii, haven’t been finalized. Senate GOP Whip John Thune of South Dakota is expected to remain his party’s lead subcommittee member (see 2011020048).

President Donald Trump’s administration released its final 5G security strategy implementation plan Friday, which observers believe may have some influence despite Trump’s imminent exit. The U.S., “along with like-minded countries will lead global development, deployment, and management of secure and reliable 5G infrastructure,” the plan said. NTIA, which published the strategy, released a much shorter version in March for feedback (see 2003250047).

President-elect Joe Biden named Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) Friday as his pick for commerce secretary, as expected (see 2101070069). Biden also named longtime aide Don Graves as deputy commerce secretary and California Office of the Small Business Advocate Director Isabel Guzman to lead the Small Business Administration. Raimondo and Graves are “proven leaders,” with “keen understanding of how broadband innovators support American connectivity,” said USTelecom CEO Jonathan Spalter: The Commerce Department now “plays a vital role in our connected digital future, and this talented leadership team is ready to face a range of issues related to cybersecurity, 5G and spectrum management, and the future of the internet.” Raimondo “was one of the first to recognize 5G’s potential,” said CTIA President Meredith Baker. “Her nomination sends a strong signal that the Biden Administration is committed to maintaining America’s position as the world’s innovation hub.” The Telecommunications Industry Association hopes to work with Raimondo and Graves “on a range of important issues that include improving supply chain security, expanding internet connectivity and access, promoting the competitiveness of trusted [information and communications tech] manufacturers, and ensuring that the U.S. leads in standards innovation,” said CEO David Stehlin. Raimondo's experience includes businesswoman and advocate for government-industry collaboration, said Information Technology Industry Council CEO Jason Oxman.

President-elect Joe Biden is set to name Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) as his pick for commerce secretary and longtime aide Don Graves as deputy secretary, lobbyists told us. The Biden transition team didn’t comment. During Raimondo’s administration, Rhode Island has been one of four states that continued to divert 911 fees, despite FCC admonitions (see 2001070025). She signed a 2018 executive order restricting state contracts to ISPs that follow net neutrality principles (see 1805070029). Biden also nominated U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit Judge Merrick Garland as his pick for attorney general (see 2101040070). Garland has been involved in some of the D.C. Circuit’s high-profile telecom and tech cases, including the Tri-County Telephone Association’s challenge against the FCC’s nearly $1 billion USF telecom rebuild program for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (see 2010150042).

Democrats’ apparent victories in runoffs for Georgia’s Senate seats likely smooth the way for the party to gain a majority on the FCC later this year and take Democrats' preferred course of action on net neutrality and other top-tier matters, officials and lobbyists said in interviews. The leads in both the two contests, if they hold, would leave the Senate split 50-50. Democrats would gain a majority after Jan. 20 with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris breaking ties. The FCC will be tied 2-2 once Chairman Ajit Pai leaves, raising questions about what the commission can get done before the Senate confirms President-elect Joe Biden’s eventual nominee to a third Democratic seat (see 2012090063).

President Donald Trump railed against what he sees as GOP resistance to outright repeal of Communications Decency Act Section 230. “I've been telling these Republicans get rid of Section 230 and for some reason [Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky] and the group don't want to put it in there,” Trump said during a rally near the White House Wednesday, in support of his unfounded claims that he won reelection over Democratic President-elect Joe Biden. There were also protests at the Capitol amid Congress’ debate over certifying the election results that Biden won with 306 electoral votes to Trump’s 232. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and Republican Commissioner Brendan Carr were among those condemning protesters who stormed the Capitol (see 2101060054). Major tech companies and social media platforms “shadow ban you and it should be illegal,” Trump said. Republicans who resist Section 230 repeal “don't realize that's going to be the end of the Republican Party as we know it.” Pai hasn't advanced the FCC 230 proceeding (see 2101050060). Trump in waning days of last Congress continued pushing for Section 230 repeal, which McConnell eventually tied into a push for increased COVID-19 stimulus payments (see 2012290049).