Latest U.S. Federal Communications Commission Stories

WASHINGTON -- U.S. wireless companies face new competition on Wednesday as they start bidding on licenses for advanced wireless services like high-speed Internet -- from the satellite and cable television industries. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission will auction 1,122 licenses that analysts predict may raise $15 billion and last several weeks. The 168 bidders, including the top cable and satellite providers, have made $4.3 billion in deposits."That appears to indicate strong...

WASHINGTON -- As U.S. telephone carriers move into the television business, media conglomerates are eyeing ways to grab valuable wireless airwaves as another way to deliver profitable high-speed Internet and other services. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on August 9 is scheduled to begin auctioning off hundreds of licenses for advanced wireless services in a sale that analysts have said could raise between $8 billion to $15 billion.In one of the biggest communications forays yet...

By Jeremy Pelofsky WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Three television networks, CBS, Fox and NBC, on Friday urged speedy court review of a decision finding some of their shows violated decency standards, opposing a delay sought by the U.S. government. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission earlier this week asked an appeals court to postpone hearing the networks' challenges and return the case to the agency for two months so it can review television broadcasters' arguments. The networks are...

By Jeremy Pelofsky WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush plans to nominate telecommunications lawyer Robert McDowell to fill the final empty Republican seat on the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, the White House said on Friday. McDowell, 42, is senior vice president and assistant general counsel at Comptel, a lobbying group for companies that primarily compete against big telephone carriers like AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications. His nomination would help...