FCC Schedules Big Agenda for Powell’s Last Meeting March 10
In an unusual move, the FCC said it will act at its agenda meeting March 10 on a “consent agenda” in which 14 items will be voted on at once rather than be presented individually. Also on the agenda are truth-in-billing and a 3600 MHz proceeding. The meeting is Chmn. Powell’s last in his post.
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The consent agenda items are: (1) An investigation into compliance with the FCC slamming rules that involves Sprint. (2) Another enforcement issue involving Nextel’s request for review of an Enforcement Bureau decision denying its request for license revocation proceedings against C&W Communications. (3) An International Bureau plan for streamlining non-routine earth station applications. (4) Revisions to the earth station antenna gain pattern requirements. (5) An application for review of an FCC decision denying a request to reallot Ch. 259C3 in Tuttle, Okla. (6) Application for review of a decision to deny Birch Bcstg.’s request for additional time to construct an unbuilt station. (7) Application by KEGG Communications for a construction permit. (8) Applications filed by commercial TV stations for extensions of the May 1, 2002, deadline for constructing digital TV facilities. (9) Applications by noncommercial TV stations for extensions of a May 1, 2003 deadline for construction of digital TV facilities. (10) Procedures for 40 private land mobile radio channels, in bands used primarily by the federal govt., to transition to narrower channels. (11) Use of frequency bands between 5900 kHz and 27.5 GHz. (12) A proposed rulemaking to solicit data on dial-around calls per payphone. (13) Application for review of an E-rate decision involving a school in N.M. (14) An order that would review a Wireline Bureau access charge decision clarifying methods used by LECs to allocate refund and sharing amounts among price cap baskets.
The meeting will lead off with consideration of several individual items, including an order, declaratory ruling and 2nd further NPRM regarding the truth-in-billing rules and a related petition for declaratory ruling filed by NASUCA. NASUCA had asked that the FCC ban wireless and long distance carriers from imposing misleading surcharges on customers’ monthly bills. FCC officials have indicated the Commission is likely to impose some obligations on carriers to make full, truthful disclosures of items on consumer bills and allow for partnership with the states particularly on enforcement. The order is expected to address whether wireline billing requirements should be extended to wireless carriers, sources have said.
The FCC also said it would consider a report & order concerning the use of the 3650-3700 MHz band. The Commission is expected to consider whether to increase usage of that band by letting in additional users. The FCC will also consider a report & order on the use of cognitive radio technologies to facilitate opportunities for more flexible, efficient and reliable spectrum use. The Commission will vote on an order addressing the Multi- band OFDM Alliance Special Interest Group petition for waiver of Part 15 of the Commission’s rules regarding ultrawideband systems that employ multiband orthogonal frequency division multiplex modulation techniques. The FCC also will consider an order designating 811 as the national dialing code for use by state “one call” utility excavation notification systems.