Wilkinson Barker hires Alex Damato, ex-aide to Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., as lead policy adviser-telecom ... Greenberg Traurig announces David Bloch, ex-Winston & Strawn, as shareholder-intellectual property litigation ... PC Matic names Matthew Whitaker, ex-DOJ, outside general counsel.
House Communications Subcommittee Vice Chair Doris Matsui, D-Calif., said Wednesday she filed her C-band-centric Wireless Investment Now in (Win) 5G Act (HR-4171). The bill, which Matsui floated in June as a draft (see 1906260078), would set up a tiered system for satellite companies to benefit from an FCC-administered auction of spectrum in the 3.7-4.2 GHz band in which freeing up additional spectrum would increase satellite companies' share. The filed version shortens the deadline for submitting a transition plan to the FCC to four months from the six months in the draft. It also shortens the timeline for the FCC to ensure a transition plan is adequate to two months from the original 90-day deadline. “Since releasing the draft of this legislation, I am [pleased] with the breadth of stakeholders who have offered support for a compromise and consensus-based approach,” Matsui said in a statement. “As introduced, the WIN 5G Act includes stronger timeframes for the review and reallocation plan to be completed -- ensuring that this spectrum can be repurposed for 5G rapidly and equitably.”
House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle, D-Pa., again (see 1905150061) criticized the C-Band Alliance's proposal for clearing spectrum in 3.7-4.2 GHz, saying during a Thursday House Commerce Committee hearing it could disrupt the opportunity for using proceeds from sales of the spectrum to pay for rural broadband deployment. Several tech and telecom policy topics came up during Thursday's hearing on the policy priorities of lawmakers who aren't its members. Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawaii, urged House Commerce to probe the tech sector's Communications Decency Act Section 230 liability shield and make further CDA changes.
House Communications Subcommittee members focused on the spectrum policy fracas between the Commerce Department and the FCC during a Tuesday hearing to a far greater extent than expected (see 1907150020). The quarrel involves NASA and NOAA concerns about potential effects of commercial use of spectrum on the 24 GHz band, sold in the recent FCC auction, on federal technology using adjacent frequencies (see 1905230037). Lawmakers also showed significant interest in the debate over the best plan for clearing spectrum on the 3.7-4.2 GHz C-band, though an industry-focused panel that appeared centered on the issue was truncated amid House votes.
Debate over the best plan for clearing spectrum on the 3.7-4.2 GHz C-band is expected to be the big draw for stakeholders during the House Communications Subcommittee's Tuesday hearing on spectrum policy issues. It won't be the only focus. Six other bands are known to be on subcommittee members' radar amid ongoing Capitol Hill interest in U.S. strategy for taking a lead role in 5G development, lawmakers and lobbyists said in interviews. The panel is set to start at 10:30 a.m. in 2322 Rayburn (see 1907100069).
Top Senate Communications Subcommittee and the Congressional Spectrum Caucus members floated a pair of 5G-centric spectrum bills Tuesday and Wednesday. House Communications Subcommittee Vice Chair and CSC Co-Chair Doris Matsui, D-Calif., released her C-band-centric draft Wireless Investment Now in (Win) 5G Act Wednesday, as expected (see 1904230069). The measure would set up a tiered system for satellites companies to benefit from an FCC-administered auction of spectrum in the 3.7-4.2 GHz band in which freeing up additional spectrum would increase satellite companies share. Satellite companies would receive none of the auction proceeds if they clear less than 100 MHz on the band, 10 percent for 100-199 MHz, 35 percent for 200-299 MHz, 75 percent for 300-399 MHz, 90 percent for 400-499 MHz and 100 percent if they clear all 500 MHz. The Win 5G Act draft doesn't allow additional funding to relocate C-band users off sold spectrum but does allow auction proceeds to be shared with earth station operators. Any proceeds not allocated to satellite operators or earth station operators would go to a new Rural Broadband Deployment Fund. Matsui and three other lawmakers refiled Tuesday the Supplementing the Pipeline for Efficient Control of the Resources for Users Making New Opportunities for Wireless (Spectrum Now) Act. The bill, first filed last year (see 1806060060), would require a plan for repurposing the 3450-3550 MHz band before an expected auction next year. It would require NTIA to consult with the FCC on whether bands can be made available on an unlicensed basis if they can't be auctioned. It would also give federal agencies additional flexibility in using money from the spectrum relocation fund to subsidize spectrum research and development. Agencies would be allowed to get more funding than they otherwise could. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Senate Communications ranking member Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, led the Senate version. Matsui and fellow CSC Co-Chair Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., led the House one.
Congressional Spectrum Caucus co-Chairs Reps. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., and Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., pressed Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta Tuesday on what the department is doing "to ensure development” of a “highly-skilled workforce with the training necessary to efficiently deploy 5G services and infrastructure.” They asked Acosta what steps Labor “is taking to support and advance specific training or apprenticeship programs that will promote U.S. efforts to win the race to 5G.” Industry has been helping with such training (see 1905240039).
House Communications Subcommittee Democrats criticized FCC Chairman Ajit Pai on a range of actions during a Tuesday hearing. That fulfilled expectations House Commerce Committee's oversight of the majority-GOP commission would be more critical since Democrats gained a majority in the chamber (see 1905140060). Lawmakers' ire was tempered by other communications policy interests. Top House Communications members used the hearing as a venue to float legislative proposals on broadband infrastructure, C-band spectrum reallocation and 911 fee diversion.
Whatever C-band clearing plan the FCC takes up for terrestrial 5G use will likely be a compromise, but finding that compromise looks elusive. A Capitol Forum event had debates about the relative merits and shortcomings of rival clearing plans and jostling over whether C-band satellite operators are fully using what they have now.
The House Commerce Committee's upcoming telecom policy focus is likely to include a mix of issues that will provide opportunities for lawmakers to highlight bipartisan agreement on robocalls and increasing commercial spectrum availability, as well as potential mudslinging over FCC oversight matters, lawmakers and lobbyists told us. The Senate Commerce Committee's coming telecom agenda is less well defined, amid an increased focus on privacy legislation. Lobbyists will scrutinize the committee's next moves as it considers whether to reauthorize the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act. Both chambers reconvene Monday after Congress' two-week recess.