Several FCC officials plan to aggressively assert before the House Communications Subcommittee Thursday that the broadcast TV incentive auction is on track to happen in 2016’s first quarter, with the agency set to receive applications this fall. They will testify that the auction and freeing up more spectrum remains a key priority. Lawmakers in that subcommittee are gearing up to reintroduce the Federal Spectrum Incentive Act as soon as this week, before breaking for a two-week recess, a House staffer told us. The hearing is scheduled for 10:15 a.m. in 2322 Rayburn.
The House Communications Subcommittee plans a hearing on next steps for spectrum policy Thursday at 10:15 a.m. in 2322 Rayburn. “With demand for spectrum growing every day, members will discuss what the federal government is and can be doing to meet America’s spectrum needs,” a committee notice said. “The subcommittee will discuss the FCC’s first-of-its-kind Incentive Auction. The auction -- a result of bipartisan work on the committee -- stands to free up valuable spectrum for licensed and unlicensed uses. Members will also discuss their work to increase the efficiency of federal spectrum.” Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., said last week she plans to reintroduce the Federal Spectrum Incentive Act with Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky. (see 1503190048). House Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J., also introduced a bill (HR-1506) Thursday that would order the FCC to update its competitive bidding rules. Pallone’s bill had no co-sponsors and was referred to Commerce.
Transparency within the House Commerce Committee and at the FCC emerged as the key divisive issue Thursday as FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler took on his third hearing this week. Democrats blasted Communications Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., for what they said was a partisan FCC reauthorization draft bill designed to freeze funding at the agency for four years. Republicans harangued the FCC for its process and transparency practices.
Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., commended broadcasters in Wednesday’s Congressional Record. “These broadcasters provide the public with the news that is most important, and most useful for them, because it is the news from their own communities,” Matsui said. “This is true in Sacramento and across the nation. Our broadcasters play an integral role in Sacramentans' day-to-day lives, informing all of us about everything from local traffic to an in-depth look at local political issues.” She emphasized broadcasters' value during emergencies. “They have also played an important part in growing and investing in our nation’s airwaves,” she said. “The spectrum sharing agreement that the broadcasters entered into with the Department of Defense helped solidify the Federal Communications Commission’s recent record breaking spectrum auction of the AWS-3 band. This spectrum auction generated nearly $45 billion in revenue, enough to fully fund FirstNet, the nationwide interoperability network for America’s first responders and public safety officials.”
The FCC should “explore viable solutions in the 10 GHz band,” bipartisan lawmakers in both Houses told FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler in a letter released Tuesday. The agency should explore “potential sharing opportunities” there, said Reps. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif.; Brett Guthrie, R-Ky.; Bob Latta, R-Ohio; Doris Matsui, D-Calif.; and Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla. They've backed legislation telling the FCC to explore opportunities in the upper 5 GHz band. “Sharing opportunities in the 10 GHz band could make more spectrum available and provide another avenue for consumers and innovators to tap into the Internet economy,” they said: “This band could be used for expanding Wi-Fi capabilities to bring Internet access to more Americans.” Mimosa CEO Brian Hinman praised the letter and wants to “work with the FCC toward a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to share use of the 10 GHz band in the near future,” he said in a statement. Wireless Internet Service Providers Association President Chuck Hogg is “greatly encouraged by the letter” and said “seeking out and reallocating underutilized spectrum will become more and more vital” over time as broadband expansion becomes more important.
The FCC has enjoyed much greater capacity than necessary to receive and process pole applications from railroads as part of the positive train control deployment process, Chairman Tom Wheeler reassured Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., in a Feb. 11 letter the agency released last week. “Under the new review process, the Commission can accept applications for up to 1,400 poles from the major freight railroads every two weeks,” Wheeler told Matsui. “As of January 23, 2015, the seven Class I freight railroads had submitted for review a total of 6,386 poles, out of a possible total of 25,200. This equates to approximately 25 percent of the Commission's processing capacity.”
Capitol Hill Republicans plotted more FCC oversight as the agency voted 3-2 to approve FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler’s net neutrality order. The decision ignited an explosion of statements from Republicans warning against Communications Act Title II reclassification and Democrats cheering the agency. Republicans have sought net neutrality legislation to avoid Title II and promised new scrutiny and measures Thursday. President Barack Obama issued a special thank you message to the FCC for its vote.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers in both chambers on Tuesday reintroduced the Wi-Fi Innovation Act (S-424), which would direct the FCC to investigate the possibilities of the upper 5 GHz band for unlicensed use. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., posted the 12-page bill text online. He introduced the bill with Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., although Rubio told us late last week he didn't expect to introduce this or any of his wireless legislation until March and is also hopeful for Commerce Committee hearings on such wireless issues (see 1502050025). “By requiring the FCC to conduct testing that would provide more spectrum to the public, we are ultimately putting the resource to better use and recognizing the future needs and important work being done in intelligent transportation,” Rubio said in a statement. The bill’s backers in the House are Communications Subcommittee ranking member Anna Eshoo, D-Calif.; Communications Subcommittee Vice Chairman Bob Latta, R-Ohio; and Reps. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and Doris Matsui, D-Calif. It earned statements of approval from CEA, CTIA, PCIA, Public Knowledge and the Wi-Fi Alliance. These lawmakers introduced the bill last year but it never advanced.
Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., introduced a telehealth bill Tuesday. HR-691 would “promote the provision of telehealth by establishing a Federal standard for telehealth, and for other purposes,” its longer title said. It was referred to the Commerce Committee, where Matsui is a member. Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Ohio, is the bill’s one co-sponsor. The bill text wasn't released by our deadline.
Three top lawmakers from both parties and chambers of Congress think bipartisan net neutrality legislation still looms as a possibility -- but only after the FCC votes on its order Feb. 26, they said in interviews. On Wednesday, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler unveiled details of his Communications Act Title II proposal (see 1502040055), sparking a mix of praise and outcry across partisan lines in both chambers. Republicans have pressed for legislation to avoid Title II.