NTIA said in a letter to the FCC Monday it “fully supports” the Department of Defense’s sharing proposal to partially vacate the 1755-1780 MHz band, and it laid out a specific plan to change allocations in the 2025-2110 MHz band to make the plan work. NTIA’s plan reflects an agreement between DOD and NAB in which DOD agreed to work around broadcaster needs, an NTIA official said during a background briefing with reporters. DOD agreed in July to move some of its operations to the 2025 MHz band in order to free up the 1755 MHz band for commercial use, but discussions between the department and NAB broke down because CTIA wanted to reallocate 15 MHz of the 2025 MHz band to its members. Talks later resumed after CTIA said it would not push for reallocation on the 2025 MHz band (CD Oct 30 p2). The agreement is an outgrowth of those renewed negotiations, the NTIA official said.
The top FirstNet official defended the progress the public national network team has made despite doubts and uncertainty. Sam Ginn became FirstNet board chairman in August 2012 and acknowledged the many challenges since then, speaking Thursday before the House Communications Subcommittee. Money is a constant consideration, as is outreach, Ginn said, cautioning that expectations can’t always be met.
"The current state of connectivity feeds inequality,” said National Economic Council Director Gene Sperling Tuesday at a Washington Post event on the country’s lingering digital divide. That sentiment was shared by every official and educator who took the stage, as they struggled with how to increase broadband connection and adoption among those who lack access, can’t afford it, or say they don’t want it.
Eight House members cautioned the FCC to keep in mind international coordination with Canada and Mexico before reassigning broadcast frequencies as part of the voluntary incentive auction. Referring to the FCC’s answer to a letter these members sent earlier in the year, they wrote, “Your response implies that the Commission may proceed with the reverse auction and channel allocations prior to having completed negotiations with Canada and Mexico,” they said in a Thursday letter to FCC acting Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn (http://bit.ly/1a5DU0c). If so, the FCC should make sure those border customers “continue to have access to the free over-the-air broadcast signals they currently receive,” the members said, asking the FCC how it plans to accomplish that. Signers include House Communications Subcommittee ranking member Anna Eshoo and Rep. Doris Matsui, both California Democrats.
New product introductions are in danger of being delayed by the government shutdown, TIA officials told us Tuesday. Products by TIA members need certification from FCC-approved telecommunication certification bodies (TCBs), but those labs can’t submit their reports to the now-shuttered FCC websites for ultimate approval. Without FCC approval, manufacturers can’t ship their products. “No new devices of any kind that need FCC approval can be marketed in the U.S. until the shutdown ends,” TIA General Counsel Danielle Coffey said.
The FCC Wireline Bureau released its mandatory special access data order Wednesday. The bureau used its delegated authority to “clarify the scope of the collection to reduce burden” to respondents, it said (http://bit.ly/1dpM6gu). After the Office of Management and Budget gives Paperwork Reduction Act approval, the bureau will announce the deadlines for data submission, it said. Commissioner Ajit Pai released a statement criticizing the bureau for overstepping its authority when it approved the collection of potential competition data on a less granular basis than the commission requested.
The Lifeline program must be updated to address broadband, wrote acting FCC Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn and Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., in a joint op-ed for The Hill Monday. They each advocated similar positions last week (CD Sept 13 p5). The op-ed described the program’s history, its importance and the challenges in reforming it to prevent fraud and abuse. “And it’s important that we look ahead,” Clyburn and Matsui wrote (http://bit.ly/17E6FDA). “Plain old voice service is necessary, but clearly not sufficient in today’s communications ecosystem. Universal broadband is imperative for all Americans, especially as our economy becomes increasingly linked to the Internet.” They pointed to the FCC’s Lifeline broadband pilot program. “The data the Pilot produces will guide us all as we consider the future of Lifeline and in Congress, the Broadband Adoption Act would allow households that qualify for Lifeline support to choose support for landline service, mobile service or broadband,” they said.
Acting FCC Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn offered an impassioned defense of the Lifeline program Thursday, saying it’s crucial to help lift the downtrodden out of poverty. It should be expanded, not limited, she told a New America Foundation audience. Clyburn commended Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., for sponsoring the Broadband Affordability Act, which would require the FCC to expand Lifeline to broadband services (CD April 24 p3).
A bipartisan group of House lawmakers urged the FCC to test spectrum sharing with automobile manufacturers in the 5 GHz band as a means to expand Wi-Fi use. The request came in a letter sent Wednesday to acting FCC Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn. “It’s our hope this process will unleash the capabilities of gigabit Wi-Fi and lead the adoption of rules that ensure [Intelligent Transportation Systems] and unlicensed devices can coexist in this band,” the letter said. Then-FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski announced an initiative earlier this year to free up 195 MHz of spectrum for Wi-Fi in the 5 GHz band (CD Jan 16 p1). The auto industry is testing vehicle-to-vehicle warning systems in part of the spectrum targeted by Genachowski -- the 5850-5925 MHz band. The letter was signed by House Communications Subcommittee Ranking Member Anna Eshoo, D-Calif.; Subcommittee Vice Chairman Bob Latta, R-Ohio; Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif.; and Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif.
A bipartisan group of House lawmakers reintroduced legislation Thursday to require the FCC to pair for commercial auction the 1755-1780 MHz band with the 2155-2180 MHz band, as was expected (CD July 18 p13). The Efficient Use of Government Spectrum Act was co-sponsored by Reps. Doris Matsui, D-Calif.; Brett Guthrie, R-Ky.; Adam Smith, D-Wash.; and Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., and mirrored legislation which failed to pass in the 112th Congress (CD April 12/12 p1). Pairing 1755-1780 MHz band, which has long been a top target of carriers, with the 2155-2180 MHz band would allow the spectrum to be auctioned and licensed by February 2015.