FCC interaction with constituents is changing in the face of the pandemic, with ex parte meetings down in recent weeks, according to our analysis of more than 400 electronic comment filing system filings. Agency officials said stakeholders presumably are reluctant to set up meetings on non-pressing matters, and commissioners' Tuesday meeting agenda lacks major items. That could change in April with the 6 GHz order expected (see 2003270032), one agency official said. The regulator said aides in Chairman Ajit Pai's office don't seem less busy.
Some officials and lobbyists believe legislative efforts to repeal a provision of the 2012 spectrum law that mandates public safety move off the 470-512 MHz T band by 2021 and combat state and local-level diversion of 911 fees are unlikely to advance until the new year. Those issues are now tied to a bid to attach language on a pending FCC auction of spectrum on the 3.7-4.2 GHz C band to FY 2020 federal spending bills. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., is pushing to attach language from his C-band-centric 5G Spectrum Act (S-2881) to the spending bills despite Democrats' opposition. Senate Commerce last week approved adding language from the Don’t Break Up the T-Band Act (HR-451/S-2748) and the 911 Fee Integrity Act (HR-2165) to S-2881 (see 1912110038).
The House Communications Subcommittee's Thursday FCC oversight hearing is expected to include criticism of commission actions and a focus on telecom policy priorities like deciding how to allocate proceeds from a coming auction of the 3.7-4.2 GHz C band, said lawmakers and others in interviews. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and the other four commissioners are to testify during the panel, which will begin at 10 a.m. in 2123 Rayburn. The hearing will happen a day after the House easily passed another FCC-related policy priority, the Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (Traced) Act (S-151).
House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle, D-Pa., saw positive signs for moving forward on legislation to mandate an FCC-led public auction of spectrum on the 3.7-4.2 GHz C band after all subcommittee Democrats and several Republicans showed a clear preference for such a plan during a Tuesday hearing. The panel also was a forum for castigating the C-Band Alliance's proposal for a private auction of the bandwidth, as expected (see 1910280040). All sides continued to meet with the FCC. Chairman Ajit Pai is expected to propose a private auction plan for a vote at commissioners' Dec. 12 meeting (see 1910100052).
After a prolonged negotiation, DOJ reached agreement with T-Mobile/Sprint and Dish Network (see 1907260021). Justice got five attorneys general onboard from states that hadn't tried to block the multibillion dollar transaction. Industry officials said getting some support from states was important to the department and delayed an announcement by a day, though opposing states are expected to continue their lawsuit in federal court in New York. The California Public Utilities Commission also hasn't approved the deal. DOJ’s consent decree with the companies did little to mollify most critics.
After a prolonged negotiation, DOJ reached agreement with T-Mobile/Sprint and Dish Network (see 1907260021). Justice got five attorneys general onboard from states that hadn't tried to block the multibillion dollar transaction. Industry officials said getting some support from states was important to the department and delayed an announcement by a day, though opposing states are expected to continue their lawsuit in federal court in New York. The California Public Utilities Commission also hasn't approved the deal. DOJ’s consent decree with the companies did little to mollify most critics.
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.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and an aide to Commissioner Brendan Carr met aviation, satellite communications and weather data groups with concerns about Ligado's proposed broadband terrestrial low-power service, said a docket 12-340 posting Friday. The groups said economic, public safety and consumer benefits of GPS, satellite communications, aviation and environmental satellite data communities "are too important to jeopardize" with Ligado's service, calling its benefits "speculative." They said it would threaten reliability of position, navigation and timing services like GPS, undermine investment in commercial satellite systems by changing the interference environment, and take 40 MHz of spectrum from satellite use. They are Aerospace Industries Association, Airlines for America, Aviation Spectrum Resources, Iridium, Resilient Navigation and Timing Foundation and Narayan Strategies. Ligado emailed that "as needs emerge and technology evolves, spectrum bands will transition. The 3.5 GHz (CBRS), 5.9 GHz, C-band, and L-band proceedings are all evidence of that principle and that the country is moving forward to achieve ‘5G First’. We are prepared upon FCC approval to invest hundreds of millions of dollars to help build this 5G future.”
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai proposed rules providing a new framework for “the vast majority” of pole attachments under federal jurisdiction by imposing a one-touch, make-ready” (OTMR) regime. An accompanying declaratory ruling attacks local or state moratoriums on new wireless and wireline facilities. The order and declaratory ruling are set for a vote at commissioners’ Aug. 2 meeting (see 1807110053) along with items on broadcast incubators, repacking reimbursement, a telehealth item and a spectrum/5G auction-related action.
The Trump administration is developing a national spectrum strategy, NTIA Administrator David Redl said at a Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee meeting Wednesday. The Obama administration took an active role on spectrum policy, promoting sharing over exclusive use licenses in many cases, but the Trump administration has been relatively quiet (see 1712270032). Redl said NTIA is working with the administration on a plan. FCC and industry officials welcomed the administration’s long-awaited deep dive.