The FCC posted a staff ex parte filing on a February conference call with representatives from state historic preservation offices (SHPOs) in 18 states, plus the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers (NCSHPO) on the public notice on twilight towers, approved by commissioners in December (see 1712140049). Action on the towers potentially will open thousands of existing towers for collocations “without the need for either the collocation or the underlying tower to complete an individual historic review, thus ensuring that these towers are generally treated the same as older towers,” the FCC said then (see 1712150038). One participant requested a summary of how FCC staff considered concerns by tribal historic preservation officers and SHPOs, said the filing posted Tuesday in docket 17-79. “Staff explained that the Commission considered whether Twilight Towers should be subject to a review process and determined, subject to further consideration in light of the record, that the balance of interests weighed in favor of a Program Comment that did not require such review,” the FCC said. Another state representatives asked what would happen when properties of historic significance may have been disturbed at the time of construction. “Staff noted that there is a presumption in the draft Program Comment that current collocations will have no effect on historic properties and that if there are circumstances where there are ongoing concerns re specific sites, they can be addressed with the Commission on a case-by-case basis,” the agency said.

An FCC order providing some USF relief for tribal operational expenses looks imminent, agency officials said Wednesday. Commissioner Mignon Clyburn and Chairman Ajit Pai traded fire in February over Clyburn's decision to change her vote to a partial dissent. She said the order should also act to expand tribal broadband (see 1802020058). The FCC recently issued an NPRM proposing a tribal broadband factor to target additional USF support to Native American lands (see 1803230025).

An FCC order providing some USF relief for tribal operational expenses looks imminent, agency officials said Wednesday. Commissioner Mignon Clyburn and Chairman Ajit Pai traded fire in February over Clyburn's decision to change her vote to a partial dissent. She said the order should also act to expand tribal broadband (see 1802020058). The FCC recently issued an NPRM proposing a tribal broadband factor to target additional USF support to Native American lands (see 1803230025).

Commissioner Brendan Carr said Wednesday he's still figuring out what the FCC should propose to address impediments to broadband deployment posed by local and state governments and on siting on federal lands. Carr said the FCC’s job is to get the regulation right while industry has to figure out a business plan. Wireless Infrastructure Association President Jonathan Adelstein worries how carriers will monetize the costs of building 5G. Both spoke at the Wireless Connect event.

The FCC took USF actions and made proposals intended to help rural telcos provide broadband-oriented service and to improve high-cost subsidy program operations. Dissenting Democrats said their requests for changes to an NPRM went unheeded. Chairman Ajit Pai said the minority members waited too long to make their suggestions, a charge they denied. The commission Friday released two orders and a notice (here) that provide up to $545 million in additional support to rate-of-return carriers, flesh out expense and investment cost-recovery restrictions, and aim to examine the rural USF budget and a possible tribal broadband factor. The item appears largely consistent with a draft (see 1801160040 and 1801170048).

The FCC took USF actions and made proposals intended to help rural telcos provide broadband-oriented service and to improve high-cost subsidy program operations. Dissenting Democrats said their requests for changes to an NPRM went unheeded. Chairman Ajit Pai said the minority members waited too long to make their suggestions, a charge they denied. The commission Friday released two orders and a notice (here) that provide up to $545 million in additional support to rate-of-return carriers, flesh out expense and investment cost-recovery restrictions, and aim to examine the rural USF budget and a possible tribal broadband factor. The item appears largely consistent with a draft (see 1801160040 and 1801170048).

The FCC approved changes to wireless infrastructure rules, aimed at speeding deployment of small cells to pave the way for 5G, 3-2 Thursday over dissents by Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel, as expected (see 1803070044). Both said the order had problems that need to be fixed and a vote should have been postponed. Tribes and groups representing local and state governments raised repeated objections. Security removed a protester complaining about RF issues after the vote at what was a lightly attended meeting. A robocalling FNPRM also drew some concerns (see 1803220028), while some other items were less controversial (see 1803220037).

Trump administration officials' repeated citations of the national security implications of maintaining U.S. leadership in 5G innovation are a sign Congress needs to act on broader telecom policy issues that would help sustain that dominance, lawmakers and industry officials told us. The administration mentioned 5G deployment in its December national security strategy (see 1712180071 and 1712270032).

Trump administration officials' repeated citations of the national security implications of maintaining U.S. leadership in 5G innovation are a sign Congress needs to act on broader telecom policy issues that would help sustain that dominance, lawmakers and industry officials told us. The administration mentioned 5G deployment in its December national security strategy (see 1712180071 and 1712270032).

FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn Wednesday urged the FCC to postpone a vote on wireless infrastructure rules, slated for Thursday. The draft order, developed by Commissioner Brendan Carr, faced criticism from tribal groups concerned about the consultation process and groups representing local governments. With snow still falling in Washington on Wednesday, the FCC said the meeting is to start at 9:30 a.m., unless the Office of Personnel Management delays the opening of the federal government, in which case it will start at 11:30 a.m.