Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel slammed the 2017 version of the FCC’s mobile wireless competition report, approved 3-2 Tuesday in a party-line vote. Both questioned whether wireless in parts of the U.S. is genuinely competitive. During the Obama administration, the FCC repeatedly declined to determine there's effective competition in the U.S. wireless market. The new report says there is. The disagreement was expected and has been a topic of contention between Republicans and Democrats (see 1709220049).

Between wildfires in the West and hurricanes Harvey and Irma, the need for FirstNet is clearer than ever, Chair Sue Swenson said Thursday: “It’s not lost on us that what we’re doing is ever so critical.” Swenson opened the authority’s board meeting Thursday, streamed from Boulder, Colorado. Vice Chair Jeff Johnson said board members didn’t go to the storm-hit areas, at Swenson’s direction, because they didn’t want to get in the way. “There’s a time and a place for that,” said Johnson, a former fire chief. “As an incident commander for the majority of my career, I can tell you ‘not now’ is my thinking. We’ll talk later.”

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said he's not against regulation but wants it to "solve market failure," foster competition, spur innovation and investment, and account for costs and benefits. "The goal is to make sure our rules are tailored to the market as it exists in 2017," he said, responding to questions at a Lincoln Network event Tuesday evening in San Francisco (available here). Pai said the FCC needs to "modernize" its rules to give broadband providers "timely, cheap" access to poles, ducts and conduits: "That's something we're aiming to do." Companies competing in the same space "should be regulated similarly," he said, declining to specify how broadband providers and internet edge providers should be treated and noting the FCC must "stay within the four corners of the law." Pai said "the future of wireless is particularly promising" and hailed mobile and fixed wireless solutions, software defined networks, and unlicensed spectrum use: "We stand on the brink of something big." He said his "personal passion" is to close the digital divide by bringing more broadband to rural, tribal, low-income and other "disadvantaged" communities, including people with disabilities. He said he's still "haunted" by a visit to a Sioux reservation in South Dakota where unemployment is high and one woman was found dead clutching her cellphone after dialing for 911 help 38 times, unsuccessfully, because wireless coverage was lacking: "We need to push technology as far out into the countryside as we can." He said he was "humbled" by his recent visit to Harvey-ravaged Texas, but said only 5 percent of cellsites went down, compared with 25 percent during 2012's Superstorm Sandy. He cited "amazing" rescue and recovery efforts of public-safety personnel, industry and others, including "incredible" FCC field personnel: "Everyone seemed to be coming together." Pai said he's eager to collaborate with his commissioner colleagues and said the number of bipartisan votes is "up dramatically" to "something like 86 or 90 percent." Pai said President Donald Trump is "very gregarious, very up to date on some of our work." He called the administration very receptive to his push for including broadband digital proposals in any infrastructure initiative: "At least in my area, it's been a productive relationship." Asked if he would seek elected office, Pai joked that he will never run for governor of California, but if he did, he would win with "Saddam Hussein-level margins."

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said he's not against regulation but wants it to "solve market failure," foster competition, spur innovation and investment, and account for costs and benefits. "The goal is to make sure our rules are tailored to the market as it exists in 2017," he said, responding to questions at a Lincoln Network event Tuesday evening in San Francisco (available here). Pai said the FCC needs to "modernize" its rules to give broadband providers "timely, cheap" access to poles, ducts and conduits: "That's something we're aiming to do." Companies competing in the same space "should be regulated similarly," he said, declining to specify how broadband providers and internet edge providers should be treated and noting the FCC must "stay within the four corners of the law." Pai said "the future of wireless is particularly promising" and hailed mobile and fixed wireless solutions, software defined networks, and unlicensed spectrum use: "We stand on the brink of something big." He said his "personal passion" is to close the digital divide by bringing more broadband to rural, tribal, low-income and other "disadvantaged" communities, including people with disabilities. He said he's still "haunted" by a visit to a Sioux reservation in South Dakota where unemployment is high and one woman was found dead clutching her cellphone after dialing for 911 help 38 times, unsuccessfully, because wireless coverage was lacking: "We need to push technology as far out into the countryside as we can." He said he was "humbled" by his recent visit to Harvey-ravaged Texas, but said only 5 percent of cellsites went down, compared with 25 percent during 2012's Superstorm Sandy. He cited "amazing" rescue and recovery efforts of public-safety personnel, industry and others, including "incredible" FCC field personnel: "Everyone seemed to be coming together." Pai said he's eager to collaborate with his commissioner colleagues and said the number of bipartisan votes is "up dramatically" to "something like 86 or 90 percent." Pai said President Donald Trump is "very gregarious, very up to date on some of our work." He called the administration very receptive to his push for including broadband digital proposals in any infrastructure initiative: "At least in my area, it's been a productive relationship." Asked if he would seek elected office, Pai joked that he will never run for governor of California, but if he did, he would win with "Saddam Hussein-level margins."

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said he will propose by year-end to open additional high-frequency bands for 5G, building on the 28, 37 and 39 GHz reallocated last year (see 1607140052). Pai was among the first speakers Tuesday at GSMA’s first Mobile World Congress Americas, co-hosted by CTIA in San Francisco. Much of his speech focused on his usual big themes, including tackling the digital divide and eliminating unnecessary regulation.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said he will propose by year-end to open additional high-frequency bands for 5G, building on the 28, 37 and 39 GHz reallocated last year (see 1607140052). Pai was among the first speakers Tuesday at GSMA’s first Mobile World Congress Americas, co-hosted by CTIA in San Francisco. Much of his speech focused on his usual big themes, including tackling the digital divide and eliminating unnecessary regulation.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said he will propose by year-end to open additional high-frequency bands for 5G, building on the 28, 37 and 39 GHz reallocated last year (see 1607140052). Pai was among the first speakers Tuesday at GSMA’s first Mobile World Congress Americas, co-hosted by CTIA in San Francisco. Much of his speech focused on his usual big themes, including tackling the digital divide and eliminating unnecessary regulation.

Groups and 12 Senate Democrats asked for more time to comment on the FCC inquiry into advanced telecom capability (ATC) deployment (see 1708110034). Without a delay, initial comments are due Thursday, replies on Sept. 22. The groups asked for an eight-week extension. “In addition to broad implications of the result of this proceeding, the questions raised therein are directly tied to questions posed in other, related proceedings,” said a filing in docket 17-199. “As those proceedings also have open comment windows that extend in some cases into October, it would be reasonable for the Commission to extend the deadlines in this proceeding.” The notice of inquiry on whether ATC is being rolled out to all in a reasonable and timely way under Telecom Act Section 706, launched in early August, proposes to keep the current 25/3 Mbps speed benchmark for fixed broadband. “Such substantial shifts in policy require greater consideration and debate, something that the current schedule for comment does not allow,” said Senate Communications Subcommittee ranking member Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, and the other senators. They raised concerns about the NOI’s desire for comment on whether an area should be considered “served” if mobile service of 10 Mbps download/1 Mbps upload is available. “While we recognize and welcome the possibility that technology may one day evolve to a point where mobile broadband options could be deemed equivalent to fixed broadband services, that is not the case today,” they said. “Such a striking change in policy would significantly and disproportionately disadvantage Americans in rural, tribal, and low income communities across the nation, whose livelihoods depend on a reliable and affordable broadband connection.” For the groups' letter, signers included New America’s Open Technology Institute, the American Library Association, Center for Democracy & Technology, Center for Media Justice, Common Cause, Computer & Communications Industry Association, Incompas, National Hispanic Media Coalition and Public Knowledge. The FCC didn't comment.

Groups and 12 Senate Democrats asked for more time to comment on the FCC inquiry into advanced telecom capability (ATC) deployment (see 1708110034). Without a delay, initial comments are due Thursday, replies on Sept. 22. The groups asked for an eight-week extension. “In addition to broad implications of the result of this proceeding, the questions raised therein are directly tied to questions posed in other, related proceedings,” said a filing in docket 17-199. “As those proceedings also have open comment windows that extend in some cases into October, it would be reasonable for the Commission to extend the deadlines in this proceeding.” The notice of inquiry on whether ATC is being rolled out to all in a reasonable and timely way under Telecom Act Section 706, launched in early August, proposes to keep the current 25/3 Mbps speed benchmark for fixed broadband. “Such substantial shifts in policy require greater consideration and debate, something that the current schedule for comment does not allow,” said Senate Communications Subcommittee ranking member Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, and the other senators. They raised concerns about the NOI’s desire for comment on whether an area should be considered “served” if mobile service of 10 Mbps download/1 Mbps upload is available. “While we recognize and welcome the possibility that technology may one day evolve to a point where mobile broadband options could be deemed equivalent to fixed broadband services, that is not the case today,” they said. “Such a striking change in policy would significantly and disproportionately disadvantage Americans in rural, tribal, and low income communities across the nation, whose livelihoods depend on a reliable and affordable broadband connection.” For the groups' letter, signers included New America’s Open Technology Institute, the American Library Association, Center for Democracy & Technology, Center for Media Justice, Common Cause, Computer & Communications Industry Association, Incompas, National Hispanic Media Coalition and Public Knowledge. The FCC didn't comment.

Wireless industry officials welcomed FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s outreach to the tribes on siting issues Tuesday. But industry officials also said they fear that without FCC action little progress will be made in curbing what they see as roadblocks to building small cells and other infrastructure on tribal lands. Pai didn’t release a statement about the meeting in Flagstaff, Arizona, but tweeted about it Tuesday, complete with photos from the closed-door meeting. “Excellent exchanges with tribal leaders, from Nez Perce to Pueblo,” Pai tweeted. “Thanks to Navajo Nation Pres. @RussellBegaye for hosting consultation!”