Windstream agreed to pay $18,000 and institute a compliance plan as part of a settlement with the FCC Enforcement Bureau over the company’s construction of two wireless towers on tribal land without the on-site monitoring requested by the affected tribes, said a consent decree Monday. Windstream self-reported the violation in 2019 and said a contractor performed “construction activities.” The company “admits that it constructed at the Nebraska Tower and Arkansas Tower without the onsite monitoring requested by the affected tribes,” said the consent decree. The carrier must implement a compliance procedure and employee training and report on its compliance to the FCC for three years. The telco didn’t comment.

The FCC Wireless Bureau dismissed requests by seven tribal entities for waivers of the 2.5 GHz tribal application window. The requests were filed by the Ho-Chunk Nation, Lummi Indian Business Council, the Muscogee Nation, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, San Felipe Pueblo, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and Table Mountain Rancheria. The window to apply closed Sept. 2 (see 2007310066).

The Senate Commerce Committee advanced on voice votes Wednesday the Internet Exchange Act (S-1166), Ensuring Network Security Act (S-4472), Beat China by Harnessing Important, National Airwaves for 5G Act (S-4803) and Space Preservation and Conjunction Emergency Act (S-4827). The Senate Indian Affairs Committee approved the Bridging the Tribal Digital Divide Act (S-3264) with an amendment requiring the FCC to open a new priority window for tribes to apply for 2.5 GHz licenses that lasts at least 180 days. The deadline closed Sept. 2 after a 30-day extension (see 2007310027). Other lawmakers also sought extensions (see 2010150046). S-3264 would create a Tribal Broadband Interagency Working Group to improve coordination across federal broadband programs and set aside FCC and Agriculture Department funds for tribal broadband deployments. Public Knowledge Senior Policy Counsel Jenna Leventoff praised the 2.5 GHz amendment to S-3264, saying it’s “one small way Congress and the FCC can fulfill their commitment to Tribes. Doing so is the first step to addressing the inequities of this underserved population: It will give Tribes an actual chance to secure broadband access.” Competitive Carriers Association CEO Steve Berry hailed advancement of S-4472, which would expand eligibility for funding to help U.S. communications providers remove Chinese equipment determined to threaten national security (see 2008120030). The measure “clearly recognizes the importance of addressing national security threats and providing sufficient funding,” Berry said. “The reimbursement program is an absolutely essential component.”

The Senate Commerce Committee advanced on voice votes Wednesday the Internet Exchange Act (S-1166), Ensuring Network Security Act (S-4472), Beat China by Harnessing Important, National Airwaves for 5G Act (S-4803) and Space Preservation and Conjunction Emergency Act (S-4827). The Senate Indian Affairs Committee approved the Bridging the Tribal Digital Divide Act (S-3264) with an amendment requiring the FCC to open a new priority window for tribes to apply for 2.5 GHz licenses that lasts at least 180 days. The deadline closed Sept. 2 after a 30-day extension (see 2007310027). Other lawmakers also sought extensions (see 2010150046). S-3264 would create a Tribal Broadband Interagency Working Group to improve coordination across federal broadband programs and set aside FCC and Agriculture Department funds for tribal broadband deployments. Public Knowledge Senior Policy Counsel Jenna Leventoff praised the 2.5 GHz amendment to S-3264, saying it’s “one small way Congress and the FCC can fulfill their commitment to Tribes. Doing so is the first step to addressing the inequities of this underserved population: It will give Tribes an actual chance to secure broadband access.” Competitive Carriers Association CEO Steve Berry hailed advancement of S-4472, which would expand eligibility for funding to help U.S. communications providers remove Chinese equipment determined to threaten national security (see 2008120030). The measure “clearly recognizes the importance of addressing national security threats and providing sufficient funding,” Berry said. “The reimbursement program is an absolutely essential component.”

The Wireless Bureau rejected Kaumana Hawaiian Homes Community Association's request for a waiver of FCC rules to allow it to apply for a 2.5 GHz overlay license under the tribal window. Based on the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ list of federally recognized tribes, none are in Hawaii, which means no entities there were eligible to apply for the available spectrum, the bureau said Thursday. Kaumana “provides no rationale or explanation for why it warrants waiver of the Commission’s Rural Tribal Priority Window rule defining eligible entities,” the bureau said: “Kaumana does not assert that the purpose of that rule would be frustrated absent a waiver nor that grant of a waiver would be in the public interest” and “makes no assertion that it was subject to unique factual circumstances.”

The FCC Wireless Bureau said a second group of 2.5 GHz band license applications filed during the rural tribal priority window passed initial review and moved forward for filing. “These 57 applications are now one step closer to obtaining access to this prime mid-band spectrum to help address the connectivity needs of their rural communities,” the FCC said Tuesday. The window to apply closed Sept. 2 (see 2007310066).

Verizon is betting big on dynamic spectrum sharing technology, which allows 5G to run simultaneously with 4G on multiple spectrum bands, Chief Technology Officer Kyle Malady said at the GSMA/CTIA Thrive virtual conference Wednesday. Malady also stressed the importance of the new 5G iPhone.

Verizon is betting big on dynamic spectrum sharing technology, which allows 5G to run simultaneously with 4G on multiple spectrum bands, Chief Technology Officer Kyle Malady said at the GSMA/CTIA Thrive virtual conference Wednesday. Malady also stressed the importance of the new 5G iPhone.

The FCC approved a 5G Fund as expected Tuesday, with partial dissents by Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks (see 2010230056). Commissioners also approved revised TV white spaces rules 5-0, raising additional questions in a Further NPRM, including on the use of the Longley-Rice irregular terrain model for looking at interference (see 2010220048).

Giving laptops and hot spots to students who lack good internet won’t solve distance learning problems exacerbated by COVID-19, state and local officials said Monday. The California Senate Education Committee and the Special Committee on Pandemic Emergency Response jointly held a hearing Monday about online learning gaps. Earlier in the day at the virtual Mountain Connect conference, Chattanooga public and private officials said they’re using municipal broadband to provide free fiber internet to students in low-income households.