Now that the comment cycle is complete, move on proposals to allow TV white spaces (TVWS) devices to operate with higher power in less-congested areas, Microsoft and other commenters asked the FCC. Others continue to raise concerns (see 2005050033). Replies were posted through Wednesday in docket 20-36 on an NPRM that commissioners approved 5-0 in February (see 2002280055). Make the changes discussed in the NPRM but address other changes in future items, Microsoft replied. There's broad support for TVWS changes from service providers, tech companies, businesses and schools in rural areas and public interest organizations, the company said: “The record also demonstrates that the proposed rule changes will accelerate the pace of TVWS deployments and significantly improve the ability of TVWS technology to narrow the digital divide.” There's broad agreement “more robust rules” here “would improve connectivity in rural, tribal, and other unserved and underserved areas,” the Public Interest Spectrum Coalition said. New America’s Open Technology Institute, Public Knowledge, Consumer Reports, Access Humboldt, Next Century Cities, Common Cause, the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition and Benton Institute for Broadband and Society were among those on the filing. “Limit this proceeding to the narrow set of proposals set forth in the NPRM” and don't “consider extraneous requests that would dramatically expand those proposals or effectively rewrite Part 15 of the Commission’s rules,” NAB said. Some would expand the proceeding to consider “areas that have already been fully debated and where there have been no new developments that would warrant changes,” the group said. The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council endorsed the changes in general for rural areas, seeking companion tweaks for private land mobile radio operations on TV channels 14-20. NPSTC is “simply seeking to maintain an equivalent level of protection to that offered today,” the group said: “The proposed doubling of the allowed TVWS antenna height will have a significant effect on the separation distance needed to maintain an equivalent level of protection” to public land mobile radio operations. Wireless mic makers kept up their concerns. “Refine the movable platforms proposal by narrowing the scope of eligible vehicles and accounting for antenna height and directionality in the design of the rules,” Shure said: “Retain the less congested areas framework while rejecting impractical/computationally intensive alternative proposals centered around population density and/or terrain-based modeling.”

Now that the comment cycle is complete, move on proposals to allow TV white spaces (TVWS) devices to operate with higher power in less-congested areas, Microsoft and other commenters asked the FCC. Others continue to raise concerns (see 2005050033). Replies were posted through Wednesday in docket 20-36 on an NPRM that commissioners approved 5-0 in February (see 2002280055). Make the changes discussed in the NPRM but address other changes in future items, Microsoft replied. There's broad support for TVWS changes from service providers, tech companies, businesses and schools in rural areas and public interest organizations, the company said: “The record also demonstrates that the proposed rule changes will accelerate the pace of TVWS deployments and significantly improve the ability of TVWS technology to narrow the digital divide.” There's broad agreement “more robust rules” here “would improve connectivity in rural, tribal, and other unserved and underserved areas,” the Public Interest Spectrum Coalition said. New America’s Open Technology Institute, Public Knowledge, Consumer Reports, Access Humboldt, Next Century Cities, Common Cause, the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition and Benton Institute for Broadband and Society were among those on the filing. “Limit this proceeding to the narrow set of proposals set forth in the NPRM” and don't “consider extraneous requests that would dramatically expand those proposals or effectively rewrite Part 15 of the Commission’s rules,” NAB said. Some would expand the proceeding to consider “areas that have already been fully debated and where there have been no new developments that would warrant changes,” the group said. The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council endorsed the changes in general for rural areas, seeking companion tweaks for private land mobile radio operations on TV channels 14-20. NPSTC is “simply seeking to maintain an equivalent level of protection to that offered today,” the group said: “The proposed doubling of the allowed TVWS antenna height will have a significant effect on the separation distance needed to maintain an equivalent level of protection” to public land mobile radio operations. Wireless mic makers kept up their concerns. “Refine the movable platforms proposal by narrowing the scope of eligible vehicles and accounting for antenna height and directionality in the design of the rules,” Shure said: “Retain the less congested areas framework while rejecting impractical/computationally intensive alternative proposals centered around population density and/or terrain-based modeling.”

The FCC eased Lifeline applications on tribal lands, citing COVID-19, the Wireline Bureau ordered Monday. Until Aug. 31 a carrier may provide Lifeline service to a consumer living in a rural tribal area and unable to provide documentation after a failed automated check. Consumers get 45 days to submit documentation. The order extended to Aug. 31 waivers of the program’s recertification, reverification, general de-enrollment, usage, and income documentation requirements (see 2004290060).

The FCC eased Lifeline applications on tribal lands, citing COVID-19, the Wireline Bureau ordered Monday. Until Aug. 31 a carrier may provide Lifeline service to a consumer living in a rural tribal area and unable to provide documentation after a failed automated check. Consumers get 45 days to submit documentation. The order extended to Aug. 31 waivers of the program’s recertification, reverification, general de-enrollment, usage, and income documentation requirements (see 2004290060).

The FCC and the Institute of Museum and Library Services are promoting $50 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act broadband funding for libraries and tribal organizations, they announced Thursday.

The FCC and the Institute of Museum and Library Services are promoting $50 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act broadband funding for libraries and tribal organizations, they announced Thursday.

A House Communications Subcommittee FCC oversight teleconference Tuesday focused on telecom-related COVID-19 legislative proposals. Chairman Ajit Pai emphasized his FCC's asks for additional funding. House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and Communications Chairman Mike Doyle, D-Pa., focused on the importance of broadband funding provisions in the House-passed Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act. HR-6800, which the House cleared last week, would authorize an $8.8 billion Emergency Broadband Connectivity Fund and $5 billion for E-rate. “We need to do more” to help ensure broadband connectivity now, including for those unemployed because of quarantines, Doyle said. He urged Pai to “move quickly” to implement HR-6800’s proposed broadband funding if it's enacted. Pai believes Congress needs to expand its E-rate mandate because the current statute “restricts” the FCC to use the funding for services delivered directly to classrooms and libraries, he told Pallone. Pai noted FCC desire for funding to implement the unfunded Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act broadband mapping law (S-1822). Rep. Tom O’Halleran, D-Ariz., criticized the FCC for not moving “more quickly,” citing a “terrible” lack of broadband connectivity on tribal lands within his district. House Commerce Committee ranking member Greg Walden, R-Ore., and Rep. Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, sought information on the FCC’s work on this subject. The agency is “hard at work” to implement S-1822, Pai said. He hopes to “circulate” an NPRM “in the near term.” By Tuesday, the FCC had promised $33 million of congressional telehealth funding to healthcare providers and expects to disburse all the money in subsequent rounds, Pai said. The commission is expected to announce the next round “in the next day or two.” Wednesday, that occurred, bringing the total promised to just over $50 million in the $200 million COVID-19 telehealth program. The FCC moved quickly to begin setting up the disbursal program and tried “do as much work as we can on the front end” to ensure a quick answer, Pai said. He acknowledged to Eshoo that selected providers must submit an invoice and documentation before getting reimbursement, calling it a “critical check against waste, fraud and abuse.” The commission has gotten “only one” certified invoice, Pai said.

A Tuesday House Communications Subcommittee FCC oversight teleconference was far tamer than the subpanel’s other examinations of commission business during this Congress (see 1912050043). Most subcommittee members focused on telecom-related COVID-19 legislative proposals. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai emphasized his requests for additional funding. Pai also got additional support from House Communications Republicans for the commission’s recent approval of Ligado’s L-band plan (see 2004200039).

With the FCC citizens broadband radio service auction set to start, the agency is under pressure to further delay the auction because of credit market issues. Markets remain jittery due to the pandemic, a problem for small players that may need to raise the money to bid. The FCC postponed the auction in March to July 23, from June 25, because of COVID-19 concerns (see 2003250052).

Senate Commerce Committee members signaled interest in including further emergency broadband funding in the next COVID-19 package. Some senators urged their colleagues to think beyond the crisis. The Wednesday hearing featured few references to House Democrats' Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (Heroes) Act (HR-6800), which contains substantial broadband funding. The bill also includes language to make broadcasters and other local outlets eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program. Both issues drew increasing support since the March enactment of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (see 2004300058). The House is expected to vote on HR-6800 as soon as Friday.