Groups representing educational broadband service licensees asked to delay a 2.5 GHz auction until after a better FCC inventory of available areas. Dish Network endorses the single-round auction format sought by T-Mobile, in replies posted through Friday in docket 20-429. T-Mobile, which hopes for a 2021 auction, cited problems with the inventory (see 2105040077). “Past Commission Chairs have routinely announced when auctions will be conducted even before the Commission proposes procedures for the auction,” T-Mobile said: “Commenters have already provided substantial information" for updating the licensing database. “Implement a process to update and correct the inventory prior to the auction,” said the National EBS Association. “The inventory should not include county/frequency blocks where there is no white space at all, or where the white space is entirely over water, or where the white space has no population.” The list must be “completely accurate,” the Catholic Technology Network said. The North American Catholic Educational Programming Foundation and Mobile Beacon urged an updated database first. Dish saw “substantial support” for a single-round auction: “DISH agrees with several commenters, and the Commission itself, that a single round auction with pay-as-bid pricing will promote diverse auction participation and give smaller providers a chance to get the spectrum they need.” If the FCC adopts a simultaneous multiple-round format, keep the rules simple and consistent with past auctions, Dish said. SMR is “generally a superior method for allocating spectrum than a single bid format,” AT&T said: “But, as the Notice and comments confirm, the circumstances here are far from ordinary, and the commenters who support an SMR format fail to engage.” Verizon saw broad SMR support. Nationwide carriers to “small and rural carriers” agree that “will create a more competitive auction that enables bidders of all sizes to have a fair shot,” Verizon said: “Many bidders prefer the certainty that comes with better price discovery.” The Wireless ISP Association sought a single round auction that’s “neither novel nor untested.”
The appellate National Advertising Review Board upheld a decision by the lower National Advertising Division of BBB National Programs recommending T-Mobile discontinue claims implying that 5G is more reliable than 4G and that no 5G network is more reliable than T-Mobile’s, said the board Monday. NARB also wants T-Mobile to discontinue claims implying its 5G service is “generally available in locations that have traditionally been challenging for cellular service” and to stop denigrating other carriers’ 5G coverage as “so limited in any area as to cover only the space taken up by a single bench,” it said. NARB said T-Mobile’s superior coverage claims “did not imply overall network superiority, rejecting NAD’s conclusion that such claims required the disclosure of material differences,” it said. T-Mobile plans to comply with NARB’s recommendations and welcomes its decision that T-Mobile “can continue to advertise its superior 5G coverage without qualification,” the company said. Verizon, which challenged T-Mobile’s ad claims at the NAD, didn’t respond to questions.
The appellate National Advertising Review Board upheld a decision by the lower National Advertising Division of BBB National Programs recommending T-Mobile discontinue claims implying that 5G is more reliable than 4G and that no 5G network is more reliable than T-Mobile’s, said the board Monday. NARB also wants T-Mobile to discontinue claims implying its 5G service is “generally available in locations that have traditionally been challenging for cellular service” and to stop denigrating other carriers’ 5G coverage as “so limited in any area as to cover only the space taken up by a single bench,” it said. NARB said T-Mobile’s superior coverage claims “did not imply overall network superiority, rejecting NAD’s conclusion that such claims required the disclosure of material differences,” it said. T-Mobile plans to comply with NARB’s recommendations and welcomes its decision that T-Mobile “can continue to advertise its superior 5G coverage without qualification,” the company said. Verizon, which challenged T-Mobile’s ad claims at the NAD, didn’t respond to questions.
The Wireless ISP Association is grateful the FCC plans to allow higher power in the TV white spaces band and increase the height of towers, but asked the agency to allow use of the Longley-Rice irregular terrain model for looking at TVWS interference, said Louis Peraertz, WISPA vice president-policy. WISPA holds out hope the order will change before an Oct. 27 commissioner vote (see 2010060060), he told the group’s fall conference Tuesday streamed from Las Vegas. WISPA is meeting in person, with limited attendance, unlike most industry groups that are having only online meetings because of the pandemic (see 2010080031).
Chairman Ajit Pai plans to further deregulate voice service providers and "examine whether certain pricing and tariffing regulations that the FCC imposed on incumbent phone companies when they held a monopoly on local telephone service still make sense today," he blogged Monday, outlining his agenda for the March 31 commissioners' meeting (see 2003090044). The meeting will also have a vote on robocall/caller ID authentication, as Pai disclosed last week (see 2003060055). Three Media Bureau items also were tentatively scheduled, including related to ATSC 3.0.
Satellite operators remain divided on the FCC assessing satellite application and regulatory fees on foreign-licensed satellites with U.S. access (see 1912090053), in docket 19-105 replies posted Tuesday. The fees are proposed as part of the FY 2020 fee schedule. A broadcaster urged changing the methodology for calculating VHF regulatory fees.
Connecticut's Public Utilities Regulatory Authority won't appeal the state Superior Court's November decision that PURA overreached when it ruled 2-0 last year that “municipal gain” space on utility poles or underground ducts -- reserved by a 2013 law “for any purpose” -- can't be used to provide muni broadband (see 1911130037). "PURA has elected not to appeal the Superior Court’s decision," Chairman Marissa Paslick Gillett emailed Monday. Industry that supported the PURA order could still appeal or take the fight to the legislature or a federal court. "Federal litigation could occur at any time," emailed Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel Principal Attorney Joe Rosenthal, who supports the Superior Court ruling for muni broadband. "That would be brand new litigation, likely in response to an actual municipal construction that intends to offer services to the public."
Connecticut's Public Utilities Regulatory Authority won't appeal the state Superior Court's November decision that PURA overreached when it ruled 2-0 last year that “municipal gain” space on utility poles or underground ducts -- reserved by a 2013 law “for any purpose” -- can't be used to provide muni broadband (see 1911130037). "PURA has elected not to appeal the Superior Court’s decision," Chairman Marissa Paslick Gillett emailed Monday. Industry that supported the PURA order could still appeal or take the fight to the legislature or a federal court. "Federal litigation could occur at any time," emailed Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel Principal Attorney Joe Rosenthal, who supports the Superior Court ruling for muni broadband. "That would be brand new litigation, likely in response to an actual municipal construction that intends to offer services to the public."
A Connecticut court's municipal broadband decision mightn't end the fight over how cities may use reserved pole space. The Connecticut Superior Court noted the matter “is clearly headed toward higher judicial ground,” as it ruled Tuesday that the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority overreached last year that “municipal gain” space on utility poles or underground ducts -- reserved by a 2013 law “for any purpose” -- can't be used to provide muni broadband (see 1911120064). One winning appellant, the Connecticut Consumer Counsel, is “pleased with the thorough nature of the decision” but won’t be surprised if PURA or telecom intervenors appeal the or shift the fight to the legislature or federal court, said principal attorney Joseph Rosenthal in a Wednesday interview. That could extend the fight another two years, he said. Municipalities now are free to use the muni gain for broadband, and some are “poised” to do that, but they would be risking a later decision could undermine their efforts, he said. Acting Connecticut Consumer Counsel Richard Sobolewski plans to continue the fight: “It’s an issue we feel very strongly about.” PURA is "still reviewing the Superior Court’s decision," emailed Chairman Marissa Paslick Gillett. The New England Cable & Telecommunications Association's “disappointed in the Court’s decision and are reviewing our options,” President Tim Wilkerson emailed. PURA was correct "based on state and federal law, as well as principles of fair competition," emailed a Frontier Communications spokesperson. "We are reviewing the decision and next steps." CenturyLink declined to comment on “pending litigation.”
A Connecticut court's municipal broadband decision mightn't end the fight over how cities may use reserved pole space. The Connecticut Superior Court noted the matter “is clearly headed toward higher judicial ground,” as it ruled Tuesday that the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority overreached last year that “municipal gain” space on utility poles or underground ducts -- reserved by a 2013 law “for any purpose” -- can't be used to provide muni broadband (see 1911120064). One winning appellant, the Connecticut Consumer Counsel, is “pleased with the thorough nature of the decision” but won’t be surprised if PURA or telecom intervenors appeal the or shift the fight to the legislature or federal court, said principal attorney Joseph Rosenthal in a Wednesday interview. That could extend the fight another two years, he said. Municipalities now are free to use the muni gain for broadband, and some are “poised” to do that, but they would be risking a later decision could undermine their efforts, he said. Acting Connecticut Consumer Counsel Richard Sobolewski plans to continue the fight: “It’s an issue we feel very strongly about.” PURA is "still reviewing the Superior Court’s decision," emailed Chairman Marissa Paslick Gillett. The New England Cable & Telecommunications Association's “disappointed in the Court’s decision and are reviewing our options,” President Tim Wilkerson emailed. PURA was correct "based on state and federal law, as well as principles of fair competition," emailed a Frontier Communications spokesperson. "We are reviewing the decision and next steps." CenturyLink declined to comment on “pending litigation.”