Top officials from Competitive Carriers Association member companies urged the FCC to act on changes to wireless infrastructure siting rules. The letter, in docket 17-83, was timed to the first meeting of the FCC’s new Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (see 1704210050). The CCA executives had five specific requests. The BDAC should at minimum “reduce unnecessary delays throughout state and local siting requirements” and “support new buildout opportunities by suggesting that [the] Commission limit inconsistent and often exorbitant right-of-way ('ROW') fees to actual costs of review and ROW maintenance,” the letter said. The FCC should also “seek to reduce growing costs attached to historic and environmental review requirements and establish reasonable review timelines; … streamline siting on federal lands, including reasonable fee and timing clarifications; and … perhaps cumulatively, create and recommend adoption of a model code which will provide certainty as we work with various state and local governments to upgrade and deploy broadband infrastructure,” the letter said.
Top officials from Competitive Carriers Association member companies urged the FCC to act on changes to wireless infrastructure siting rules. The letter, in docket 17-83, was timed to the first meeting of the FCC’s new Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (see 1704210050). The CCA executives had five specific requests. The BDAC should at minimum “reduce unnecessary delays throughout state and local siting requirements” and “support new buildout opportunities by suggesting that [the] Commission limit inconsistent and often exorbitant right-of-way ('ROW') fees to actual costs of review and ROW maintenance,” the letter said. The FCC should also “seek to reduce growing costs attached to historic and environmental review requirements and establish reasonable review timelines; … streamline siting on federal lands, including reasonable fee and timing clarifications; and … perhaps cumulatively, create and recommend adoption of a model code which will provide certainty as we work with various state and local governments to upgrade and deploy broadband infrastructure,” the letter said.
The FCC Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (BDAC) got started on its work Friday, nearly three months after it was announced by Chairman Ajit Pai. He and the other FCC commissioners opened what was essentially an organizational meeting at the FCC. Pai said the key focus is helping cut red tape that stands in the way of deployment, while protecting the interests of local governments.
The FCC Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (BDAC) got started on its work Friday, nearly three months after it was announced by Chairman Ajit Pai. He and the other FCC commissioners opened what was essentially an organizational meeting at the FCC. Pai said the key focus is helping cut red tape that stands in the way of deployment, while protecting the interests of local governments.
The FCC voted 3-0 Thursday to launch a rulemaking and notice of inquiry on ways to speed the siting of wireless infrastructure. Commissioners Mike O’Rielly and Mignon Clyburn voted for the item, saying they were able to work out changes with the office of Chairman Ajit Pai. The consensus on the item came right before the huge fight over the broadband data service order (see 1704200020).
Alisa Forby is now the division chief of the Sea, Land, and Aircraft Systems Division of State Department Directorate of Defense Trade Controls’ (DDTC) Office of Defense Trade Controls Licensing, the DDTC said (here). The former head of that branch, Robert Warren, is retiring, effective April 30. Forby was previously the division chief of the office’s Plans, Personnel, Programs, and Procedures Division.
With its next-generation Next constellation starting to go into orbit, Iridium wants to modify its blanket earth station license to accommodate next-gen earth stations designed to work with it. In an International Bureau filing Thursday, the company said the first generation of the next-gen earth stations come in forms already associated with the existing earth station license, but the second generation is a "one size fits all" terminal, Iridium Certus, that will be used in land, sea and air applications in different operating modes.
The FCC Public Safety Bureau rejected a request by the County of Santa Clara, California, for a waiver so it can operate a T-Band (470-512 MHz) public safety land mobile radio system on frequency pair 482/485.3375 MHz at two locations. The FCC previously suspended processing of requests of the type the county seeks for operations in the T-band. The bureau cited the need to move forward on the repacking after the TV incentive auction. Granting the waiver “would further constrain the repacking process and would impede the Commission’s implementation of the Incentive Auction required by the Spectrum Act,” the bureau said in a Friday order. “We find that enforcement of the suspension in this instance would serve its stated purpose and the public interest.”
With its next-generation Next constellation starting to go into orbit, Iridium wants to modify its blanket earth station license to accommodate next-gen earth stations designed to work with it. In an International Bureau filing Thursday, the company said the first generation of the next-gen earth stations come in forms already associated with the existing earth station license, but the second generation is a "one size fits all" terminal, Iridium Certus, that will be used in land, sea and air applications in different operating modes.
Sandwich Isles Communications objected to disclosure of any information it filed with the FCC or Universal Service Administrative Co. on a USAC audit until SIC's pending request to revise a protective order is resolved (see 1703220043) and a "legally-compliant protective order" is in place. SIC didn't object to the intent of the existing protective order or the inclusion of many documents in the record, but had concerns about the scope of the safeguards and the process for handling objections to the disclosure of particular documents, said a filing posted Friday in docket 10-90. The carrier said AT&T, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, National Exchange Carrier Association and Hawaiian Telcom made filings acknowledging the confidentiality protections under the order, but only the DHHL is a "legitimate interested party." SIC said it gave counsel for DHHL and AT&T unredacted copies of the May 13, 2016, USAC audit report and the firm's response subject to the terms of the protective order despite its "fatal problems." The FCC in December hit SIC with $77 million in repayment duties and proposed fines for violations and apparently violation of the USF high-cost program (see 1612060032). In February, the agency sought comment on why it shouldn't move to revoke the carrier's authorizations (see 1702140063).