The FCC understands the promise broadband access offers for low-income households, Wireline Bureau Chief Matt DelNero said in a commission blog Monday. It noted the beginning of Lifeline Awareness Week and commended state regulators for making the program work for low-income users and telecom ratepayers who fund it through USF fees. "Broadband can help families fully engage in civic life and meaningfully access health services, job opportunities, and educational resources," wrote DelNero. "All network users benefit when everyone, regardless of income level, can communicate and innovate through broadband access." DelNero said initial comments (see 1509010073 and 1509040045) on proposals in the Further NPRM to expand Lifeline to broadband and promote program efficiency "reveal the remarkable variety of ways that broadband can enrich and transform lives," including by bringing better communications access to people with disabilities, children doing homework, parents needing information about state programs, and people living on tribal lands. Replies are due Sept. 30.
The FCC understands the promise broadband access offers for low-income households, Wireline Bureau Chief Matt DelNero said in a commission blog Monday. It noted the beginning of Lifeline Awareness Week and commended state regulators for making the program work for low-income users and telecom ratepayers who fund it through USF fees. "Broadband can help families fully engage in civic life and meaningfully access health services, job opportunities, and educational resources," wrote DelNero. "All network users benefit when everyone, regardless of income level, can communicate and innovate through broadband access." DelNero said initial comments (see 1509010073 and 1509040045) on proposals in the Further NPRM to expand Lifeline to broadband and promote program efficiency "reveal the remarkable variety of ways that broadband can enrich and transform lives," including by bringing better communications access to people with disabilities, children doing homework, parents needing information about state programs, and people living on tribal lands. Replies are due Sept. 30.
One more roadblock was removed Friday as the Texas Public Utility Commission approved during its meeting Frontier Communications’ and Verizon's joint application to amend the certificate of operating authority transferring Verizon wireline holdings to Frontier. It's the only Texas regulatory approval needed for Frontier’s proposed acquisition of Verizon's wireline networks in California, Florida and Texas and follows a recent FCC OK (see 1509030063). While there weren’t any intervening parties in docket No. 44630, one association hoped the deal would be approved with a few more conditions. The two companies are now waiting only on approval from California authorities (see 1509090062).
One more roadblock was removed Friday as the Texas Public Utility Commission approved during its meeting Frontier Communications’ and Verizon's joint application to amend the certificate of operating authority transferring Verizon wireline holdings to Frontier. It's the only Texas regulatory approval needed for Frontier’s proposed acquisition of Verizon's wireline networks in California, Florida and Texas and follows a recent FCC OK (see 1509030063). While there weren’t any intervening parties in docket No. 44630, one association hoped the deal would be approved with a few more conditions. The two companies are now waiting only on approval from California authorities (see 1509090062).
The Wireless Innovation Act (S-1618) could serve as foundation for a broader legislative push from the Senate Commerce Committee on spectrum, Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., said in an interview over the weekend. The Commerce Committee held one hearing on spectrum policy in July and tentatively plans another soon, circulating Oct. 7 at 10 a.m. as one likely date and time (see 1509090047). Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., has emphasized a goal for eventual legislation and talked about the need to free up more spectrum.
The FCC should streamline the process for deploying broadband infrastructure on federal land, FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai said during a “Fireside Chat” at the Montana High Tech Jobs Summit Monday with Commissioner Mike O’Rielly and Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont. Streamlining deployment approval on federal lands could speed up the process of spreading broadband throughout the country’s rural areas, Pai said. “Ubiquitous broadband” is a key to helping rural areas compete in the global economy, Pai said. The commissioners also discussed disruptive innovation, net neutrality and the TV incentive auction. The event also featured a panel on spectrum and the wireless economy that included policy officials from Charter Communications and NAB.
The FCC should streamline the process for deploying broadband infrastructure on federal land, FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai said during a “Fireside Chat” at the Montana High Tech Jobs Summit Monday with Commissioner Mike O’Rielly and Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont. Streamlining deployment approval on federal lands could speed up the process of spreading broadband throughout the country’s rural areas, Pai said. “Ubiquitous broadband” is a key to helping rural areas compete in the global economy, Pai said. The commissioners also discussed disruptive innovation, net neutrality and the TV incentive auction. The event also featured a panel on spectrum and the wireless economy that included policy officials from Charter Communications and NAB.
The Wireless Innovation Act (S-1618) could serve as foundation for a broader legislative push from the Senate Commerce Committee on spectrum, Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., said in an interview over the weekend. The Commerce Committee held one hearing on spectrum policy in July and tentatively plans another soon, circulating Oct. 7 at 10 a.m. as one likely date and time (see 1509090047). Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., has emphasized a goal for eventual legislation and talked about the need to free up more spectrum.
The Land Mobile Communications Council received more public-safety support for its proposal for interstitial channel interference contours in the 800 MHz band (809-817/854-862 MHz), this time from the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council. "The matrix developed by the LMCC incorporates protection contour values to be applied to and from all known technologies operating in the 800 MHz band," the NPSTC said in comments filed in FCC docket 15-32. "NPSTC believes the LMCC recommendations will serve public safety and the overall land mobile community well to protect systems on existing channels and allow implementation of new interstitial channels that provide more spectrum opportunities." APCO had tentatively supported LMCC's proposal and Mobile Relay Associates had supported most of it (see 1509100075).
APCO provided tentative support for 800 MHz interstitial channel interference contours proposed by the Land Mobile Communications Council. APCO noted in FCC docket 15-32 that LMCC proposed "interference contours to apply when stations of various modulation types are operated on interstitial channels (12.5 kHz spacing) adjacent to 'standard' (25 kHz spacing) stations operating with various modulation types." APCO said it appreciated the LMCC efforts and believes the "proposed contours can be workable" but said they're untested. "We would encourage manufacturers to submit test reports into the record to verify that no interference would result from new interstitial operations," APCO said. "As noted by the Public Safety Communications Council (of which APCO is a member), APCO would support use of tile-based matrix studies using TSB-88 methods when the proposed operations of a public safety applicant fail a contour analysis. APCO supports the proposed interference contours consistent with the comments herein." Mobile Relay Associates said it supported most of the LMCC proposal but said one part of it was inconsistent with the rest of the proposal and decades of public policy. "That one portion of the LMCC proposal is its proposed treatment of instances where there is absolutely no spectral overlap between the incumbent station and the proposed station," MRA said. "Neither the Commission nor the LMCC has ever required an interference analysis when there is a complete absence of spectral overlap, and, as to very narrowband 4 kHz emissions in particular, there is a plethora of real-world experience proving that interference to incumbent stations does not exist in the absence of spectral overlap."