The telecom industry pressed for one-touch, make-ready (OTMR) in comments received Thursday at the California Public Utilities Commission. However, union workers and the CPUC’s enforcement division continued to cite safety concerns about the proposal in docket R.17-06-028. The CPUC may vote Oct. 20 on the proposed decision (PD) to update pole attachment rules (see 2209160074).
The growing demand for fiber due to broadband, equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program spending shouldn't mean a shortage of or difficulty for broadband providers in procuring fiber, we were told. Fiber interests say a shortage of labor to do installation work is likely more pressing.
A White House official called for more predictability in how spectrum decisions are made, at a Silicon Flatirons spectrum conference Friday. Austin Bonner, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy assistant director-spectrum and telecom policy, said she has had meetings with “dozens” of spectrum stakeholders about how policy could change. The administration is moving toward release of a national spectrum strategy, which the Trump administration promised but never delivered (see 2209190061).
The Wireless Infrastructure Association is continuing its push, started under former President Jonathan Adelstein (see 2204180045), to ensure that wireless has a big role to play as the federal government awards more than $48 billion in connectivity money through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, new President Patrick Halley said in an interview. WIA was among the groups that raised concerns NTIA is putting too much emphasis on fiber, in contravention of the direction from Congress when it created the broadband, equity, access and deployment program (see 2205130054).
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., raised concerns Thursday about the Standard General/Tegna deal amid the FCC's ongoing review of the proposed purchase (see 2209200057). "We are concerned that this transaction would violate the FCC’s mandate by restricting access to local news coverage, cutting jobs at local television stations, and raising prices on consumers," the House leaders said in a letter to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. The leaders' claims followed the FCC Media Bureau's request last week for additional information on Standard/Tegna, its second inquiry on the proposed transaction.
Interest in ISP M&A deals is increasing, driven largely by the flood of broadband, equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program funding set to come to providers in a couple of years, communications lawyers with transaction experience told us. The focus is particularly on fiber operators, with fiber being a big focus of BEAD.
A draft notice of inquiry on 12.7-13.25 GHz portrays the band as potentially providing part of the answer to the wireless industry’s quest for more mid-band to refill the spectrum pipeline. The NOI was among four items Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel circulated Thursday for a vote at the Oct. 27 commissioners' meeting (see 2210050065). Also circulated: a Further NPRM that would give two more years of life to the FCC’s support for wireless carriers in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands rebuilding after the 2017 hurricanes, an NPRM on emergency alerting, and a Stir/Shaken NOI.
The FCC should act now to ensure the Universal Service Fund remains sustainable once programs funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act are fully implemented, panelists said during a Broadband Breakfast webinar Wednesday. Some disagreed about whether the FCC should expand the contribution base to include broadband internet access service (BIAS) or wait for Congressional action.
Wireless carriers remain hopeful on the outlook for the 3.1-3.45 GHz band, despite recent comments by John Sherman, DOD chief information officer, about the high costs and long time frame for clearing the spectrum (see 2209190061). Industry experts note spectrum in recent FCC auctions has come with some protection for incumbent users, which will likely also be the case for 3.1 GHz.
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel will seek a vote on a proposal to provide additional support for communications networks in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, to make them more resilient, at the commission’s Oct. 27 meeting, Rosenworcel blogged Wednesday. The FCC will also consider a 13 GHz notice of inquiry and an NPRM aimed at making emergency alerting more secure. An item on Stir/Shaken rounds out the agenda.