FCC Could Still Tinker With Incentive Auction Transition Deadline, O'Rielly Says

“Kudos to those wireless carriers who have invested in tower companies to increase tower and antenna construction, and expedite installation and deployment efforts,” O’Rielly said. “While some are rightfully concerned about the ability to meet the current deadlines, I think it is not irrational that we wait to see how the first stages go before jumping to any premature conclusions. If it looks like we cannot meet the 39-month time frame, at some point, we can reassess. In the meantime, I suggest that everyone should take a deep breath as we head down the repack path together.”

O’Rielly said he's disappointed the FCC still hasn't addressed twilight towers, built between March 2001 and March 2005 and never required to go through a historic preservation review process. As a result, no antennas can collocate on the towers. O’Rielly raised the issue in a speech before the group two years ago (see 1504280036). Nothing has happened, he said Tuesday. “It defies explanation that we have not resolved an issue that we have known about for 12 years.”

“While I have had success moving some policy initiatives at the commission, I certainly wouldn’t use the terms ‘quick’ or ‘efficient’ to label our current processes,” O’Rielly said. “Every once in a while, a well-timed blog or speech result[s] in an item, progress or a worthwhile discussion. But, immense progress has been unfortunately slow afoot in the infrastructure world.”

Rachael Bender, aide to Chairman Ajit Pai, said her boss wants to put more emphasis on economics in infrastructure and elsewhere. “We have a lot of really great economists,” Bender said. “We want to make sure that they have a seat at the table.” In April, Pai called for launching an Office of Economics and Data (OED) (see 1704050047). Bender spoke on a panel with O’Rielly aide Erin McGrath and Daudeline Meme, aide to Commissioner Mignon Clyburn.

Meme said if the FCC puts more emphasis on economics, the commission majority needs to listen to the economists. “It’s important for the data to support the rulemaking or the decisions that are being made and, how do I put this delicately, not have a predetermined outcome and then find the data to support it,” she said. “The hope is this office will be autonomous and will be able to work with the numbers and not necessarily think about the policy.” Clyburn recently met with the team of economists looking at the need for an OED, Meme said.

Bender said the FCC is moving toward an auction of high-frequency spectrum. The FCC also is moving to clear more bands for 5G, she said: ”We’re actively working on it. The bands are really exciting because it’s something we haven’t done before.”

McGrath said O’Rielly is looking very closely at wireless siting issues. He's "looking at everything,” she said. “We are kind of informed by what industry is telling us and what they say their biggest problems are.” McGrath said she hears the most complaints about right-of-way issues, including “delays, fees, access.” Infrastructure issues are for the most part interrelated and need to be addressed together, McGrath said.

On infrastructure issues, Clyburn wants concerns of local officials to be taken seriously, Meme said. “Municipalities differ widely from West Coast to East Coast, north to south,” she said. “Hopefully, as we go along, the voices of the localities will be heard.” Clyburn agrees with concerns raised by cities (see 1705220025) that there is only a single mayor on the Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (BDAC), Meme said.