An objection from Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., appears to have all but killed a deal telecom-focused congressional leaders struck over the weekend to attach modified language from the Senate version of the Spectrum Innovation Act (S-4117) to a planned FY 2023 appropriations omnibus package, a congressional aide and several communications industry lobbyists told us Monday. Another short-term renewal of the FCC’s auction authority is, however, still expected to be in the package, lobbyists said. Hill leaders were expected to release the omnibus’ text Monday, but it still wasn’t available that afternoon.
Given the exploding space economy and rocketing demand for FCC regulatory reviews of space-related matters, the commission hopes to create a Space Bureau, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said Thursday. A stand-alone Office of International Affairs also would be set up, she said. The chairwoman's office didn't comment on its hoped-for time frame for an agency reorganization. At a Satellite Industry Association organized event announcing the reorg, Rosenworcel aide Umair Javed said the chairwoman's office has already begun discussions with lawmakers and unions. The commission has applications representing 64,000 satellites pending before it, while it has seen an eightfold increase in the past year for fixed satellite service earth stations, she said.
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel circulated for a vote Wednesday an order and NPRM on the 4.9 GHz band, industry and FCC officials confirmed. The item wasn't circulated for action at the FCC’s Nov. 17 meeting. The order would establish a national band manager, which would govern the leasing process in the band, and the NPRM asks for feedback on details of how the leasing process could work, officials said. The order would allow public safety to interrupt any commercial operations. In May 2021, shortly after becoming acting chair, Rosenworcel got the FCC to stay a 2020 order that gave states control over how the band is used (see 2105270071), over a dissent by Commissioner Brendan Carr. Both Rosenworcel and fellow Democrat Geoffrey Starks had opposed the earlier order (see 2009300050). In September 2021, commissioners asked new questions in a Further NPRM (see 2109300053).
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said Monday she will seek a vote on a 12 GHz for 5G notice of inquiry at the commission’s Oct. 27 open meeting. Rosenworcel told NTIA’s Spectrum Policy Symposium she shared a draft NOI with NTIA earlier this month.
Competitive Carriers Association President Steve Berry will retire at the end of the year, citing health reasons, the group announced Wednesday. Berry will be replaced by Tim Donovan, now the group's senior vice president-legislative affairs, CCA said. CCA Senior Vice President Lucy Tutwiler Hodas is being named chief operating officer. Berry joined the group 13 years ago when it was still the Rural Cellular Association. He was formerly a top lobbyist for NTCA and CTIA.
T-Mobile, as expected, dominated the 2.5 GHz auction (see 2208300021), winning 7,156 licenses for $304.3 million, the FCC announced Thursday. The auction had gross proceeds of $427.8 million. PTI Pacifica was the second-highest bidder, at $17.7 million. TeleGuam Holdings bid $16.6 million. By number of licenses won, the No. 2 bidder was North American Catholic Educational Programming Foundation, with 107. The FCC said 63 bidders won a total of 7,872 licenses.
The FCC’s 2.5 GHz auction ended Monday, after 73 bidding rounds, hitting net proceeds of $427.8 million. The FCC found winning bidders for 7,872 of the 8,017 licenses offered. New Street’s Phillip Burnett predicted the imminent closing in a Sunday note to investors. “Assuming the auction ends this week, we should get results about a week following close, putting us in the ‘early-to mid-September’ timeframe,” he said.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit Friday upheld the FCC’s 2020 5.9 GHz order, allocating 45 MHz of the band for Wi-Fi and 30 MHz for cellular vehicle-to-everything technology. In January oral argument, judges appeared sympathetic to the FCC in a case brought by ITS America and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
The FCC’s 2.5 GHz auction rose above $200 million Thursday, hitting $208.2 million after two bidding rounds for the day. Sasha Javid, BitPath chief operating officer, predicted Wednesday the auction would hit that mark Thursday but questioned whether total bids will rise above $300 million. The auction started July 29. Two more rounds are scheduled for Thursday.
Senate Democratic leaders have abandoned talk of seeking a vote this week to discharge FCC nominee Gigi Sohn from the Commerce Committee’s jurisdiction, panel Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., told us Thursday night. Democratic leaders had earlier been eyeing whether they could pursue a discharge vote this week because all 50 Democratic caucus members were available and a handful of Republicans were absent from the chamber.