Twenty states and territories have received extensions from NTIA to file their revised final proposals for the $42.5 billion BEAD program, with deadlines now staggered through late October after 36 of 56 eligible entities submitted plans by the Sept. 4 cutoff (see 2509050028).
The 3rd Generation Partnership Project’s initial approval of non-terrestrial network (NTN) technology as part of terrestrial networks was critical to the growth of satellite connections, experts said Tuesday during an RCR Wireless virtual forum. They agreed that the opportunities offered by NTN are just starting, with significant growth expected.
The FCC dropping its twin probes against EchoStar seemingly shows that the agency is all for EchoStar selling its AWS-4 and H-block spectrum to SpaceX and its 3.45 GHz and 600 MHz licenses to AT&T, wireless and spectrum experts told us. Some also said the SpaceX deal could open the door to the satellite operator becoming a wireless competitor.
Some top lawmakers indicated in recent interviews that they lack a clear plan to fund next-generation 911 tech upgrades, months after Congress decided against allocating future spectrum auction revenue for them in the budget reconciliation package, previously known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (see 2507080065). NG911 advocates said they expect that the lack of an alternative will come up during Tuesday's House Communications Subcommittee hearing on public safety communications issues. The hearing is also likely to address a looming legislative renewal of FirstNet that must happen before the existing mandate expires in February 2027 (see 2509030058).
FCC commissioners are expected to take up an item next month that will reopen the agency’s prison-calling rules, approved last summer (see 2407180039), it said in a filing Sunday at the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The court is considering the order's legality and in July declined to hold the case in abeyance (see 2507160027).
The FCC will vote at its Sept. 30 open meeting on an NPRM that would kick off its 2022 quadrennial review of broadcast ownership rules, Chairman Brendan Carr said Monday in a blog post. Commissioners will also consider the NPRM looking at allowing correctional facilities to jam cellphone signals, which Carr unveiled Friday at a news conference in Arkansas (see 2509050055).
In a move that could shape the non-terrestrial network (NTN) market, EchoStar announced an agreement Monday to sell SpaceX its AWS-4 and H-block spectrum for about $17 billion, equally divided between cash and stock. The companies also agreed to enable EchoStar's Boost Mobile subscribers to access Starlink’s direct-to-cell service, and SpaceX will underwrite $2 billion in interest payments payable on EchoStar debt through November 2027. Industry officials acknowledged there are numerous unanswered questions about the deal and how it will be viewed by the FCC.
NTIA faces a pressing deadline to review BEAD final proposals and start distributing money to states and territories, broadband policy experts told us. The agency committed Friday to approving at least some final proposals by year-end.
AT&T will be able to deploy the 3.45 GHz spectrum that it plans to buy from EchoStar almost immediately after regulators clear the purchase, said Jenifer Robertson, AT&T's general manager of mass markets, at a Citi financial conference Thursday. AT&T CFO Pascal Desroches said at a Bank of America conference that the company was immediately interested in the spectrum when it became clear that EchoStar might sell some of its large portfolio.
Verizon, Frontier and the Communications Workers of America (CWA) reached a settlement that they said protects workers and customers as Verizon seeks approval to acquire Frontier in a $20 billion all-cash deal. They asked the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to adopt the agreement in a joint motion posted Thursday (docket A-24-10-006).