Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., who sank a bid by telecom-focused congressional leaders to attach a modified version of the chamber's version of the Spectrum Innovation Act (S-4117) and other related telecom priorities to the FY 2023 appropriations omnibus measure (see 2212190069), claimed Tuesday that DOD faced outside pressure to agree to back the proposal. Rounds vowed to continue opposing future attempts to weaken DOD's authority to manage its spectrum holdings.

Senate Commerce Committee leaders hadn’t resolved a longstanding disagreement Thursday night over how hoped-for compromise spectrum legislative language would structure repurposing parts of the 3.1-3.45 GHz band for commercial 5G use, a hurdle that could derail a bid to attach the proposal to an FY 2023 omnibus appropriations measure (see 2212070068). Those leaders made progress on some parts of the measure, including moving closer on amounts of spectrum auction revenue they will allocate to fully fund the FCC’s Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program and finance next-generation 911 tech upgrades.

The Nebraska Public Service Commission is preparing for the NTIA broadband, equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program, after receiving planning funds, Chair Dan Watermeier (R) told state senators Tuesday. The Nebraska Senate Transportation and Telecommunications Committee heard updates on state broadband and 911 upgrade efforts at a livestreamed hearing. Earlier that day, PSC commissioners opened a docket to administer Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund (CPF) broadband support through the Nebraska Broadband Bridge Program (NBBP).

The National Treasury Employees Union, which represents FCC employees, urged lawmakers Monday to either pass another continuing resolution to extend federal funding past Friday or enact FY 2023 appropriations legislation. Telecom-focused Hill leaders are eyeing whether an FY23 appropriations omnibus package can include broad spectrum legislative language and funding for two major priorities: the FCC’s Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program and next-generation 911 tech upgrades (see 2212070068). “NTEU and the employees we represent are grateful that congressional leaders say they are determined to avoid a shutdown, and we hope an agreement on funding can be reached quickly,” said National President Tony Reardon. “However, it wasn’t that long ago when an impasse forced a historic 35-day shutdown over the holidays, and employees who missed two consecutive paychecks have definitely not forgotten.” Federal employees “deserve to have the resources and staffing levels necessary to get the job done, which is why we will continue to fight for full-year appropriations that accommodate rising costs, additional mandates, growing workloads and new hiring,” Reardon said.

House Communications Subcommittee leaders are monitoring from afar Senate Commerce Committee negotiations on a potential compromise spectrum measure with an eye on the legislative clock as they question if a viable alternative to the existing Spectrum Innovation Act (HR-7624) is achievable amid the jam-packed lame-duck session. Fraught talks are underway aimed at reaching a deal on an FY 2023 appropriations omnibus package seen as a potential vehicle for passing spectrum legislation and allocating new funding for two bipartisan telecom priorities: the FCC’s Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program and next-generation 911 tech upgrades. Hill leaders released a compromise version of the FY 2023 National Defense Authorization Act Tuesday without language authorizing funding for the telecom priorities (see 2212070056).

Karima Holmes won’t return as 911 director for the District of Columbia’s Office of Unified Communications (OUC). Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) withdrew the controversial nomination Monday after D.C. Council members signaled they would reject confirmation. Bowser, Holmes and others fought to save the nomination before a Tuesday D.C. Council vote. Withdrawal was “overdue," D.C. 4B01 Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Evan Yeats said in an interview: "We wasted a lot of time and energy on this fight that could have been invested in improving OUC."

The FCC will consider an NPRM that would define digital discrimination and adopt best practices for states and local governments to combat it, during the commissioners' Dec. 21 meeting. Also on the agenda are an Enforcement Bureau action and NPRMs seeking comment on ways the FCC can facilitate acceptance of satellite and earth station applications under its Part 25 rules, on a proposal to require wireless carriers and text providers to use location-based routing to avoid misrouting wireless 911 calls and texts, and on proposed modifications to the Telecom Relay Service Fund.

The FCC will consider "specific proposals for preventing and eliminating digital discrimination" during the commissioners' Dec. 21 meeting, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said Tuesday. Commissioners will also consider changes to satellite application processing rules, a proposal on wireless 911 call routing, and a proposal to modify the Telecom Relay Service Fund compensation formula.

The FCC’s final order approving new outage reporting rules, approved 4-0 Thursday (see 2211170051), addresses at length concerns raised by CTIA and other industry commenters, based on a side-by-side comparison with the draft order. Because of a field hearing after the commissioners meeting Thursday, FCC staff didn’t have a press briefing on changes to the items while on the 10th floor. The order was released Friday.

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said Thursday more changes to FCC rules are possible, after Hurricanes Fiona and Ian, speaking at the start of a “field hearing” on some lessons learned from those storms. Rosenworcel noted the FCC held a similar hearing after Ida last year (see 2110260067) and later made the wireless industry’s voluntary resiliency cooperative framework mandatory and expanded roaming requirements. The framework was a hot topic at that hearing. The big topic at the Thursday hearing was improving coordination between power companies and communications providers.