The Joe Biden administration could be poised to take an action the Donald Trump White House tried but wasn’t able to complete and release a national spectrum strategy, industry officials familiar with the administration’s work on the issue told us. That follows what could be key meeting in May at the Aspen Institute. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson participated in the two-day session, which focused specifically on a national strategy.

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel responded Thursday to comments about the need for her office to work out an agreement with the union representing agency employees to get more staff back to in-person work (see 2208030046). Rosenworcel “is being very thoughtful about return-to-work policies, and has consistently prioritized the health and safety of FCC employees in planning next steps in our phased reopening,” a spokesperson emailed.

The FCC’s final scheduled 5G auction, of 2.5 GHz spectrum, opened Friday at $103.5 million after one round of bidding. Two more rounds are scheduled for Monday. Industry analysts tell us T-Mobile looks likely to dominate, filling in gaps in its 2.5 GHz holdings, with some smaller carriers likely to jump in if they see the opportunity for a bargain. Verizon, AT&T and Dish Network qualified to bid but appear unlikely to make much of a play, analysts said. T-Mobile already has 159 MHz of 2.5 GHz spectrum nationwide.

Democratic leaders on the House and Senate Commerce committees aren’t fully discounting the possibility the panels could devote some time to evaluating the newly filed Net Neutrality and Broadband Justice Act during the remaining months of this Congress, but some acknowledge any serious consideration of the measure will likely have to wait until 2023 at the earliest. Democratic leaders bristled at some Republicans’ view that lawmakers unveiled the measure as a reaction to FCC nominee Gigi Sohn’s stalled Senate confirmation process (see 2206230066).

Key FCC decisions on the 5.9 GHz band appear to be on hold, pending a U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruling on a case challenging the commission's 2020 order reallocating the spectrum. Judges heard oral arguments six months ago and appeared to be sympathetic to the FCC (see 2201250066).

Crisis call centers around the nation are seeing increases in traffic since the official launch of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (see 2207150036), with steeper growth expected to follow. Some crisis centers said the promotion of 988 for any mental health crisis intervention and not just suicide prevention will likely be a big driver of increased communications volumes over time.

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel circulated a notice of inquiry Friday on "increasing the national standard for minimum broadband speeds and proposed setting a long-term goal for broadband speed," said a news release. The NOI would "kick off the agency’s annual evaluation of the state of broadband across the country." Rosenworcel proposed setting the national broadband standard at 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload. “The needs of internet users long ago surpassed the FCC’s 25/3 speed metric, especially during a global health pandemic that moved so much of life online,” Rosenworcel said: “The 25/3 metric isn’t just behind the times, it’s a harmful one because it masks the extent to which low-income neighborhoods and rural communities are being left behind and left offline." If adopted, Rosenworcel's proposal would set the national broadband speed at 1 Gbps/500 Mbps in the future. The FCC in 2015 updated the broadband speed to 25/3 Mbps. Rosenworcel also proposed that the commission "consider affordability, adoption, availability, and equitable access as part of its determination as to whether broadband is being deployed in a reasonable and timely fashion." "We applaud Chairwoman Rosenworcel’s announcement today that she is proposing to increase the national standard for minimum broadband speeds and to set a long-term objective as well," said NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield. Incompas is "pleased" Rosenworcel took the "important first step toward increasing internet speed benchmarks, and we encourage the entire FCC to think bigger and bolder by setting gigabit goals," said CEO Chip Pickering: "The US invented the internet, but we have fallen behind China, Europe and other nations who have set much higher standards than are currently being proposed." “Ensuring that today’s internet speeds are sufficient for current and future use has been a persistent challenge in the urgent effort to bridge the digital divide," said a National Rural Electric Cooperative Association spokesperson. Friday's announcement is "a strong step in the right direction."

FCC commissioners approved 4-0 a new enhanced competition incentive program, with only minor changes, as expected. Some industry observers questioned how much good ECIP will do, but commissioners expressed hope the program will help promote wireless deployment (see 2207110036). The monthly meeting Thursday was the first to be opened to the public since February 2020.

FCC rules creating the enhanced competition incentive program haven’t been controversial since circulated by Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and are expected to be approved Thursday with minimal changes, industry and FCC officials said. The rules proposed don’t differ significantly from what was in a November Further NPRM (see 2111180071). Industry observers see a lack of enthusiasm on the program.

The FCC Wireless Bureau waived the tribal-specific interim and final performance deadlines for all 2.5 GHz rural tribal priority window licensees. Tribal window licensees still must make an interim showing within four years of the initial license grant and a final showing within eight years, though “they need not wait until the relevant deadlines approach to make their filings,” the bureau said Friday. The FCC had required an interim showing within two years, the final showing within five. So far, the bureau said it has granted 335 licenses to entities “representing more than 350 unique Tribes in 30 states.” The bureau said it took the step because of problems beyond the control of the tribes. “While the COVID-19 pandemic made clear the vital importance of broadband to Tribal communities, it also disproportionally impacted Tribes, resulting in personnel and resource barriers that have exacerbated existing challenges to deploying communications services in those communities,” the waiver order said: “Supply chain issues have made it more difficult for some Tribes to obtain wireless and related infrastructure equipment, and increased prices for the equipment that is available.” The application window closed in September 2020 (see 2008210050). Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks, Public Knowledge and tribal groups pushed for keeping the window open longer due to the COVID-19 pandemic (see 2007310066).