Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel slammed the 2017 version of the FCC’s mobile wireless competition report, approved 3-2 Tuesday in a party-line vote. Both questioned whether wireless in parts of the U.S. is genuinely competitive. During the Obama administration, the FCC repeatedly declined to determine there's effective competition in the U.S. wireless market. The new report says there is. The disagreement was expected and has been a topic of contention between Republicans and Democrats (see 1709220049).

A pending FCC spectrum frontiers order is widely expected to resolve issues teed up in a July 2016 Further NPRM, while authorizing additional bands for 5G, industry officials agree. Chairman Ajit Pai promised the order was on its way, at CTIA last week (see 1709120058). The FCC likely also will propose rules for spectrum above 95 GHz in another FNPRM, we're told.

A pending FCC spectrum frontiers order is widely expected to resolve issues teed up in a July 2016 Further NPRM, while authorizing additional bands for 5G, industry officials agree. Chairman Ajit Pai promised the order was on its way, at CTIA last week (see 1709120058). The FCC likely also will propose rules for spectrum above 95 GHz in another FNPRM, we're told.

A pending FCC spectrum frontiers order is widely expected to resolve issues teed up in a July 2016 Further NPRM, while authorizing additional bands for 5G, industry officials agree. Chairman Ajit Pai promised the order was on its way, at CTIA last week (see 1709120058). The FCC likely also will propose rules for spectrum above 95 GHz in another FNPRM, we're told.

The FCC addressed questions it raised in June when it approved rules for states to opt out of FirstNet (see 1706220019). Friday's order largely adopts what FirstNet requested (see 1707190017) and was a win for the nascent network, public safety officials said. The FCC said it would adopt recommendations from FirstNet on the use of access point names (APNs). These “requirements are consistent with industry standards for LTE deployment, resulting in an understandable and achievable benchmark,” the order said. “No party disputes FirstNet’s arguments or proposes a viable alternative standard … in response to FirstNet’s proposal.” Chairman Ajit Pai said the FCC made the right moves. “As communities devastated by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma begin the hard work of rebuilding, our work at the Commission to promote public safety continues,” Pai said. “We take another step towards the creation of a nationwide interoperable public safety broadband network.” Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel noted the order was her first recorded vote as a returning commissioner.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is facing criticism for not doing more in reaction to racism following events in Charlottesville, Virginia, last month where white supremacists held a rally and an anti-racism marcher was killed. Former federal officials who attended last month's Aspen Institute communications conference said there was buzz that Pai should convene a diversity summit.

The numbers of cell sites and radio stations knocked out by Tropical Storm Harvey and of cable and wireline customers without service (see 1708290029) is dropping, though the number of TV stations off air has ticked up, the FCC said Wednesday in its latest status report. The agency is receiving some kudos for its storm-related response and some criticism for its wireless emergency upgrade proceeding. Companies are stepping up aid.

Lawmakers and communications sector officials lauded Senate passage Thursday of six long-stalled telecom bills, including the Mobile Now Act (S-19) spectrum bill. The Senate approved the legislation as part of a deal to confirm Jessica Rosenworcel and Brendan Carr as FCC commissioners (see 1708030060). The other telecom bills approved were the Developing Innovation and Growing the Internet of Things Act (S-88), Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act (S-96), Kari’s Law Act (S-123), Spoofing Prevention Act (S-134) and FCC Consolidated Reporting Act (S-174). The bills’ passage “brings us a step closer to increasing access to spectrum that powers our 21st century tech economy, improving the quality and reliability of phone calls in rural communities, removing barriers to dialing 911 in emergencies, and cutting inefficiencies in federal bureaucracy,” said Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D. CTA President Gary Shapiro urged the House to “swiftly pass” S-19, saying it would “create better mobile broadband for us all, spurring developments in cellular 5G technologies and securing our wireless future.” S-19 “will help ensure more spectrum is made available,” said Competitive Carriers Association President Steve Berry. The bill “recognizes the importance of deploying wireless broadband services in rural areas and endeavors to streamline deployment challenges, particularly on federal lands, which unfortunately have oftentimes plagued competitive carriers.” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Deb Fischer, R-Neb., praised passage of S-123, which addresses direct dialing to 911. S-123 and House companion HR-582, which passed the House in January (see 1701230071), mean "Americans will one day be able to call 911 and reach first responders without having to dial an access code,” said Pai. S-123 “would ensure families can call for the help they need,” said Fischer, who was a main sponsor of that bill, S-88 and S-134.

Lawmakers and communications sector officials lauded Senate passage Thursday of six long-stalled telecom bills, including the Mobile Now Act (S-19) spectrum bill. The Senate approved the legislation as part of a deal to confirm Jessica Rosenworcel and Brendan Carr as FCC commissioners (see 1708030060). The other telecom bills approved were the Developing Innovation and Growing the Internet of Things Act (S-88), Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act (S-96), Kari’s Law Act (S-123), Spoofing Prevention Act (S-134) and FCC Consolidated Reporting Act (S-174). The bills’ passage “brings us a step closer to increasing access to spectrum that powers our 21st century tech economy, improving the quality and reliability of phone calls in rural communities, removing barriers to dialing 911 in emergencies, and cutting inefficiencies in federal bureaucracy,” said Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D. CTA President Gary Shapiro urged the House to “swiftly pass” S-19, saying it would “create better mobile broadband for us all, spurring developments in cellular 5G technologies and securing our wireless future.” S-19 “will help ensure more spectrum is made available,” said Competitive Carriers Association President Steve Berry. The bill “recognizes the importance of deploying wireless broadband services in rural areas and endeavors to streamline deployment challenges, particularly on federal lands, which unfortunately have oftentimes plagued competitive carriers.” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Deb Fischer, R-Neb., praised passage of S-123, which addresses direct dialing to 911. S-123 and House companion HR-582, which passed the House in January (see 1701230071), mean "Americans will one day be able to call 911 and reach first responders without having to dial an access code,” said Pai. S-123 “would ensure families can call for the help they need,” said Fischer, who was a main sponsor of that bill, S-88 and S-134.

Lawmakers and communications sector officials lauded Senate passage Thursday of six long-stalled telecom bills, including the Mobile Now Act (S-19) spectrum bill. The Senate approved the legislation as part of a deal to confirm Jessica Rosenworcel and Brendan Carr as FCC commissioners (see 1708030060). The other telecom bills approved were the Developing Innovation and Growing the Internet of Things Act (S-88), Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act (S-96), Kari’s Law Act (S-123), Spoofing Prevention Act (S-134) and FCC Consolidated Reporting Act (S-174). The bills’ passage “brings us a step closer to increasing access to spectrum that powers our 21st century tech economy, improving the quality and reliability of phone calls in rural communities, removing barriers to dialing 911 in emergencies, and cutting inefficiencies in federal bureaucracy,” said Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D. CTA President Gary Shapiro urged the House to “swiftly pass” S-19, saying it would “create better mobile broadband for us all, spurring developments in cellular 5G technologies and securing our wireless future.” S-19 “will help ensure more spectrum is made available,” said Competitive Carriers Association President Steve Berry. The bill “recognizes the importance of deploying wireless broadband services in rural areas and endeavors to streamline deployment challenges, particularly on federal lands, which unfortunately have oftentimes plagued competitive carriers.” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Deb Fischer, R-Neb., praised passage of S-123, which addresses direct dialing to 911. S-123 and House companion HR-582, which passed the House in January (see 1701230071), mean "Americans will one day be able to call 911 and reach first responders without having to dial an access code,” said Pai. S-123 “would ensure families can call for the help they need,” said Fischer, who was a main sponsor of that bill, S-88 and S-134.