Commissioners will vote on a follow-up open radio access network order at their Aug. 5 meeting, acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel told the FCC ORAN showcase. Commissioners will decide on designating Boston and Raleigh as innovation zones for testing 5G and ORAN technologies, she said. Rosenworcel laid out the rest of the meeting agenda in a blog post later Wednesday. It includes items on robocalls, updating political programming regulations and recordkeeping rules for low-power radio services.
Oklahoma could soon join a small and growing list of states adopting USF connections-based contributions. In Oregon, parties are discussing other rule changes, and in Texas, small rural LECs are taking the Public Utility Commission to court for not fully funding USF. Other states mulling changes include California and Kentucky.
The Commerce Department is prioritizing regulation that protects intellectual property, human rights and privacy without slowing innovation, Secretary Gina Raimondo said Tuesday. Various legislators and officials at a National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence summit called for international cooperation, investment and for setting artificial intelligence standards.
Commissioners OK’d a Further NPRM proposing revised rules for short-range radars in the 60 GHz band 4-0 Tuesday, as expected (see 2107090047). But Commissioner Brendan Carr questioned whether the FCC is moving aggressively enough on opening spectrum for 5G and unlicensed use. The FNPRM explores new rules for the 57-64 GHz portion and asks questions about using the broader 57-71 GHz band.
Commissioners OK’d modifying FCC rules for the $1.9 billion program for removing Huawei and ZTE gear from carrier networks 4-0 Tuesday, as expected (see 2107070052). Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced an Oct. 29 “target date” for opening this window. “Carriers can start planning for their applications and their new networks." she said: "There’s a lot of work to do."
The bulk of FCC staff won’t return to the office until the FCC completes negotiations with its employee union, but talks haven’t been scheduled, per the National Treasury Employees Union and an Office of Personnel Management memo. Other agencies said they're trying to figure out their own return to their headquarters.
The House Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Subcommittee advanced by voice vote Monday its FY 2022 funding bill, which would usher in major increases in funding in FY 2022 for NTIA and other Commerce Department agencies in line with President Joe Biden’s proposed budget (see 2105280055). The Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee, meanwhile, unanimously advanced its FY 2022 measure with an increase in annual funding for CPB in line with what public broadcasting advocates are seeking (see 2102220070). It's more than what Biden asked for. [Editor's note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly said CPB would get less than what Biden requested.] A full committee markup of both measures will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in 1100 Longworth.
Some low-power TV broadcasters are rushing to prepare for the FCC sunset deadline for low-power analog broadcasts Tuesday. Even so, the DTV switchover isn’t considered likely to affect many viewers, station owners and industry officials told us. “There’s really a lot of stations out there,” said Advanced Television Broadcasting Alliance CEO Lee Miller. “It is hard to imagine there are still people out there with analog televisions,” said attorney Michael Couzens, who represents the National Translator Association.
The FTC and DOJ will work to update mergers and acquisitions guidelines and begin interagency collaboration directed in President Joe Biden’s executive order, FTC Chair Lina Khan and Attorney General Merrick Garland responded to the EO Friday. Democratic senators and consumer groups welcomed Biden’s call for more vigorous and modernized antitrust. Industry groups shot back. See a news bulletin here and 2107090063 for the EO's telecom provisions.
FCC commissioners are expected to OK a draft NPRM 4-0 on Tuesday proposing revised rules and “expanded operational flexibility” for unlicensed sensors in the 57-64 GHz band. This 60 GHz NPRM hasn’t been controversial and there has been relatively little outreach to or discussion among commissioner offices, officials said. Some tweaks are under consideration addressing the few filings made since the draft circulated, officials said.