Ligado hopes to have its L-band spectrum deployed terrestrially within 18 months, now that it has FCC approval (see 2004200039), CEO Doug Smith told us Wednesday. Senate Armed Services Committee leaders are eyeing a hearing next week on DOD opposition to the FCC’s Ligado decision, Capitol Hill aides and lobbyists told us.
A 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel Tuesday was skeptical about DOJ arguments to seal a lower court’s ruling blocking the agency's attempt to force Facebook to break Messenger encryption. Judges Margaret McKeown, Randy Smith and Jacqueline Nguyen questioned the potential harm to investigations, while weighing the public’s right to access. Livestreamed argument was in ACLU Foundation v. DOJ (19-15472, in Pacer).
There's no consensus whether mobile and fixed communications services are complementary or substitutes in docket 20-60 comments this week for the FCC's communications market competitiveness report to Congress. The agency got requests for further smoothing access to poles and rights of way for wireline broadband access.
The FCC should consider making permanent temporary spectrum assignments it approved in reaction to COVID-19, and in a way that treats everyone fairly, Commissioner Brendan Carr said during a Forum Europe webinar Tuesday. Carr said U.S. networks are doing well under this “surprise stress test.”
With COVID-19 disproportionately affecting minority and disadvantaged communities, the FCC Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment's working groups adjusted their focus to grapple with the pandemic, according to work plans presented Tuesday at the group’s teleconferenced first meeting under its new charter. Along with reacting to the virus, the committee’s working groups laid out plans for workshops and events aimed at increasing diversity among communications companies. “When the country catches a cold, the most vulnerable catch the flu,” said Brookings Institution Fellow Nicol Turner-Lee and Diversity in Tech WG chair.
The auto industry tried a new way Tuesday to preserve 5.9 GHz for safety. The Auto Innovation Alliance said it reached a “landmark consensus” on how the band could be used by vehicle-to-everything, cellular V2X and dedicated short-range communications systems. But industry and FCC officials said the plan from the main auto industry association likely won’t get much traction at the agency. Commissioners agreed 5-0 in December to examine revised rules, reallocating 45 MHz for Wi-Fi, with 20 reserved for C-V2X and possibly 10 MHz for DSRC (see 1912180019).
The FCC Consumer Advisory Committee approved recommendations to the agency by its Truth-in-Billing (TIB) Working Group. CAC was also warned that scam robocalls are evolving under COVID-19 and consumers need to be vigilant. Members met virtually Monday.
The FCC wants refreshed comments from a 2016 "Team Telecom" NPRM on timely executive branch review of deals involving foreign ownership, said a public notice Monday. The NPRM sought comment on what types of applications should be referred to the executive branch, what information should be included on an application that could help with the review, how applicants would certify compliance with mitigation, and how quickly the executive branch would complete reviews (see 1606030025). Commissioners of both parties backed the PN.
The FCC’s final order allowing unlicensed devices to share 1,200 MHz of 6 GHz spectrum has many changes from the draft. They go beyond additional questions mentioned by commissioners voting 5-0 Thursday (see 2004230059), based on our side-by-side analysis. A section on formation of a multistakeholder group to address technical and operational issues with the automated frequency control (AFC) system was moved within the order. Most changes are technical and don’t address concerns raised by 6 GHz incumbents. The item, released Friday, is 26 paragraphs and 11 pages longer than the draft.
As COVID-19 fallout continues, ISPs are extending how long they hold off disconnecting telecom services (see 2004270048). Within minutes of each other Monday, Cox and Verizon made such commitments. Comcast and AT&T followed later. More companies are expected to do the same.