With enrollment now open for the FCC’s affordable connectivity program and the transition from the emergency broadband benefit program underway, some consumer advocacy groups told us they're concerned that EBB-enrolled households could face a bill shock or lose their benefit entirely if required to affirmatively opt in to receive the new benefit. Several questions remain because the FCC hasn't issued rules for the new program and the higher subsidy amount is set to end March 1.
Senate Democrats are planning January action on FCC nominee Gigi Sohn, FTC nominee Alvaro Bedoya and NTIA administrator nominee Alan Davidson amid perceptions President Joe Biden’s tech and telecom picks have renewed momentum after the start of 2022, lawmakers and lobbyists told us. Biden renominated Bedoya and Sohn Tuesday, and Senate leaders agreed to carry over Davidson’s 2021 nomination (see 2201040027). Most or all Republicans are expected to oppose Bedoya and Sohn, as they did last year (see 2201040071). Confirmations would ensure 3-2 Democratic majorities at the FCC and FTC.
President Joe Biden’s renominated Democratic picks for vacant FCC and FTC slots remain unlikely to get much, if any, Republican support amid ongoing misgivings over both nominees, Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Roger Wicker of Mississippi told us Tuesday. Biden renominated Gigi Sohn to the FCC and Alvaro Bedoya to the FTC earlier in the day, as expected (see 2201030056). Wicker believes NTIA administrator nominee Alan Davidson will have a far easier path forward, despite the chamber’s failure to quickly advance him last month. Senate leaders agreed to carry over Davidson's nomination from last year, aides confirmed.
Verizon and AT&T agreed to a further two-week delay, until Jan. 19, in turning on their C-band spectrum for 5G, while taking other actions to address air safety, consistent with the model for deployments in France. The agreement will protect air safety, President Joe Biden said in a statement. Industry observers said the carriers, government regulators and the airlines appear close to a final resolution, though questions remain.
The 2021 nationwide emergency alert system test showed improvement over the 2019 version, but difficulties with primary entry point stations and low participation by low-power broadcasters affected the results, the FCC reported last week on the Aug. 11 test. The agency also issued a report on the simultaneous wireless emergency alert test (see 2112300045).
Verizon and AT&T are poised to turn on their 5G C-band operations this week, a month after agreeing to a delay until Wednesday. Analysts speculated that the biggest potential threat to that start is the FAA or aviation industry going to court to seek a stay. Airlines For America (A4A) asked the FCC late last week for a stay and warned of a legal challenge if the agency doesn’t act. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg asked the carriers to extend their pause.
Provider participation in the FCC’s affordable connectivity program is likely to be at a higher level than for the emergency broadband benefit program, we’re told (see 2112090061). Some industry groups said more providers may elect to participate since the new program is designed to be longer term than EBB.
A relatively steady stream of complaints about media bias or "fake news" lodged with the FCC against cable news networks in 2020 became a torrent in the days after the 2020 presidential election, per our analysis of more than 1,500 complaints obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request. Many complaints also urged the FCC to police the cable networks, but agency watchers called that unlikely.
CTA and other commenters told the FCC the $14.2 billion affordable connectivity program (ACP) should make room for the expansion of wireless networks, which will be critical to new generations of connected devices. Commenters also continue to raise implementation concerns as the agency shifts from the $3.1 billion emergency broadband benefit program to the new ACP (see 2112090061). Replies were posted Wednesday and Tuesday in docket 21-450.
The FCC will likely take on several spectrum proceedings in coming months, regardless of what happens to the nomination of Gigi Sohn as the third Democratic commissioner, industry officials said. Those items could include proposals on the 12 GHz and 4.9 GHz bands, the lower 37 GHz band, revised rules for short-range field disturbance sensor radars in the 60 GHz band and allowing cellular vehicle-to-everything deployments in 5.9 GHz.