The booming proliferation of low earth orbit satellites, a growing challenge for optical astronomers (see 1906100015), is raising red flags for radio astronomers. Many see no easy technical or regulatory fixes.
Congressional Democrats are pressing harder for President Joe Biden to name a permanent FCC chair and a fifth commissioner, citing the need for a majority to act on changes to net neutrality rules and other priorities unlikely to garner GOP support. Lawmakers remain publicly hopeful the administration will soon announce its FCC nominees. Privately, Senate Democrats in recent days told the White House their patience on FCC nomination delays has evaporated, aides said.
The House Science Committee unanimously advanced Tuesday the National Science Foundation for the Future Act (HR-2225), setting up a likely showdown on whether the chamber will approve that bill rather than the rival Senate-passed U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (S-1260). Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, prefers HR-2225’s approach to countering Chinese tech R&D. S-1260 would establish an NSF Technology Directorate; HR-2225 would establish a generalized Directorate for Science and Engineering Solutions.
A small-cells bill is advancing in the New Jersey Legislature. The Senate Economic Growth Committee voted 5-0 for an amended S-2674 at a livestreamed Tuesday hearing, while the Assembly Appropriations Committee is scheduled Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. to take another look at its chamber’s version (A-1116). The New Jersey State League of Municipalities remains neutral and the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association (NJUMA) slammed the bills.
Draft rules revising equipment certification regulations to allow for presale of new RF devices before they're authorized are expected to be approved 4-0 by commissioners Thursday. A few tweaks are expected, reflecting changes sought by CTA and possibly Garmin, FCC officials said.
Patron data retention and reporting requirements for the FCC’s $7.17 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund could lead otherwise eligible libraries to opt out of the program (see 2105260048), stakeholders said in recent interviews. With the first application filing window scheduled to open June 29, groups are asking the FCC to clarify whether libraries can maintain alternate records. The agency largely followed E-rate rules requiring participants to keep records for 10 years. In addition to the type of services or devices provided, schools and libraries would need to maintain records of the names and addresses served.
President Joe Biden plans to name Lina Khan to permanently lead the FTC once she's sworn in as a commissioner. Hours earlier, the Senate voted 69-28 Tuesday to confirm her. Khan drew bipartisan Senate support, as expected (see 2106100069). FTC supporters, pressed Congress to increase FY 2022 funding and enact legislation to restore its FTC Act Section 13(b) consumer redress authority.
The FCC is expected to unanimously reject two low-power FM petitions for reconsideration at Thursday's commissioners' meeting (see 2105270085). LPFM advocates said in interviews they view the move as paving the way for an upcoming LPFM application window and believe this FCC could look favorably on the latest effort to increase LPFM power levels. “We aren’t being dismissed. We’re being listened to,” said Caitlin Reading, who advises the LPFM Coalition. “That’s exciting.”
Emergency management agencies are backing FCC-proposed changes to emergency alerts. And we're told next week's vote on the draft order and Further NPRM (see 2105260076) should be noncontroversial.
Commenters detailed how the chip shortage is creating problems for the tech industry, leading to longer lead times for obtaining network equipment, in response to an FCC public notice. Comments posted Friday in docket 21-195. Most didn’t seek specific action.