Chairman Ajit Pai may force votes on two spectrum items circulated last month (see 2012290032): a “neutral” 12 GHz NPRM and proposed 2.5 GHz auction rules, said industry and FCC officials. Pai is considering putting them on the agenda Wednesday for the following week’s meeting if he needs to assure a vote, officials said.
It could be a breakout year for augmented reality hardware, said an ABI Research 2021 trends report, as Nreal and Mad Gaze expand their AR efforts, and Facebook is expected to debut its AR smart glasses from the Reality Labs initiative. Google could take another stab at smart glasses after buying North and facing pressure from Facebook and others, said analyst Eric Abbruzzese. Apple, a “wild card,” is expected to have a dedicated AR product launch in 2022.
The C-band auction, the biggest in history, was at $76.5 billion after five rounds Monday. Analysts at New Street told investors it could climb to $80 billion before it ends, which, with clearing costs tacked on, would mean a $93 billion auction. One question is who will come away with the most Category A licenses, the spectrum that will be the first cleared and available for 5G, experts said. Analysts are concerned some could overpay. The Category A licenses are selling at more than $1.50 MHz/POP.
USF is reaching a tipping point, industry experts said in recent interviews. Revenue continues to decline, and the contribution factor is expected to reach a record 31.8% (see 2012150018). As President-elect Joe Biden prepares to take office, there's some hope among broadband advocates that he will nominate someone to the FCC who brings the political will to tackle USF revisions.
FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel is considered the front-runner to be the next chair of the FCC, but others are also lining up support. Among other top candidates are Wiley’s Anna Gomez, Gigi Sohn of the Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy, and DLA Piper’s Smitty Smith, experts said. All potential contenders' fortunes remain in flux pending the outcome of Tuesday's runoff elections for both Georgia Senate seats, lobbyists told us.
APCO, the Public Safety Spectrum Alliance (PSSA) and the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council separately asked the FCC to change its September order (see 2009300050) revising how the 4.9 GHz band is allocated. Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks dissented then. Industry experts said the FCC could back away from parts of the order in the new administration. Chairman Ajit Pai had some difficulty lining up votes before the meeting (see 2009240039).
The FTC’s recent inquiry into social media company data collection practices could likely result in enforcement action, much like the agency’s 6(b) study that led to its antitrust case against Facebook, an ex-official and attorneys said in interviews. Some said to expect the social media companies to negotiate with the agency over the scope of the latest 6(b) study, which seeks details on how data practices affect younger users and others (see 2012150005).
Expect legal and constitutional challenges against the Case Act (see 1910250047), experts told us. Congress passed the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement (Case) Act (HR-2426/S-1273) last week, which would create a voluntary small claims board within the Copyright Office, as part of the COVID-19 relief package.
The Enterprise Wireless Alliance asked the FCC to immediately lift the nearly nine-year T-band freeze, after President Donald Trump signed into law (see 2012280052) the FY 2021 appropriations and COVID-19 aid omnibus bill, which includes a repeal of the mandate that the FCC auction the spectrum. EWA said its members -- business/industrial land transportation (B/ILT) licensees -- should have the first shot at the band. But industry officials said the FCC will have to weigh interests because public safety agencies are also interested in expanding there.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai circulated a neutral NPRM on the 12 GHz band late last week, plus a notice on bidding procedures for the 2.5 GHz auction, attempting to close out two more spectrum items before he leaves office Jan. 20. The two items had been rumored candidates for the January commissioners’ meeting (see 2012210051) but didn’t make the agenda. With Democrats poised to take control of the FCC, industry experts said the question is whether they will allow the items to get a vote or ask for a delay until the new administration. The timing of both items would allow Pai to force a vote under must-vote rules, though he still has the option of putting them on the Jan. 13 meeting agenda.