Expect continuing friction at the 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference and the WRC-31 between geostationary and non-geostationary orbit satellite operators over interference protections, River Advisors CEO Katherine Gizinski said. She and other panelists Tuesday at the SmallSat Symposium in Silicon Valley said those equivalent power flux density (EPFD) protection items were a hot-button issue at WRC-23. The FCC has seen constellation operators post-WRC-27 joust over EPFD limits (see 2401300032). Several panelists also discussed the changing availability of financing that helped launch numerous space startups in the past nine years.
A coalition of advocates for incarcerated individuals urged the FCC to adequate oversight of alternative payment structures and pilot programs that providers of incarcerated people's communications services offer. The Wright Petitioners, United Church of Christ Media Justice Ministry and Worth Rises told Wireline Bureau and Office of Economic and Analytics staff that consumers should have "sufficient information in a clear format that enables them to make informed choices," according to an ex parte filing posted Monday in docket 23-62 (see 2401120067). The groups also urged that the commission "not permit alternative pricing structures that include non-IPCS services, which lack visibility and transparency in their pricing."
The Competitive Carriers Association and its members raised questions about the size of a proposed 5G Fund in meetings with FCC Wireless Bureau and Office of Economics and Analytics staff, a filing posted Friday in docket 20-32 said. Proceeding with a $9 billion budget, as proposed in 2020 (see 2310240046), “without sufficient rationale and updated analysis risks leaving areas in dire need behind and potentially leaving many states and territories with no benefit from the 5G Fund,” CCA said. Other items included raising eligibility to at least 35/3 Mbps “to be consistent with Administration and prior FCC precedent” and the need to time auctions to “best leverage” the NTIA’s broadband, equity, access and deployment program and other federal funding. The FCC should also ensure “accurate mobile mapping data and a robust mobile challenge process” prior to moving forward, CCA said. Among those attending the meetings were representatives of C Spire, Nex-Tech Wireless, Nsight, Southern Linc and Union Wireless. Rural Wireless Association representatives also discussed the fund with aides to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioner Geoffrey Starks, as the group continues a series of meetings at the FCC (see 2402010037).
The 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference was the scene of a number of clashes in the growing tension between geostationary and non-geostationary orbit operators, Disruptive Analysis' Dean Bubley wrote on LinkedIn Wednesday. The most important such clash was over proposed changes to equivalent power flux density limits, with NGSOs seeking changes losing that fight "although they may get another bite of the cherry in 2027 or 2031," he said. The clashes mean terrestrial mobile network operators "now have two groups to fight for future spectrum rights," he said. They also may hinder in the short term the scope of some supplemental coverage from space plans, he said. Bubley predicted relatively modest terrestrial/space integration and more satellite-only services.
SpaceX landed a potentially massive contract with John Deere in part because rival satellite operators don't have sufficient capacity online yet, Quilty Space blogged Thursday. John Deere announced last month it had selected SpaceX to provide connectivity to a projected hundreds of thousands of pieces of farm equipment. Quilty said also helping SpaceX's bid was that some satellite system operators would struggle to meet the regional demand requirements of both North America and Brazil with their current capacity. It said other heavy equipment manufacturers might not follow Deere's lead but instead stick with their current connectivity because Deere was likely able to get particularly advantageous pricing.
Complying with the FCC's "all-in" video pricing proposal might have to overcome conflicting regulatory regimes among the FCC, FTC and various states, DirecTV said. In a docket 23-203 filing Thursday recapping a meeting with FCC Media Bureau Chief Holly Saurer, DirecTV said possible compliance hiccups include one set of rules requiring what another prohibits and different sets of rules requiring different calculations of all-in prices. The FCC commissioners adopted an all-in video pricing NPRM in June (see 2306200042).
The FTC is “pleased” Amazon and iRobot abandoned their $1.4 billion deal, the agency said Wednesday in a statement (see 2401290044). The FTC’s investigation of the agreement focused on “Amazon’s ability and incentive to favor its own products and disfavor rivals’, and associated effects on innovation, entry barriers, and consumer privacy,” said Associate Director-Merger Analysis Nathan Soderstrom. “The Commission’s investigation revealed significant concerns about the transaction’s potential competitive effects.” The companies cited European enforcers’ opposition to the deal in their announcement.
The lower 3 GHz band, a top target for wireless carriers for reallocation for full-power licensed use, remains critical to DOD as well, DOD Chief Information Officer John Sherman said Thursday at NTIA's spectrum policy symposium. The band is one of five targeted for study in the national spectrum strategy (see 2311130048).
Several lessons are emerging from the move to open and virtual radio access networks that can help providers that are getting started, Matt Conrod, Intel director-VRAN business development, said Wednesday during a TelecomTV webinar. One lesson is the importance of beginning early with field trials and pilot projects to gain exposure to the technology, Conrod said. “You won’t be able to wake up in 2026 and introduce VRAN like you would a traditional RAN feature -- this is network transformation,” he said. Providers should also use “proven” ORAN components, he said, noting that integration takes time. “Reuse proven components and partners who have gone through deployment at scale already,” he advised. Carriers can change their approach after the RAN is established, he said. In addition, providers should “critically assess” their capabilities for system integration and tool development, he said. “Some things, as we have found out, can only be learned at scale,” Conrod said. A recent survey by his company and Analysis Mason found that the greatest obstacles to deployments are integration costs and complexity, said Paul Miller, chief technology officer at ORAN company Wind River. Its work with Dell is helping companies reduce those costs, which are “key obstacles" to adoption of these technologies, Miller said. One key is working with experienced partners on a deployment. Such partners have launched other open networks, said Manish Singh, CTO of Dell Technologies’ Telecom Systems Business. “You want to bring in the set of partners who are actually committed to making this happen,” he added. Providers also should clearly state what they expect from their partners, he said. “Start early and get it to work,” advised Cristina Rodriguez, vice president of Intel’s Network and Edge Group. “The technology is ready today,” she said. While technology will improve, companies should recognize “we have today what we need to start,” she added. Rodriguez agreed there are things providers can learn only when they launch at scale.
The FCC’s Nov. 20 order, published Jan. 22 in the Federal Register, purports to implement congressional “instruction” to facilitate equal broadband access under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, but it gives the commission “unprecedented authority to regulate the broadband internet economy,” said the Ohio Telecom Association’s (OTA) petition for review Tuesday (docket 24-3072) in the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.