A SpaceX Falcon 9 launch late Tuesday included an initial six Starlink satellites dedicated to SpaceX's supplemental coverage from space service partnership with mobile carriers, including T-Mobile, the space company posted on X Wednesday. T-Mobile said field-testing of the direct-to-device service would follow soon. The FCC Space Bureau last month authorized SCS testing by SpaceX (see 2312050029).
Consumers' Research filed a new challenge of the FCC's Q1 2024 USF contribution factor in the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Wednesday. It's the third time the group challenged a contribution factor with this court (see 2310030069). The contribution methodology and ultimate quarterly factor "exceed the FCC's statutory authority" and violate the nondelegation doctrine, the group said in its petition for review (docket 24-60006).
CTIA and other industry players sought to keep pressure on the Biden administration to make more mid-band spectrum available for 5G and eventually 6G in comments on the implementation plan for the national spectrum strategy. Others stressed the importance of spectrum sharing. NTIA has not yet posted the comments, which were due Wednesday.
FCC commissioners this month will tackle mitigating risks from space debris and potentially controversial rules addressing misrouted wireless calls to 911, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said Wednesday in her “Notes from the FCC.” Also on the Jan. 25 open meeting agenda are mandatory outage reporting rules and revised rules for the 70/80/90 GHz bands. Rounding out the meeting is a judicatory matter from the Media Bureau and five enforcement items.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit accepted the FCC’s 2018 quadrennial review order and dismissed NAB’s petition for a writ of mandamus as moot, a discharge order Tuesday said (docket 23-1120). NAB had asked the court to compel the FCC to act on the 2018 QR. Both NAB and the FCC requested the dismissal after the agency issued the 2018 QR one day before the court’s Dec. 27 deadline (see 2312280018).
NTIA reiterated support for "modernizing and expanding access to the 70/80/90 GHz” bands, saying in a filing last week in FCC docket 20-13 that the commission can make changes "while protecting both the Earth Exploration Satellite Service (EESS) and federal fixed satellite service sites." The FCC sought additional comment on the spectrum in October, following receipt of an earlier letter from NTIA, which addressed Aeronet’s proposed use of frequencies at 71-76 and 81-86 GHz (see 2311080055). The recent letter was addressed to the chiefs of the FCC Wireless Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology.
House Commerce Committee member Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Ohio, will resign effective Jan. 21 to become Youngstown State University president, the college's board said Tuesday. A former House Communications Subcommittee member, Johnson previously said he wouldn't run for reelection (see 2311220053). Johnson was active on telehealth and spectrum policy issues, including as lead sponsor of the House-passed Advanced, Local Emergency Response Telecommunications Parity Act (HR-1353), which would require the FCC to allow satellite direct-to-cell service providers and others to apply to access spectrum to fill in wireless coverage gaps in unserved areas specifically to provide connectivity for emergency services (see 2304270001).
Industry and consumer groups urged the FCC to proceed with a proposal to take additional steps aimed at curbing abuse of the numbering access authorization process. Replies were posted through Tuesday in docket 20-67 (see 2311300067). In addition, some groups opposed the proceeding, calling it unnecessary and potentially burdensome for providers.
The FCC hasn’t provided much guidance in recent months about where it’s headed on final rules for the 4.9 GHz band, industry officials tracking the band told us. Nearly a year ago, commissioners approved 4-0 a long-awaited order and Further NPRM on the future of the band (see 2301180062), which reversed course from a plan approved during the Trump administration.
Provisions in the 2018 quadrennial review order could inject uncertainty into negotiations between broadcasters and networks, several broadcast attorneys told us. The order’s extension of the top-four prohibition allows networks to switch an affiliation from one station to another even if that would create a same-market duopoly but only as long as there isn’t “any undue direct or indirect influence from a broadcast entity.” Attorneys told us it isn’t clear what constitutes undue influence. The QR "creates more confusion," said Rob Folliard, Gray Television senior vice president-government relations and distribution. “You can’t have a transaction where there’s confusion.”