The FCC Wireless Bureau on Wednesday approved a waiver of the commission’s Part 97 rules allowing amateur radio licensees to communicate with military stations as part of Pearl Harbor Day commemorations Dec. 7 and 8. The American Radio Relay League sought the waiver in October (see 2410080019). “We find grant of the waiver meets the waiver standard because this event presents a unique opportunity for amateur operators to practice communications skills under the guidance of military officials, which may be useful in the future and serves the public interest,” the bureau said. The Wireless Bureau approved a similar waiver last year (see 2311270044).
Anterix representatives spoke with an aide to FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, seeking action on a rulemaking authorizing 5/5 MHz broadband deployments in the 900 MHz band (see 2405210041). “The FCC decision to create a 900 MHz broadband segment has already enabled utilities across the nation, including rural areas, to design, deploy, and operate private broadband networks tailored to their highly demanding specifications,” said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 24-99. “900 MHz broadband spectrum will play an increasingly important role in enabling the grid to withstand escalating external and weather-related threats, as well as growing internal demands for power during the transition to renewable energy,” Anterix said.
The Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the U.S. Telecommunications Service Sector asked the FCC to refer to it T-Mobile’s proposed buy of wireless assets from UScellular (see 2405280047) for further examination. DOJ asked for the referral “to determine whether these applications pose a risk to the national security or law enforcement interests” of the U.S., said a filing this week in docket 24-286. The committee -- informally known by its former name, Team Telecom -- is an interagency review body composed of DOJ, DOD and the Department of Homeland Security. DOJ “believes that such risk may be raised by the foreign participation (including the foreign relationships and ownership) associated with the applications, and a review by the Committee is necessary to assess and make an appropriate recommendation as to how the Commission should adjudicate these applications,” the filing said. It cites executive order 13913 issued in 2020 by then-President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, petitions to deny the transfer of UScellular authorizations and spectrum licenses to T-Mobile are due Dec. 9 (see 2410300051), but the National Wireless Independent Dealer Association (NWIDA) made its opposition known on Wednesday. NWIDA cited “T-Mobile's documented history of post-merger conduct that has proven detrimental to independent dealers and the communities they serve.” T-Mobile’s conduct, “particularly following the Sprint acquisition, demonstrates a concerning trend of eliminating independent dealers despite pre-merger assurances,” the group said: “Currently, T-Mobile faces multiple lawsuits from independent dealers, and their Chief Operating Officer has publicly expressed a preference for corporate-owned stores over independent dealers.”
Communications Daily is tracking the lawsuits below involving appeals of FCC actions.
Federal permitting problems could become notable impediments to BEAD deployment projects, Lukas Piertzak, NTIA senior broadband policy adviser, acknowledged Wednesday. Yet Piertzak also said a clawback of BEAD funding next year seems unlikely. BEAD, as well as NTIA's tribal connectivity and middle-mile programs, are perhaps insulated because of their bipartisan support not just from federal lawmakers but also governors and local officials, he added. Piertzak spoke during a panel discussion in T-Mobile's Washington office organized by ALLvanza, Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council, LGBT Tech, and OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates.
John Windhausen, executive director of the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition, said Wednesday his organization is willing to work with FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr and other Republicans to save a program that lets schools and libraries use E-rate support for off-premises Wi-Fi hot spots and wireless internet services. On tap to lead the FCC next year under President-elect Donald Trump, Carr voted against the E-rate program's creation, as did fellow Republican Nathan Simington (see 2410070028).
The FCC released on Wednesday text of three items scheduled for a vote at the commissioners’ Dec. 11 open meeting, including rules that would allow new very-low-power (VLP) devices to operate without coordination across the 6 GHz band (see 2411190068). The FCC will also consider changing USF letter of credit (LOC) rules and updating several broadcast radio and TV rules.
House Communications Subcommittee member Rep. John Joyce, R-Pa., said during a Wednesday USTelecom event he wants renewed pushes to restore the FCC’s lapsed spectrum auction authority and enact a broadband permitting revamp legislative package to be among the subpanel’s top priorities in the next Congress. Broadband executives likewise named Capitol Hill action on broadband permitting legislation as their top congressional priority once Republicans have control of both chambers in January. The officials also noted interest in lawmakers’ work on a potential USF revamp.
The FCC on Thursday adopted long-awaited final rules for cellular-vehicle-to-everything technology in the 5.9 GHz band. “These rules will improve transportation safety and permit more efficient mobility as this advanced communications technology is integrated into vehicles and infrastructure,” said a news release. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel circulated proposed rules in July.
Kepler Communications, with eight non-geostationary orbit satellites in space, is asking FCC approval to launch another 10 with optical intersatellite links and create a consolidated space data relay network. In an FCC Space Bureau application posted Tuesday to modify its U.S. market access grant and another pending U.S. market access application, Kepler said the FCC's five-year deorbit rule, adopted in 2022, necessitated the company rethinking its previously authorized cubesat system as they wouldn't deorbit within five years of the end of their missions. The company said the steeply escalating licensing fees for systems seeking U.S. market access also made its original plans for a second, separate satellite system not feasible. As a result, it needed to consider one consolidated system. Kepler said the launch of 10 second-generation satellites is expected in Q3 2025.