The Wireless ISP Association is asking NTIA to finish its study of the 37 GHz band within three months so that the FCC “can complete its work to make the spectrum available as soon as possible for rural broadband deployment and other purposes.” The 37.0-37.6 GHz band was one of five bands targeted for further study in the national spectrum strategy (see 2311130048). “In addition to fostering American innovation and technical leadership,” the band “can promote rural broadband deployment,” WISPA said. “Accelerating” a study of the band “will allow the FCC to implement a non-exclusive licensing scheme that promotes shared use and deployment among federal and commercial users, while providing federal users with protection from harmful interference,” the group said.
Representatives of LG Electronics USA said the FCC’s proposed cyber trust mark program should include self-attestation by participants and “maximize device manufacturer participation,” in a meeting with an aide to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “The Commission should limit the scope of the program to IoT devices and other integrated components of the device, such as built-in software, over which the manufacturer can reasonably exert control; it should not expand the scope of the program to include a broader ‘product’ ecosystem that the IoT device manufacturer cannot control,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 23-239.
ISPs and industry groups generally supported the FCC's proposal that builds on its Alaska Plan high-cost USF program by transforming it into an Alaska Connect Fund. Reply comments were posted Friday in docket 23-328 (see 2310190056). Some urged that the commission reconsider its eligible telecom carrier (ETC) designation requirement for support recipients and sought a technology-neutral approach.
An FCC order and Further NPRM on robocalls and robotexts and an order allowing use of wireless multichannel audio systems (WMAS) included a number of changes over the draft versions, based on side-by-side comparisons. Commissioners approved them 5-0 Thursday (see 2402150053 and 2402150037). In an apparent win for carriers, the FCC changed parts of the robocall/robotext FNPRM, opening the door to a pivot away from a mandate.
The FCC announced an in-person workshop March 6 that will provide information about identifying and evaluating opportunities "to develop more robust broadband infrastructure and services in tribal communities." The commission said in a public notice Wednesday that the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana will host the workshop from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. On March 5 at 2 p.m. there will be an "optional tribal library tour."
The FCC Thursday launched its enhanced competition incentive program (ECIP), which commissioners approved 4-0 in July 2022 (see 2207140055). The order was approved in response to provisions in the Mobile Now Act, enacted in 2018 (see 2203310036). ECIP “incentivizes wireless licensees to make underutilized spectrum available to small carriers, Tribal Nations, and entities serving rural areas in furtherance of the Commission’s ‘100 percent broadband policy,’” said an FCC news release. The Wireless Bureau will now accept applications for the program, the commission said.
Wireless ISPs are interested in the lower 12 GHz band and need “additional spectrum for fixed point-to-point and point-to-multipoint services, especially in rural areas that may lack sufficient access to broadband,” WISPA told an aide to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. The association urged that the FCC make the band available, where possible, “on a secondary and opportunistic basis governed by automated frequency coordination” in areas where multichannel video distribution and data service spectrum is in use and to protect direct broadcast satellite operations, said a filing posted Thursday in docket 20-443. “Under this approach, incumbent MVDDS [providers] would be able to expand their operations in their licensed areas with the AFC ensuring interference protection from secondary users under standards adopted by industry stakeholders,” WISPA said. The group urged “a similar spectrum access model” for the adjacent 12.7-13.25 GHz band. DirecTV representatives, meanwhile, spoke with an aide to FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington to refute the latest Dish Network report on safe use of fixed wireless in the lower 12 GHz band (see 2312270045). The representatives discussed the band's importance “for delivery of video to millions of subscribers” nationwide, the company said.
The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) is the latest public safety group urging that the FCC consider giving FirstNet control of the 4.9 GHz band (see 2402140037). The FirstNet network “has brought an entirely new nationwide approach to public safety communications where state and local agencies no longer have to finance, maintain, and synchronize thousands of disparate networks,” said a filing Wednesday in docket 07-100. Because of FirstNet, “public safety is provided priority, preemption, and local control accessed through a portal providing command and control on an incident basis,” IACP said.
Representatives of i-wireless and other small carriers spoke with staff for FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel asking for action on the request expanding eligible telecom carrier designations granted in 2012, especially given the freeze in affordable connectivity program enrollments. Without Wireline Bureau approval, “i-wireless is unable to offer Lifeline to eligible low-income Americans in significant portions of Florida, North Carolina and other states where its ETC designation has been granted by the Commission,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 21-450: With affordable connectivity program “enrollments frozen and consumers needing to find affordable alternatives during the ACP wind-down period, we respectfully urged the Office of the Chairwoman to direct the Bureau to expeditiously complete its review.” Assist Wireless also spoke with Rosenworcel aides on the ETC petition. The Wireline Bureau “has restricted provider participation and impeded competition in the Lifeline program for a dozen years by failing to act on Assist Wireless’s Lifeline compliance plan and federal ETC petition,” Assist said. American Broadband reported a similar meeting. The bureau “has restricted provider participation and impeded competition in the Lifeline program for a dozen years by failing to act on American Broadband’s federal ETC petition (among others),” the provider said. Boomerang Wireless also reported on an ETC call with aides to the chairwoman.
FCC commissioners unanimously approved an order allowing wireless multichannel audio system (WMAS) use, a technology of special interest to wireless mic companies and users. The vote came Thursday during the commissioners' open meeting. Agency officials said the order was tweaked to address broadcasters' concerns, but power levels proposed in the draft order weren’t changed.