The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation supported a uniform handset unlocking mandate for wireless carriers, proposed in an FCC NPRM, which has proven controversial (see 2409240038). “Adopting a uniform, industry-wide unlocking requirement for all service providers would advance digital equity, lessen consumer confusion, and provide consumers with the unencumbered ability to choose a service provider that best suits their needs,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 24-186. “This is particularly important in Black communities that are more dependent on smartphones to access the internet and often experience greater financial constraints that limit their ability to purchase a new device if they want to change service providers,” the group said.
Industry officials continued questioning AT&T’s Wednesday proposal that calls for major changes in how 3 GHz, including the citizens broadband radio service band, is configured (see 2410090037). Monisha Ghosh, University of Notre Dame engineering professor and former FCC chief technologist, said AT&T's proposal leaves some questions unanswered. While in principle it’s “desirable to have high-power and low-power users separated by one boundary, the AT&T proposal doesn’t address how the existing Navy radars in the CBRS band will be protected” or “relocated and how spectrum sharing in 3.1-3.45 GHz will be implemented,” Ghosh told us, noting there are now 120 different kinds of radar in the band. Ghosh warned against drawing conclusions before the administration completes its study of the lower 3 GHz band called for in the national spectrum strategy. Moreover, Ghosh disagreed with AT&T that CBRS is "underutilized.” Relocating CBRS devices into another band that’s not an existing 3rd Generation Partnership Project band wouldn’t be a “trivial” problem, she said. Meanwhile, Public Knowledge Senior Vice President Harold Feld wrote in an email, “When you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail,” and when you’re a carrier “everything looks like it should be optimized for mobile broadband.” Feld added, “CBRS was designed to permit new kinds of innovation by different actors, such as stadiums, large warehouses, ports, or enterprise customers looking to run their own private networks.”
The Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition urged that the FCC grant Sonic Telecom's petition for reconsideration of portions of the FCC's 2020 order on unbundled network elements (UNEs) rules (see 2210170079). Competitive ISPs "should be able to access existing dark fiber transport on an unbundled basis so that they can control the services they offer consumers" and bid on E-rate services, SHLB said in a filing posted Thursday in docket 19-308. The group said the FCC should "act with haste" to reinstate the provision for such access that was "dramatically curtailed" in the 2020 order.
Pay Tel Communications asked the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to hold unlawful certain portions of the FCC's order covering incarcerated people's communications services in a petition filed Tuesday (docket 24-1984). Pay Tel said parts of the order are "arbitrary" and "an abuse of discretion within the meaning of the Administrative Procedure Act." A coalition of 14 states petitioned the 8th Circuit on similar grounds (see 2410020039). Last month, the 1st Circuit was selected to hear consolidated challenges of the order (see 2409190061).
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., urged the FCC Wednesday night to close its Further NPRM eyeing dynamic sharing in the 12.2-12.7 GHz band and “adopt final rules authorizing high-powered two-way fixed broadband service” on the frequency. “The FCC updating its rules to authorize” fixed broadband service on the lower 12 GHz band “will allow for more continuous spectrum, especially in tribal and rural communities,” said Cole, whose congressional district includes a significant tribal population, in a letter to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “Ensuring that tribal communities are connected is a key priority for me. This expanded broadband service will help close the longstanding digital divide for underserved and hard to reach areas and foster economic development.” Incompas CEO Chip Pickering praised Cole for backing fixed wireless use of the lower 12 GHz band. “Our nation is at a pivotal moment in its work to connect every community, and [Cole] sees a clear opportunity to use this mid-band spectrum to bridge the digital divide, including in tribal areas in Oklahoma,” Pickering said: “We encourage the FCC to build on this momentum and act soon so we can continue delivering on the promise of Internet for all.” Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Commerce committees, urged the FCC in July to adopt dynamic sharing on the lower 12 GHz band if it finds that use won’t cause harmful interference for incumbent users (see 2407160066). SpaceX is urging the FCC against dynamic sharing, while EchoStar supports it (see 2409050040).
State broadband officials said Thursday they expect big differences in the level and type of provider participation in the broadband equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program. Also during the Broadband Nation Expo, numerous speakers bemoaned workforce challenges that could bedevil BEAD-funded broadband network expansions. The Telecommunications Industry Association and Fierce Network staged the event at National Harbor, Maryland.
Communications companies said they’re responding to power outages and network damage in the wake of Hurricane Milton, which made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane Wednesday night. Emergency 911 systems appeared largely to withstand the onslaught, as they did with Hurricane Helene two weeks earlier (see 2409270058). AccuWeather said the total damage and economic loss from Milton will likely be between $160 billion and $180 billion, making it "one of the most damaging and impactful storms in Florida history."
FCC Commissioners Nathan Simington and Geoffrey Starks warned the Mobile World Congress in Las Vegas that the FCC’s loss of general spectrum auction authority last year is hampering U.S. competitive efforts against major rivals in the 6G race. CTIA President Meredith Baker sounded a similar theme at the beginning of the conference, which CTIA sponsors with GSMA (see 2410080044).
Former President Donald Trump called Thursday for the FCC to pull licenses for all U.S. broadcast networks, an apparent escalation from his recent threats against ABC and CBS over what he claims has been biased coverage of his campaign as the Republicans’ 2024 nominee (see 2409110058). Trump has repeatedly sought FCC revocation of broadcasters’ licenses since early in his 2017-2021 administration (see 1710110075). FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel quickly shot down Trump’s threat, going beyond her similar responses to past incidents (see 2409120056) and directly criticizing the former president.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Wednesday called for an investigation into 60 Minutes over the editing of the CBS program's interview with Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. In a Truth Social post, Trump said that the CBS “News Division” “must be licensed.” However, the FCC doesn't license news programs. Trump, who reportedly backed out of a similar interview with 60 Minutes, said editing of the interview was intended to make Harris appear more favorable and was “possibly illegal” and “may be a major Campaign Finance Violation.” Trump's post is the latest in a string of threats and calls for government action against broadcasters over their news content (see 2409230022). “This is an open and shut case, and must be investigated, starting today!” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has repeatedly condemned calls for agency action against broadcasters over their content (see 2410080056). CBS didn't comment.