ABI Research said the FCC should allocate more spectrum, including in the 7 GHz band, for Wi-Fi, and noted strong growth in use of the 6 GHz band reallocated for unlicensed use in 2020. Wi-Fi carries 82%-89% of mobile data traffic, said the report, released Tuesday: “Wi-Fi also supports a rapidly increasing volume and diversity of connected devices, and manages traffic from a more densely-arrayed set of devices.” ABI predicted that 6-GHz-enabled consumer devices shipped to North America will grow from 95 million today to an estimated 367 million in 2029. “Wi-Fi needs multiple 320 Megahertz channels to support the growing number of devices and high-performance applications, particularly in dense networking environments,” the report said. WifiForward said Wednesday that the report augments “a growing body of evidence highlighting an urgent need for more unlicensed spectrum.” It added, “The unlicensed spectrum of today will not be able to handle what consumers expect for the future: more devices that are more data intensive.”
The FCC Public Safety Bureau on Wednesday announced UL Solutions will serve as lead administrator and a cybersecurity label administrator (CLA) in the agency’s voluntary cyber trust mark program. “As Lead Administrator, UL Solutions will be responsible for identifying or developing, and recommending to the Commission for approval, the IoT-specific standards and testing procedures for the program, among other recommendations, and for acting as liaison between the Commission and CLAs,” said a news release. The bureau plans to announce the selection of additional CLAs soon. Commissioners approved the program unanimously in March (see 2403140034). Founded as Underwriters Laboratories in 1894, UL Solutions is based in Northbrook, Illinois.
The Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the U.S. Telecommunications Service Sector notified the FCC it’s begun reviewing T-Mobile’s proposed acquisition of wireless assets from UScellular (see 2405280047). The committee is informally known as Team Telecom. “The Commission will be notified when the [committee] Chair has determined that responses to the Committee’s initial request for information are complete and the 120-day initial review period can begin,” said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 24-286. The FCC last month referred the transaction to the committee at its request (see 2411260041).
The FCC Enforcement Bureau has reached a $287,820 settlement with Frontier Communications over the company's submission of inaccurate information during the Broadband Data Collection challenge process, said an order and consent decree in Wednesday’s Daily Digest. The carrier didn’t amend a submission to the FCC that accurately reflected a response to Frontier's broadband data submissions from the Wisconsin Public Service commission, said the consent decree. Along with the forfeiture, the decree requires Frontier to create a compliance training program and file regular reports with the FCC for two years.
The Senate Communications Subcommittee plans a Dec. 11 hearing on telecom network security issues, the Commerce Committee said Wednesday. Communications policy lobbyists told us Senate Commerce leaders want the hearing to amplify the push for a year-end vehicle appropriating $3.08 billion to fully fund the FCC’s Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program (see 2411190064) amid some signs that chamber leaders are moving closer to agreeing to attach the money to a legislative package. Competitive Carriers Association CEO Tim Donovan, a major rip-and-replace funding proponent, is among those set to testify. Also on the witness docket: James Lewis, Center for Strategic and International Studies Technology and Public Policy Program director, and Global Cyber Strategies CEO Justin Sherman. The Senate Communications hearing will begin at 2:30 p.m. in 253 Russell. Lobbyists said the panel is also likely to focus on the “Salt Typhoon” Chinese government-affiliated effort to hack U.S. telecom networks (see 2411190073). FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines and other Biden administration officials were briefing senators on the matter behind closed doors at our deadline.
In her last address at the annual FCBA dinner Tuesday, outgoing FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel zinged the Donald Trump administration, fellow commissioners and herself, among others. She's been asked since the November election whether she would try being funny at this year's dinner, Rosenworcel responded, "Why would I start now?" Speaking of her post-FCC activities, she quipped, "I have concepts of a plan." Rosenworcel told the "telecom prom" crowd of more than 1,300 she might become a social media influencer and that she just made a video showing herself unboxing 6 GHz devices. Having an "alternative facts" administration won’t be a big stretch for the FCC, she said, because “for years we called the 10th floor the 8th floor." She noted incoming Chairman Brendan Carr made countless media appearances to curry favor with the Trump administration, but, Rosenworcel said, “I think he’s going to regret the decision to buy a Cybertruck.” She added, "Say goodbye to fluoridated water, say hello to ivermectin for all." Rosenworcel continued, "Say goodbye to remote work, say hello to the new Chipotle" a block from FCC headquarters. She ended her remarks with thanks and kudos to the FCC staff.
The FCC’s Communications Equity and Diversity Council's Friday meeting will include remarks from Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, said an agenda released Wednesday. The meeting will also include updates on the progress of the working groups and “a discussion of working group plans going forward.” The CEDC’s charter lasts six more months, but the presumed next FCC chair, Commissioner Brendan Carr, has said that he plans to end the agency’s promotion of diversity equity and inclusion (see 2411180059).
Communications Daily is tracking the lawsuits below involving appeals of FCC actions. New cases since the last update are marked with a *.
NOAA is making plans with NASA for what could result in a high accuracy and robustness service (HARS) that augments GPS, members of the National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) Advisory Board heard Wednesday. Board members also discussed a draft presidential transition issue paper urging the President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration to bolster reliable national PNT capabilities.
ISPs are hopeful that the new Trump administration will focus on streamlining federal permitting once President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January, experts said Wednesday during a Broadband Breakfast webinar.