A group of companies and associations, including Federated Wireless and Charter Communications, urged the FCC in comments this week to adopt a nonexclusive, nonauctioned shared licensed framework in the lower 37 GHz band. The band is one of five targeted for further study in the administration’s national spectrum strategy (see 2311130048). Comments were due Monday in docket 24-243 and most were posted on Tuesday.
Carriers clashed over whether the FCC should move forward on an order that generally imposes industry-wide handset unlocking rules, requiring all mobile wireless providers to unlock handsets 60 days after they’re activated. Groups representing low-income consumers warned the rules could mean ending subsidies for purchasing phones. Comments were due Monday in docket 24-186, on an NPRM commissioners approved 5-0 in July (see 2407180037).
House Communications Subcommittee members traded partisan barbs about NTIA’s implementation of the $42.5 billion broadband equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program, as expected (see 2409040040). Republicans delivered most of the criticism, in part blasting NTIA for what they view as an unnecessarily long timeline for rolling out the money. House Commerce Committee panel GOP leaders launched a probe in July of NTIA’s BEAD-related communications with state broadband offices (see 2407090057). Democrats defended NTIA’s management of the program and blasted GOP lawmakers for obstructing recent broadband funding efforts.
Albedo Space is eyeing February for the launch of its initial commercial earth exploration satellite service satellite. It plans having a 24-satellite constellation in orbit by April 2031, it told the FCC Space Bureau in an application posted Monday. It said the constellation, capturing visible and thermal imaging, will operate in very low earth orbit of 320 km.
With the satellite industry rapidly becoming more competitive, SES hopes it can close its proposed purchase of Intelsat by June, the companies told FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, according to a docket 24-267 filing posted Monday. Since the spring announcement of the deal (see 2404300048), nearly 700 satellites have been launched and hundreds more are expected before the commission completes its review, they said.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday denied a Gray Television motion asking it be allowed to file a supplemental briefing in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's Jarkesy decision (see 2408140057) (docket 22-14274). Gray is appealing a $518,000 FCC forfeiture order.
Comments are due Oct. 10, replies Oct. 25, on an FCC NPRM and notice of inquiry aimed at reducing unwanted AI robocalls. Commissioners approved the measures 5-0 in August (see 240807003). “Complaints regarding unwanted and illegal robocalls and robotexts are consistently the top category of consumer complaints that the Commission receives,” said a notice for Tuesday’s Federal Register: “As a result, it is critical that the Commission stay abreast of new technologies that may impact the privacy protections afforded to consumers under” the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. The notice also seeks comments Nov. 12 as part of the initial Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 analysis.
Direct Action for Rights and Equality (DARE) asked the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to hold parts of the FCC's order on incarcerated people's communications services unlawful and remand the issue to the commission in a petition filed last week (docket 24-1814). The group filed a protective petition to "safeguard its rights in pursuing litigation" because only part of the order was published in the Federal Register. The published portion of the order addressed petitions for reconsideration, clarification and a waiver (see 2408230012). DARE noted it was "aggrieved by the order itself" and "does not claim to be separately aggrieved by the limited portion of the order" that was published.
The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation warned of potential unintended consequences if the FCC approves industrywide handset unlocking rules, as proposed in a July NPRM (see 2407180037). Comments were due Monday in docket 24-186. “The NPRM’s tentative conclusions in favor [of] a uniform 60-day unlocking requirement overstate the benefits of the Commission’s proposal relative to its costs,” ITIF warned. Handsets are often tied to a carrier because they are subsidized, the group added. “This bargained-for exchange is beneficial to consumers who may be more price sensitive and thus willing to forgo some future flexibility in exchange for more money in their pockets at the time of purchase,” ITIF said: “Mandatory unlocking denies consumers this choice.” Incompas supports unlocking requirements, President Angie Kronenberg said Monday. "The practice of locking phones makes it more difficult for consumers to change providers,” she said: “Unlocking requirements allow customers to switch networks more easily, which means larger providers are incentivized to compete for customers rather than locking them into a plan -- enabling smaller providers to better compete.”
The Michigan Public Safety Communications Interoperability Board and Florida Police Chiefs Association became the latest groups to oppose a proposal to give the FirstNet Authority control of the 4.9 GHz band. “Granting the license to the FirstNet Authority would likely result in that spectrum being incorporated into that network’s existing cellular architecture, which would practically eliminate one of the primary existing applications of the band -- local point-to-point links,” the Michigan organization said in a comment posted Monday in docket 07-100. The Florida chiefs called the proposal “troubling.” Groups have lined up on both sides of the issue. New Street’s Blair Levin told investors last week, that FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel appears supportive of the band's reallocation to FirstNet. “This issue does not appear to be election dependent, but there is a material risk that the order may be overturned by the courts,” Levin said.