The latest comments posted in docket 25-223 show disagreement on what changes the FCC should make to its approach to its Telecom Act Section 706 reports to Congress (see 2509090010). Among them, USTelecom and CTIA urged the commission to refocus the report to look just at deployment. Commissioners approved a notice of inquiry in August on the preparation of the reports, with an eye on more narrowly focusing them based on the statutory language (see 2508050056).
The FCC’s direct final rule process and planned deletion of rules could disproportionately affect rural Alaska, and the agency should consult with tribal nations on any deletions, the Knik Tribe said in comments posted Wednesday in docket 25-133.
Communications Daily is tracking the lawsuits below involving appeals of FCC actions.
The FCC’s newly launched Consumer Protection and Accessibility Advisory Committee (CPAAC) will focus on two particularly pressing consumer issues: promoting accessibility in modern communications and “the scourge of illegal robocalls,” Chairman Brendan Carr said Wednesday. Speaking at the inaugural meeting of what he called the "renamed and refocused" advisory group, Carr promised increased FCC enforcement efforts aimed at illegal robocalls, including "actions that effectively prohibit voice service providers from connecting or maintaining their connections" to U.S. telephone networks.
The House Appropriations Committee voted 35-28 early Wednesday morning to advance the Labor, Health and Human Services Subcommittee’s FY 2026 funding bill after turning back Democrats’ bid to attach $535 million in advance CPB funding for FY 2028. The measure lacks language to restore any of the $1.1 billion in federal money for CPB that Congress clawed back in July via the 2025 Rescissions Act (see 2509030065). Meanwhile, House Appropriations appeared on track Wednesday afternoon to advance the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Subcommittee’s FY26 bill, which would cut NTIA’s annual funding (see 2507150086). The panel was still considering amendments at our deadline.
NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth announced Wednesday that she's sending a letter to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr asking the agency to launch an auction of the 1675-1680 MHz band. It would be the first 5 MHz of the 500 MHz that NTIA is required to identify for auction under the reconciliation package, signed into law in July (see 2507070045). Carr aide Arpan Sura said the FCC is “laser-focused” on the upper C band for what is likely to be the only major spectrum auction in the next few years. Both spoke at NTIA’s spectrum policy symposium.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit on Wednesday upheld a $46.9 million fine against Verizon for violating FCC data rules in a decision that could trigger the U.S. Supreme Court to take the case, given the current split in the circuits (see 2509100019). In August, the D.C. Circuit upheld a similar fine against T-Mobile (see 2508150044), while the 5th Circuit earlier rejected a fine imposed on AT&T (see 2504180001).
NextNav CEO Mariam Sorond and other executives met with an aide to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr on the company’s proposal “to enable 5G-based 3D Positioning, Navigation, and Timing in the Lower 900 MHz band,” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 25-110. NextNav officials “described the public interest benefits and technical and economic analyses supporting” the proposal and urged the commission “to promptly issue” an NPRM, the filing said. It also included a slide presentation making the case for the proposal.
The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology on Tuesday approved a waiver sought by Lumi United Technology for an ultra-wideband (UWB) door lock system that would operate in the 6-10 GHz frequency range (see 2504110043). “We find nothing in the record to indicate that Lumi’s devices would differ from other UWB devices such that they would pose an increased risk of causing harmful interference to authorized radio services,” OET said in docket 25-102.
NCTA is urging the FCC to consider mandatory deadlines for review of rights-of-way permits related to broadband deployments. In a recap of its meeting with staffers of Chairman Brendan Carr, posted Tuesday (docket 17-84), NCTA also endorsed prohibiting moratoriums on rights-of-way access and not allowing "onerous requirements or conditions" to get right-of-way permits.