Senate confirms Ethan Klein, ex-Office of Science and Technology Policy during first Trump administration, as U.S. chief technology officer and associate director of OSTP ... WUSF Tampa promotes Leslie Laney to general manager of the radio, online and social media organization, effective Jan. 2, replacing JoAnn Urofsky, retiring … Correction: David Senzel retires from the FCC Office of General Counsel (see 2512180069).
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday to lay out the goal of having a space policy "that will extend the reach of human discovery, secure the Nation’s vital economic and security interests, unleash commercial development, and lay the foundation for a new space age." The order, titled Ensuring American Space Authority, didn't specifically mention the FCC or space regulation. It listed multiple space policy priorities, including a demonstration of "spectrum leadership across space applications to promote United States technology competitiveness, spectrum management efficiency, and global market access." It also committed to returning Americans to the moon by 2028 and establishing the foundations of a permanent lunar outpost by 2030.
Comments are due Jan. 21, replies Feb. 5, on allowing additional frequency bands for use in non-geostationary orbit fixed satellite service satellites communicating with earth stations in motion (ESIMs), said an FCC notice for Monday's Federal Register. The Space Bureau said it's seeking to refresh the record in its 2020 further NPRM about ESIM communications in the 28.35-28.6 GHz band (see 2005130057). The docket is 17-95.
The FCC should allow low-power TV and Class A stations to increase their power and “unlock opportunities” for 5G broadcast pilot programs, said LPTV Broadcasters Association Chairman Frank Copsidas in a meeting last week with acting Media Bureau Chief Erin Boone and Media Bureau staff. “LPTV power limits were established over 30 years ago and reflect the technology of the time,” said an ex parte filing posted Friday in docket 25-224. “Broadcast technology has come a long way and the technology exists to allow LPTV/Class A stations to increase their power while keeping their signal within the licensed contour,” it said. “This would result in much improved reception for consumers and/or first responders, definitely serving the best interest of the public.”
The FCC's Wireline Bureau and Office of Economics and Analytics on Friday released the 2026 “reasonable comparability benchmarks” for fixed voice and broadband services for eligible telecommunications carriers subject to broadband public interest obligations. ETCs must certify by July 1 that the pricing of monthly basic residential voice services isn't more than $61.29, two standard deviations above the average rate of $33.99. The survey includes broadband rates, which run from a U.S. monthly low of $98.33 ($127.58 in Alaska) for 4 Mbps service to a high of $143.93 ($175.28 in Alaska) for 2 Gbps service.
The FCC Wireless Bureau on Friday delayed by 15 days the comment and reply deadlines on an NPRM about rules for an upper C-band auction. The agency has been looking to move as quickly as possible on the notice, which commissioners approved 3-0 in November (see 2512040039). Comments are now due Jan. 20, replies Feb. 18. A brief extension will help commenters “develop more comprehensive responses to the complex technical, legal, and policy issues presented in the NPRM without jeopardizing the Commission’s ability” to complete an auction by July 2027, the bureau said.
The Wireless Infrastructure Association joined the drumbeat of commenters urging the FCC to move forward on the Safer Buildings Coalition's petition urging the FCC to launch a rulemaking on guidelines for getting consent from licensees to install signal boosters (see 2512180063).
Representatives of the Association of American Railroads raised concerns about a proposed voluntary, negotiation-based process to transition 10 MHz in the 900 MHz band to broadband, with 5/5 MHz channels, in meetings with aides to Chairman Brendan Carr and Wireless Bureau staff. Questions about what the FCC will do with the band have impaired “planning and investment” in railroad communications, said a filing Friday in docket 24-99.
The FCC Wireless Bureau sent letters Friday to seven providers reminding them of their buildout obligations under the agency's 3.45 GHz rules. The letters went to Columbia Capital, Cherry Wireless, Whitewater Wireless, Grain Capital, N Squared Wireless, Skylake Wireless and Blue Ridge Wireless. Companies that don’t meet the 2026 requirements face “significant regulatory consequences,” the bureau said.
The Wireline Bureau granted a roughly one-month extension on comment dates for the FCC’s incarcerated people’s communications services order, said an order Friday. Comments are now due Feb. 3, replies March 5. Comments were previously due Jan. 5. The extension was requested by the National Sheriffs’ Association because of the holidays and to allow additional time to gather input from its member organizations.