The FCC Public Safety Bureau report on June’s derecho wind storm, which knocked out phone service for 3.6 million people in the mid-Atlantic and beyond -- many unable to reach 911 for several hours -- made demands of telcos among its recommendations. The Public Safety Bureau released the 56-page document Thursday after starting an investigation in July (CD July 20 p5). Four 911 centers in northern Virginia lost 911 access completely, prompting a close look at Verizon’s role and backup power generator failures there. FCC recommendations include provisions on backup power and audits and preface a rulemaking notice intended to strengthen emergency communications.
Addressing Internet Protocol interconnection must be a priority, and the FCC should monitor the market and stand ready to act in the case of market failure, commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel said Thursday at the Practicising Law Institute telecom policy conference. Clyburn applauded the creation of the Technology Transitions Task Force (CD Dec 11 p5), and proposed that it recommend addressing the IP interconnection issues raised in last year’s USF/intercarrier compensation order, and “fully evaluate” the framework to ensure voice traffic continues to be exchanged between providers. Rosenworcel said the commission “must monitor IP-to-IP interconnection and stand ready to act to ensure that network providers negotiate in good faith."
Partisan strife flared in a House Communications Subcommittee hearing Wednesday over the FCC framework for the spectrum incentive auction. Republican lawmakers and FCC commissioners sparred with Democrats over how the government should acquire and reallocate some of the nation’s most valuable airwaves. Partisan differences over how much spectrum should be preserved to protect licensed spectrum and be used for lower-power unlicensed activities played out in recent days in commissioners’ prepared testimony (CD Dec 12 p7). Democrats separately expressed disapproval of a draft order that would relax media cross-ownership rules (CD Dec 12 p5), which they said would have a negative impact on media diversity and localism.
In what many observers view as a sleeper order with important long-term implications, the FCC Wednesday approved launching a rulemaking aimed at opening the 3550-3650 MHz band for shared use and use by small cells. The spectrum is now set aside for high-powered military radar and fixed satellite service earth stations and satellites. The NPRM proposes that the band be reallocated under a three-tiered “Citizens Broadband Service” under Part 95 of the commission’s rules.
Republicans and Democrats on the House Communications Subcommittee are likely to spar Wednesday over two particular issues raised by an FCC September notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM): the allocation of unlicensed spectrum and bidder eligibility requirements, according to planning memos. The subcommittee’s majority memo, published this week, said the FCC runs the risk of “short changing” first responders if the commission decides to give away much of the spectrum that is cleared in connection with the forthcoming broadcast incentive auctions. The memo also urged the commission against “picking winners and losers” by excluding parties from the auction. Subcommittee Democrats shot back Tuesday with a minority memo that said Republicans are seeking to “reopen issues that were resolved in the legislation.”
The FCC approved rules moving toward implementing the Local Community Radio Act, which includes a fifth order on reconsideration that establishes a national limit of 70 applications, and a sixth report and order establishing a second-adjacent channel spacing waiver standard, during its meeting Friday. The FCC plans to open a filing window for new low power FM applications in October 2013.
In an otherwise routine order Friday clarifying some requirements of the November 2011 USF/intercarrier compensation order and tweaking others, FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel issued a separate statement suggesting simplifications to the “extremely” complex reforms. She worries that the complexity of the order, and the benchmarks that shift annually, could make life difficult for telcos that want to invest in their networks. “I fear that this complexity can deny rural carriers dependent on them the certainty they need to confidently invest in their network infrastructure,” Rosenworcel wrote. “So when opportunities arise to simplify our rules in a manner that is fiscally sound, good for investment, and good for rural consumers -- I think we should seize them."
Easing rules around spectrum use, streamlining rules for satellite license applications and satellite export control reform efforts will likely remain the top satellite-related priorities at the FCC and from a broader administration perspective under a Barack Obama presidential term, industry executives said. The agenda for satellite proceedings isn’t expected to change if FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski leaves his post, as some think he will next year, they said. Genachowski said Friday he has no plans to leave (CD Nov 13 p3).
The FCC on Friday approved a notice of proposed rulemaking that will establish rules for an incentive auction of broadcast spectrum for wireless broadband, to take place as early as 2014. The NPRM moves the FCC a step closer to what is already the most anticipated auction since the 700 MHz auction four years ago. Commissioner Ajit Pai concurred only on parts of the NPRM, saying the commission leaves too many critical questions unasked.
The FCC approved a notice of proposed rulemaking on measuring spectrum aggregation over concerns raised by Commissioners Ajit Pai and Robert McDowell. But FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said a review was overdue, especially as the FCC prepares for an incentive auction of broadcast spectrum. Pai had considered a dissent, but instead concurred (CD Sept 20 p1).