The FCC appears increasingly likely to take a deeper dive into the data retention and privacy policies of wireless carriers. In recent days, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel sent follow-up letters of inquiry to major wireless carriers and mobile virtual network operators, asking for documents and including further, highly detailed questions about their policies (see 2209070077).
The FCC will revisit wireless emergency alerts and the emergency alert system in an NPRM teed up for a vote by commissioners, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said Wednesday. “It is critical that these public safety systems are secure against cyber threats, which means that we must be proactive,” Rosenworcel said of EAS: “The draft proposals shared today will help ensure that our national alerting systems work as intended during emergencies and the public can trust the warnings they receive.” Among the issues teed up are the amount of time EAS participants “may operate before repairing defective EAS equipment,” the need for participants to report compromises of their equipment and the need for security requirements and annual certification of cybersecurity risk management plans. The NPRM also asks about requirements that carriers “take steps to ensure that only valid alerts are displayed on consumer devices.” The FCC said last week 42 state and local government agencies will conduct local WEA tests Monday and Tuesday (see 2208300046).
The FCC published wireless carrier responses to July letters asking about their data retention and data privacy policies. Privacy advocates said this week they hope the letters lead to a renewed focus by the FCC on data privacy issues (see 2208220054).
The FCC published wireless carrier responses to July letters asking about their data retention and data privacy policies. Privacy advocates said this week they hope the letters lead to a renewed focus by the FCC on data privacy issues (see 2208220054).
The Joe Biden administration could be poised to take an action the Donald Trump White House tried but wasn’t able to complete and release a national spectrum strategy, industry officials familiar with the administration’s work on the issue told us. That follows what could be key meeting in May at the Aspen Institute. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson participated in the two-day session, which focused specifically on a national strategy.
The Joe Biden administration could be poised to take an action the Donald Trump White House tried but wasn’t able to complete and release a national spectrum strategy, industry officials familiar with the administration’s work on the issue told us. That follows what could be key meeting in May at the Aspen Institute. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson participated in the two-day session, which focused specifically on a national strategy.
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel responded Thursday to comments about the need for her office to work out an agreement with the union representing agency employees to get more staff back to in-person work (see 2208030046). Rosenworcel “is being very thoughtful about return-to-work policies, and has consistently prioritized the health and safety of FCC employees in planning next steps in our phased reopening,” a spokesperson emailed.
The FCC’s final scheduled 5G auction, of 2.5 GHz spectrum, opened Friday at $103.5 million after one round of bidding. Two more rounds are scheduled for Monday. Industry analysts tell us T-Mobile looks likely to dominate, filling in gaps in its 2.5 GHz holdings, with some smaller carriers likely to jump in if they see the opportunity for a bargain. Verizon, AT&T and Dish Network qualified to bid but appear unlikely to make much of a play, analysts said. T-Mobile already has 159 MHz of 2.5 GHz spectrum nationwide.
Democratic leaders on the House and Senate Commerce committees aren’t fully discounting the possibility the panels could devote some time to evaluating the newly filed Net Neutrality and Broadband Justice Act during the remaining months of this Congress, but some acknowledge any serious consideration of the measure will likely have to wait until 2023 at the earliest. Democratic leaders bristled at some Republicans’ view that lawmakers unveiled the measure as a reaction to FCC nominee Gigi Sohn’s stalled Senate confirmation process (see 2206230066).
Key FCC decisions on the 5.9 GHz band appear to be on hold, pending a U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruling on a case challenging the commission's 2020 order reallocating the spectrum. Judges heard oral arguments six months ago and appeared to be sympathetic to the FCC (see 2201250066).