The FCC unanimously approved an order and NPRM on FY2021 regulatory fees released Thursday, shelving a proposed increase to broadcaster fees (see 2108260050), adopting subcategories of non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite regulatory fees based on system complexity, and seeking comment in docket 21-190 on getting regulatory fees from tech companies and unlicensed device manufacturers in the future. A proceeding on extending the payer base of fees is likely to be a struggle, said Pillsbury broadcast attorney Scott Flick, who represented state broadcast associations in the reg fee proceeding. “Almost any result would be better than the current approach,” he said.
The Universal Service Administrative Co. is “planning a comprehensive redesign” of LifelineSupport.org, said FCC acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. Her letters, posted Friday, went to Reps. Mike Quigley, D-Ill., Steve Womack, R-Ark., Frank Pallone, D-N.J., Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., and James Comer, R-Ky., and Sens. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Gary Peters, D-Mich., and Rob Portman, R-Ohio. The redesign will include “changes to navigational elements and content, informed by user feedback,” Rosenworcel said, and the FCC and USAC are also “determining technical development work” and other steps needed to transition checklifeline.org to the FCC.gov subdomain.
The Universal Service Administrative Co. is “planning a comprehensive redesign” of LifelineSupport.org, said FCC acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. Her letters, posted Friday, went to Reps. Mike Quigley, D-Ill., Steve Womack, R-Ark., Frank Pallone, D-N.J., Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., and James Comer, R-Ky., and Sens. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Gary Peters, D-Mich., and Rob Portman, R-Ohio. The redesign will include “changes to navigational elements and content, informed by user feedback,” Rosenworcel said, and the FCC and USAC are also “determining technical development work” and other steps needed to transition checklifeline.org to the FCC.gov subdomain.
The FCC posted mobile coverage maps Friday, based on information from providers. The maps show different coverage levels among the three major carriers and UScellular, with Verizon’s data coverage appearing to surpass AT&T and T-Mobile's. An FCC spokesperson said the maps are preliminary. “This preview of a mobile broadband and voice coverage map is the first produced under the criteria established by the Broadband DATA Act and reflects data voluntarily provided to the FCC,” a spokesperson emailed. “As the FCC builds its systems and continues to develop these maps, it will integrate into the process consumer and other stakeholder feedback intended to challenge and eventually verify the coverage.” Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel acknowledged “much work remains.” The maps, by the Broadband Data Task Force, are available here. “Using improved systems and data, we can provide better information about where broadband service is and is not,” Rosenworcel said. Spokespersons for consumer groups said they were studying the materials. “Coverage maps are an endless battle that never seems to get solved,” said Summit Ridge Group’s Armand Musey. The coverage likely reflects areas with line of sight to a tower and are only preliminary, he said. Rural Wireless Association counsel Carri Bennet told us it’s not clear why the maps used data from only four providers. The FCC didn’t “share how the data was developed or what underlying formulas were used,” she said: The agency says it’s based on theoretical propagation modeling and not “real world coverage.” It's “a helpful first step towards generating more reliable coverage maps,” said Competitive Carriers Association President Steve Berry: “We look forward to reviewing the maps to assess whether they improve the reliability of the coverage predictions.” Detailed, granular maps "are critical to accurately identifying where there are gaps in broadband service and efficiently targeting public and private investment dollars,” emailed Joan Marsh, AT&T executive vice president-federal regulatory relations. “The LTE voice and data maps that Verizon provided and that the FCC published today are a first step toward better understanding the state of wireless broadband coverage in the country,” a Verizon spokesperson emailed. "As the wireless industry invested $30 billion in 2020 alone to deploy the infrastructure that powered our networks through the pandemic, CTIA and our member companies are continuing to work with our federal partners to help close the digital divide," the group said in a statement.
The FCC posted mobile coverage maps Friday, based on information from providers. The maps show different coverage levels among the three major carriers and UScellular, with Verizon’s data coverage appearing to surpass AT&T and T-Mobile's. An FCC spokesperson said the maps are preliminary. “This preview of a mobile broadband and voice coverage map is the first produced under the criteria established by the Broadband DATA Act and reflects data voluntarily provided to the FCC,” a spokesperson emailed. “As the FCC builds its systems and continues to develop these maps, it will integrate into the process consumer and other stakeholder feedback intended to challenge and eventually verify the coverage.” Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel acknowledged “much work remains.” The maps, by the Broadband Data Task Force, are available here. “Using improved systems and data, we can provide better information about where broadband service is and is not,” Rosenworcel said. Spokespersons for consumer groups said they were studying the materials. “Coverage maps are an endless battle that never seems to get solved,” said Summit Ridge Group’s Armand Musey. The coverage likely reflects areas with line of sight to a tower and are only preliminary, he said. Rural Wireless Association counsel Carri Bennet told us it’s not clear why the maps used data from only four providers. The FCC didn’t “share how the data was developed or what underlying formulas were used,” she said: The agency says it’s based on theoretical propagation modeling and not “real world coverage.” It's “a helpful first step towards generating more reliable coverage maps,” said Competitive Carriers Association President Steve Berry: “We look forward to reviewing the maps to assess whether they improve the reliability of the coverage predictions.” Detailed, granular maps "are critical to accurately identifying where there are gaps in broadband service and efficiently targeting public and private investment dollars,” emailed Joan Marsh, AT&T executive vice president-federal regulatory relations. “The LTE voice and data maps that Verizon provided and that the FCC published today are a first step toward better understanding the state of wireless broadband coverage in the country,” a Verizon spokesperson emailed. "As the wireless industry invested $30 billion in 2020 alone to deploy the infrastructure that powered our networks through the pandemic, CTIA and our member companies are continuing to work with our federal partners to help close the digital divide," the group said in a statement.
Commissioners 4-0 OK'd a public notice Thursday designating innovation zones for experimental licenses in Raleigh and Boston, while expanding New York City's, as expected (see 2108030052). Commissioner Geoffrey Starks urged the FCC to provide licensed spectrum for drones. The Raleigh zone is focused on unmanned aircraft systems.
Commissioners 4-0 OK'd a public notice Thursday designating innovation zones for experimental licenses in Raleigh and Boston, while expanding New York City's, as expected (see 2108030052). Commissioner Geoffrey Starks urged the FCC to provide licensed spectrum for drones. The Raleigh zone is focused on unmanned aircraft systems.
Commissioners 4-0 OK'd a public notice Thursday designating innovation zones for experimental licenses in Raleigh and Boston, while expanding New York City's, as expected (see 2108030052). Commissioner Geoffrey Starks urged the FCC to provide licensed spectrum for drones. The Raleigh zone is focused on unmanned aircraft systems.
Some FCC Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction bidders that received letters allowing them to withdraw certain bids without penalties said in recent interviews they plan to keep their provisionally won bids (see 2107260044). One big RDOF winner, LTD Broadband, told us it may take up the agency on its request. Experts said RDOF Phase II may not start for months as a result.
The FCC Wireline Bureau Lifeline report (see 2107060056) highlights the need for commissioners to consider pausing increases in standards, stakeholders said in recent interviews. Some said the agency should delay the phase-down in voice-only support and consider increasing the subsidy amount, particularly amid the pandemic. The report released about two weeks ago said the formula for updating minimum service standards will "continue to yield increasingly high results." MSS increases have sparked concerns.