The National Multifamily Housing Council lobbied FCC leadership, calling the apartment industry "very competitive," with "owners keenly aware" of the need to provide modern communications services for residents. "This debate is really about whether the commission should help a handful of potential competitors carve up the high end of the market," said NMHC on meetings with Chairman Ajit Pai, Brendan Carr, Jessica Rosenworcel and aides, posted Tuesday in docket 17-91 (here, here and here). "Providers control the market. There is a lack of competition in the market today, but it is in the smaller, less lucrative buildings that competitive providers choose not to serve." NMHC backed a petition to pre-empt a San Francisco code that requires multi-tenant buildings let occupants request access to competing providers (see 1612150006). It opposed further FCC steps toward regulation from a multiple tenant environment inquiry (see 1706220036) and Article 8 of the Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee's proposed Model State Act (see 1807270020), which it said "would force the rental apartment industry to subsidize" broadband deployment. In a USTelecom forbearance proceeding, Incompas pressed the FCC to keep discounted wholesale unbundled network elements, which it said facilitate fiber networks that assist 5G. An enhanced satellite image of San Francisco showing fiber deployments by Zayo in business districts and Sonic Telecom in residential areas -- with Sonic crediting UNEs "as a stepping stone" -- illustrates the potential for competitive "fiber rich networks for fronthauling of small cells in residential areas," wrote Incompas on meeting a Pai aide, in docket 18-141.
The FCC has rarely held multiple spectrum auctions at once, but it’s not clear what industry wants the agency to do, Wireless Bureau Chief Donald Stockdale said at an FCBA lunch Wednesday. Meanwhile, the FCC started its first millimeter-wave auction, with bids coming in at just under $41.7 million after two rounds. It reported provisionally winning bids on 2,065 of the 3,072 28 GHz licenses for sale in the auction. The FCC plans three rounds Thursday, starting at 10 a.m.
The Florida Public Service Commission pressed the FCC to take "necessary actions" before transferring oversight of IP captioned telephone service to state telecom relay service programs. "Provide detailed cost information regarding IP CTS usage by state and address existing waste and abuse," recommended the FPSC, posted Friday in docket 13-24. "Provide sufficient transition time, which would be necessary for Florida to consider state statutory revisions and implement a sufficient funding mechanism." Provider ClearCaptions sought "alternatives for compensation rates for IP CTS currently being considered" under a Further NPRM, in a meeting with FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. The company proposes a "multi-tiered rate structure to compensate IP CTS providers in lieu of rate proposals offering a single rate for all." It met Commissioner Brendan Carr and aides to Commissioners Mike O'Rielly and Jessica Rosenworcel, and with Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau Chief Patrick Webre.
The Florida Public Service Commission pressed the FCC to take "necessary actions" before transferring oversight of IP captioned telephone service to state telecom relay service programs. "Provide detailed cost information regarding IP CTS usage by state and address existing waste and abuse," recommended the FPSC, posted Friday in docket 13-24. "Provide sufficient transition time, which would be necessary for Florida to consider state statutory revisions and implement a sufficient funding mechanism." Provider ClearCaptions sought "alternatives for compensation rates for IP CTS currently being considered" under a Further NPRM, in a meeting with FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. The company proposes a "multi-tiered rate structure to compensate IP CTS providers in lieu of rate proposals offering a single rate for all." It met Commissioner Brendan Carr and aides to Commissioners Mike O'Rielly and Jessica Rosenworcel, and with Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau Chief Patrick Webre.
Experts see the FCC orbital debris rules re-examination, on Nov. 15's tentative agenda, as a good start in facing increased worries about space junk. It may be a long process. Given complexity of debris mitigation, "these changes in the rules are not likely to result in a sudden sea change," emailed P.J. Blount, University of Mississippi air and space law adjunct professor.
All indications are the FCC September wireless infrastructure order is speeding deployment of small cells and 5G, Commissioner Brendan Carr said Thursday at a Georgetown Center for Business and Public Policy event. Carr said he made no decision about possible next steps for the FCC and isn't concerned about legal challenges by two carriers. Members approved the declaratory ruling and order over partial dissent by Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel and protests by state and local government groups (see 1809260029).
Delegates from around the world elected American Doreen Bogdan-Martin director of the ITU Telecom Development Bureau, voting at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference Thursday. Some observers predicted Bogdan-Martin could face an uphill fight, especially since that position traditionally has gone to someone from Africa (see 1808240011). Bogdan-Martin becomes the highest-ranking woman in ITU history and the first person from the U.S. in 30 years to get one of the five leadership positions there. The election establishes her as an eventual candidate for secretary-general, industry observers said.
Delegates from around the world elected American Doreen Bogdan-Martin director of the ITU Telecom Development Bureau, voting at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference Thursday. Some observers predicted Bogdan-Martin could face an uphill fight, especially since that position traditionally has gone to someone from Africa (see 1808240011). Bogdan-Martin becomes the highest-ranking woman in ITU history and the first person from the U.S. in 30 years to get one of the five leadership positions there. The election establishes her as an eventual candidate for secretary-general, industry observers said.
Though it's unclear what will come out of the comprehensive national spectrum strategy ordered by President Donald Trump last week (see 1810250018), industry officials said government is right to do everything it can, given the escalating demands for spectrum amid coming 5G. Some are skeptical.
Though it's unclear what will come out of the comprehensive national spectrum strategy ordered by President Donald Trump last week (see 1810250018), industry officials said government is right to do everything it can, given the escalating demands for spectrum amid coming 5G. Some are skeptical.