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Wireless Spectrum Auctions

The FCC manages and licenses the electromagnetic spectrum used by wireless, broadcast, satellite and other telecommunications services for government and commercial users. This activity includes organizing specific telecommunications modes to only use specific frequencies and maintaining the licensing systems for each frequency such that communications services and devices using different bands receive as little interference as possible.

What are spectrum auctions?

The FCC will periodically hold auctions of unused or newly available spectrum frequencies, in which potential licensees can bid to acquire the rights to use a specific frequency for a specific purpose. As an example, over the last few years the U.S. government has conducted periodic auctions of different GHz bands to support the growth of 5G services.

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CPUC Grants Verizon 30-Day Extension for TracFone Settlement
January 9, 2024 |State Telecom

The California Public Utilities Commission extended the deadline 30 days, until Feb. 7, for Verizon and consumer advocates to complete negotiating a settlement on migrating TracFone customers still using non-Verizon networks. CPUC Administrative Law Judge Thomas Glegola granted Verizon’s request on Friday in docket A.20-11-001. The parties already agree in principle on most issues, the request said.

RGTN FCC Direct Number Authorization Request Under Review: DOJ
January 5, 2024 |Telecom Notes

The Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the U.S. Telecommunications Services Sector is reviewing RGTN USA's direct number access authorization request, said a DOJ letter to the FCC posted Wednesday in docket 23-335. An interconnected VoIP provider, RGTN requested numbers in California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas (see 2309210055). The agency will notify the FCC when its initial request for information is complete and the 120-day initial review can begin, the letter said.

Verizon Nears Pact on TracFone Migration; Frontier Seeks Blue Casa Exit Conditions
January 5, 2024 |State Telecom

Verizon could soon finalize a possible settlement with The Utility Reform Network (TURN) and Center for Accessible Technology (CforAT) related to migrating TracFone customers still using non-Verizon networks, the carrier said Wednesday at the California Public Utilities Commission. “The parties have an agreement in principle on most terms and are close to resolving the remaining terms,” Verizon emailed Administrative Law Judge Thomas Glegola. The email was shared with the service list in docket A.20-11-001. While Verizon said the deal could be done in two weeks, it asked Glegola for 30 days -- until Feb. 7 -- to conclude the settlement. Verizon said CforAT and TURN support the extension. In another docket, A.23-09-006, Frontier Communications told the CPUC that it doesn’t necessarily oppose Blue Casa’s application to relinquish its eligible telecom carrier (ETC) designation and discontinue local exchange and interexchange services in AT&T and Frontier territory. But the commission should impose “reasonable conditions on Blue Casa to ensure a fair and reasonable mass migration, including setting a reasonable timeframe for any required mass migration and Blue Casa’s proposed market exit,” Frontier wrote Wednesday. “Frontier estimates that approximately eight to ten weeks from the date of the Commission’s approval of the Application would be needed to migrate the 639 Blue Casa customers that are in Frontier’s service area.” Also, the CPUC should condition the exit on Blue Casa paying its outstanding balance to Frontier and reimbursing “Frontier’s reasonable costs for implementing any forced mass migration.” Also Wednesday, CPUC Administrative Law Judge Patricia Miles set a preconference hearing for Jan. 22 on Consolidated Communications' transfer of indirect ownership and control of its California and enterprise subsidiaries to Condor Holdings. Consolidated and Condor sought New Hampshire approval last week (see 2401020037).