FCC Releases April 17 Tentative Agenda

and a public notice on the 28 GHz and 24 GHz band auctions. Along with the tentative agenda, the agency released draft versions of the items proposed for the meeting. The FCC proposes to use its standard simultaneous multiple-round (SMR) auction format for the upcoming auction of the 28 GHz band and a clock-auction format for the 24 GHz band, the draft 5G PN said. “By initiating the pre-auction processes for Auctions 101 and 102, we take another important step to promote the deployment of fifth-generation wireless, the Internet of Things, and other advanced spectrum-based services at frequencies above 24 GHz,” the FCC said in the notice. “In doing so, we help ensure continued American leadership in wireless broadband, which represents a critical component of economic growth, job creation, public safety, and global competitiveness.” Differences between the bands dictate the need for different auction formats, the FCC said. "For example, the similarities among blocks in the 24 GHz band facilitate using a clock auction with generic blocks, which will speed up the bidding relative to license-by-license bidding, which is needed when blocks in the band are less uniformly available, as in 28 GHz," the FCC said. The agency said it will offer a total of 5,986 licenses through the two auctions. The agenda also includes an NPRM on barring USF recipients from using risky international suppliers, a proposal to streamline commercial satellite authorization, and media deregulation items on broadcast ancillary services and cable channel listings. As expected, the broadcast ancillary services item doesn’t include changes to broadcast notice rules.