PDVWireless executives said Wednesday they're hopeful the FCC, under Chairman Ajit Pai, will act on their long-stalled request for a private enterprise broadband allocation in the 900 MHz band. PDV and the Enterprise Wireless Alliance asked the FCC to launch an NPRM on the plan in 2014. In 2015, the FCC sought comment on the petition and several critical infrastructure industry commenters raised concerns (see 1506300047). On Aug. 4, the agency released a notice of inquiry seeking comment on ways to increase access to spectrum and improve flexibility and efficiency of the 900 MHz band (see 1708070043). PDV is the largest incumbent in the 900 MHz band. Other proposals to convert spectrum to wireless broadband have stalled at the FCC, but the agency has a new focus under Pai, said PDV Vice Chairman Morgan O’Brien in an interview. The current commission is “very much attuned to moving things along rapidly and assisting in the introduction of new technology,” he said. In the years since the petition was filed, “there is much greater appreciation in industry of what the benefits of broadband are and the economics of broadband,” he said. “The FCC always is attuned to where is the technology going … and it’s going broadband.” PDV is preparing comments to file on the NOI, and beefing up staff, O’Brien said. Originally, the 900 MHz spectrum was part of Nextel’s spectrum portfolio, then sold to PDV in 2014, he said. O’Brien was the founder of Nextel, which later combined with Sprint. Nextel bought the spectrum over a 15-year period, he said: “It’s really sort of the afterlife of auctioned spectrum in a new technology environment.” The FCC didn't comment. PDV is proposing that the 10 MHz channel it owns be reallocated into a 3x3 MHz and 2x2 MHz channel, CEO John Pescatore said. Other incumbents can be re-tuned to avoid interference, he said. “We can literally use the same systems that are out there and retune those radios.” PDV said Wednesday it hired utility industry veteran Kevin Malloy (see 1708150022).

Attention on last weekend’s violence during a white supremacists’ rally in Charlottesville, Virginia (see 1708160044), is spurring tech companies to distance themselves from neo-Nazi organizations. But experts said the tech industry acts only when there's national focus on such issues.

Attention on last weekend’s violence during a white supremacists’ rally in Charlottesville, Virginia (see 1708160044), is spurring tech companies to distance themselves from neo-Nazi organizations. But experts said the tech industry acts only when there's national focus on such issues.

David Redl’s stalled nomination to be NTIA administrator is continuing to get communications and tech sector officials’ attention during Congress’ August recess, with some industry officials noting possible objections from Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Dean Heller, R-Nev., and Mike Lee, R-Utah. Cruz, Heller and Lee are members of the Senate Commerce Committee, which twice delayed a vote because of Cruz’s continued concerns about the U.S.’s October transfer of oversight of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (see 1610030042, 1706280027 and 1708020052). Redl’s troubles must be seen within the bigger picture in Washington, officials and lobbyists said. Votes on other nominees in President Donald Trump’s administration are also on hold, including FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s renomination to another term and Makan Delrahim’s nomination to lead DOJ’s Antitrust Division (see 1708030060 and 1708030063).

Attention on last weekend’s violence during a white supremacists’ rally in Charlottesville, Virginia (see 1708160044), is spurring tech companies to distance themselves from neo-Nazi organizations. But experts said the tech industry acts only when there's national focus on such issues.

David Redl’s stalled nomination to be NTIA administrator is continuing to get communications and tech sector officials’ attention during Congress’ August recess, with some industry officials noting possible objections from Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Dean Heller, R-Nev., and Mike Lee, R-Utah. Cruz, Heller and Lee are members of the Senate Commerce Committee, which twice delayed a vote because of Cruz’s continued concerns about the U.S.’s October transfer of oversight of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (see 1610030042, 1706280027 and 1708020052). Redl’s troubles must be seen within the bigger picture in Washington, officials and lobbyists said. Votes on other nominees in President Donald Trump’s administration are also on hold, including FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s renomination to another term and Makan Delrahim’s nomination to lead DOJ’s Antitrust Division (see 1708030060 and 1708030063).

President Donald Trump's order to review whether China's trade practices discriminate against American companies' IP (see 1708140060) is generally viewed optimistically by industry, and experts told us they hope this at least improves trade relations incrementally. “This is a measured step that raises fair questions [and] it provides ample opportunity to avoid unnecessary escalating trade tension by improving the treatment of American IP in China," said Sentinel Worldwide CEO Steve Tepp. "It's a smart move.”

President Donald Trump's order to review whether China's trade practices discriminate against American companies' IP (see 1708140060) is generally viewed optimistically by industry, and experts told us they hope this at least improves trade relations incrementally. “This is a measured step that raises fair questions [and] it provides ample opportunity to avoid unnecessary escalating trade tension by improving the treatment of American IP in China," said Sentinel Worldwide CEO Steve Tepp. "It's a smart move.”

President Donald Trump's order to review whether China's trade practices discriminate against American companies' IP (see 1708140060) is generally viewed optimistically by industry, and experts told us they hope this at least improves trade relations incrementally. “This is a measured step that raises fair questions [and] it provides ample opportunity to avoid unnecessary escalating trade tension by improving the treatment of American IP in China," said Sentinel Worldwide CEO Steve Tepp. "It's a smart move.”

The FCC inquiry into advanced telecom capability (ATC) deployment signals interest in viewing mobile broadband as a potential substitute for fixed, which would have implications for merger and acquisition reviews and other matters, some parties said. They reacted to a notice of inquiry Tuesday into whether broadband-like ATC is being rolled out to all Americans in a reasonable and timely fashion, pursuant to Section 706 of the Telecom Act (see 1708080070). The prior FCC used negative ATC findings to help justify net neutrality rules and other policy actions under the section's mandate for agency action.