The FCC eighth floor has no strong thoughts about NTIA’s lack of recommendation for Ligado’s license modifications and its saying the spectrum isn’t needed for 5G (see 1912090011). Chairman Ajit Pai after Thursday’s meeting that FCC engineers are trying to “figure out a way forward” on the L band. He didn’t address the NTIA stance or time frame for his agency to act. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said she’s still digesting it. Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said it was “very curious” given the frequent drumbeat for the need for more midband for 5G.

The increasing use of IoT technologies over the next few years creates new challenges for FCC oversight over RF measurement, Office of Engineering and Technology Chief Julius Knapp said during Wednesday's Practising Law Institute conference. Because the advanced technologies don't necessarily allow their batteries to be swapped out every few weeks as they run down, new RF safety issues must be addressed as IoT devices rely on wireless power transfer to recharge. It's very easy to track RF in cellphones through standardized measurements, he said. Newer IoT devices can focus energy into very small areas, "but you can't see it," so it's hard to know where to measure, Knapp told us. "If you can't see it, how many spots do you have to measure?" Knapp is retiring early next year (see 1911270055), and was heralded at the PLI conference Wednesday and with a standing ovation Tuesday at the FCBA Chairman's dinner (see 1912110042). An NPRM last week on RF has questions on wireless power transfer (see 1912040036), Knapp said. Advanced applications of wireless power transfer can provide charging from a transmitting unit to one or more receiving units at distances of a meter or more while the receiving unit is in motion, the NPRM said. It seeks comment on the proposed definition of wireless power transfer devices that transfer electromagnetic energy between a power transfer unit and receiving unit.

New Street’s Blair Levin clarifies the documents that could help prove states' case are those first being discussed in court and not previously filed as part of FCC or DOJ review of T-Mobile buying Sprint (see 1912100029).

As voice providers implement signature-based handling of asserted information using tokens/secure telephony identity revisited (Shaken/Stir) to combat robocalls, they should maintain customer service and other resources to help consumers and call originators on call labeling. That's among recommendations the FCC Consumer Advisory Committee unanimously approved Wednesday without discussion. The Caller ID Authentication Working Group also recommended the commission do studies with stakeholders, including industry and consumer groups, on what factors providers should consider in displaying caller ID information to consumers; collaborate with stakeholders to educate consumers “about how caller ID services, consumer display practices, and other measures can respond to evolving illegal and unwanted robocaller tactics”; continue evaluating how to encourage voice service providers to continue “innovating and improving caller ID services”; and develop webpages and educational campaigns using simple language for implementation. It recommended voice providers “clearly and proactively” inform consumers about caller ID services they offer. Commissioner Mike O’Rielly warned CAC about “unintended consequences” of government intervention. “Many robocalls are beneficial to the public,” he said in a recorded video. "No one should want to block” robocalls from doctors, pharmacies or schools, O’Rielly said. Chairman Ajit Pai still expects major voice providers to implement Shaken/Stir by year-end. “If they don’t, we will be taking action,” he said. He again noted “no silver bullet” exists to prevent all robocalls and “we have to take a multipronged and multistakeholder approach” (see 1907110023). The WG spent time gathering information, including researching reports of robocalls and hearing presentations from AARP, AT&T, CenturyLink, ATIS' Secure Telephone Identity Governance Authority, T-Mobile and TNS, said Michael Santorelli, the group’s co-chair, who's deemed a special government employee. The CAC meeting also featured bureau updates, including on 5G, consumer-related legislation and precision agriculture. Kristi Thompson, Enforcement Bureau Telecom Consumers Division chief, gave an update on consumer scams and “scumbag telemarketing.” Combating fraud "is not only a good idea, but it is a necessity,” she said. “If consumers no longer value their telephone voice services … that’s an existential threat to the service providers.” Noting “we tackled the cramming problems” of unapproved charges on consumer phone bills, “now a trickle of what they were,” she said there's room for hope in fighting scams: “We can succeed again.”

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai pretended to be butt-dialed by ex-New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R), made fun of Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel’s fondness for the word “ruckus,” and called 5G the “most overrated G since Kenny,” at the FCBA Chairman’s Dinner Tuesday evening. Walking out with a grocery bag in imitation of viral footage of GOP impeachment attorney Steve Castor, Pai opened the speech by loudly applying lip balm and laboriously filling his notoriously oversized Reese's coffee cup with water. Comparing the event to the impeachment hearings by calling it a “cult-like ritual in a Washington, D.C., basement,” Pai said FCBA event attendees were served steak, fish and salad, but deep Dish (Network) “can emerge as a viable fourth competitor”-- a reference to T-Mobile's plans to buy Sprint and make divestitures to that company. That deal is in court (see 1912110036). “If you haters think that joke is bad, buckle up, cuz it gets a lot worse!,” Pai told the crowd. FCBA said the event had 1,600 attendees. Pai said T-Mobile CEO John Legere is going to head the Wireless Bureau and hold staff meetings at the Trump International Hotel, and pretended the call from “Giuliani” couldn’t be connected because it was using Dish’s network. Dish Chairman “Charlie [Ergen] told me that would be up and running by now,” he said. Pai pointed out that former Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Robert McDowell had both advocated for T-Mobile/Sprint. Clyburn argued that the deal would help address the digital divide, Pai said. "Rob thought it would get him quoted again in Comm Daily and TR Daily." Pai said the auto industry uses the 5.9 GHz spectrum the same way he “uses” his home treadmill as a laundry hanger, said Commissioner Brendan Carr wins awards only when Pai has a scheduling conflict, and imitated President Donald Trump by showing a picture of his own head photo-edited onto the body of movie boxer Rocky Balboa. Commissioners vote on a 5.9 GHz proposal Thursday (see 1912110056). Many of Pai’s jokes referenced Twitter memes, and he proclaimed that his proudest moments as FCC chair were a pair of his tweets riffing on the apparent on-air flatulence of Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif. Pai also expressed interest in rumors about Secretary of State Mike Pompeo running for the Senate in Kansas and pretended to be dismissive of Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg while also pointing out their similarities. Buttigieg is a Harvard educated “super-nerd” who pretends to be a “folksy” everyman “from the heartland,” Pai said. “I don’t buy it, and you should not buy it, either,” he said.

The FCC auction of licenses in the 37, 39 GHz and 47 GHz bands opened Tuesday, with $715.3 million in gross proceeds after the first two rounds. The FCC is making 3,400 MHz of millimeter-wave spectrum available through the auction for 5G. The auction “shows that America is continuing to lead the world in 5G, the next generation of wireless connectivity,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. “With this year’s high band auctions and continued focus on releasing critical mid-band spectrum next year, we will maintain our leadership in the emerging 5G economy,” said CTIA President Meredith Baker. Three rounds are scheduled for Wednesday.

Mobile service isn't a functional substitute for fixed broadband, at least not yet, the Communications Workers of America answered an FCC notice of inquiry (see 1910230065) for its annual report on deployment of advanced telecom services. Comments posted through Tuesday in docket 19-285. "Mobile broadband cannot deliver performance as consistent as wireline services," said CWA. It said "5G technology has the potential to provide high-speed Internet, [but] it is premature to consider it a full substitute for wired broadband today." Just because some users rely on a mobile device to stream video, do online research or seek employment when no fixed broadband alternative is available "does not mean that mobile and fixed services are now suddenly functional equivalents," the Wireless ISP Association said. USTelecom (here) and NCTA (here) back the FCC proposal to retain 25/3 Mbps for fixed download and uploads. CTA wants "the prompt and dependable expansion of next-generation broadband networks" to support the IoT, and calls for widespread deployment of mobile broadband networks. "The possibility that the FCC may consider mobile internet access as part of meeting universal deployment of advanced telecommunications capability is troubling because the capabilities of mobile service do not yet meet those of wired broadband access and many services are subject to data caps, which disproportionately hurt consumers with lower incomes," said the American Library Association. "The record is clear," Public Knowledge, Common Cause and Next Century Cities said: "Mobile and fixed broadband continue to be complementary services and are not substitutes for each other." PK and co-signers want the benchmark increased to 100 Mbps downstream.

The FCC Enforcement Bureau issued Tuesday citations that could involve later fines if the problems aren't remedied. The actions are against ISPs for alleged failure to disclose, under net neutrality rules, things such as network management practices, performance and commercial terms. Those cited include International Power Systems (see here), Stoneham Cooperative Telephone (see here), RipFlo Network (see here), Reynolds Cable TV (see here) and MicroTek Solutions (see here). They didn't comment. Also cited, among others, were ISPs in Iowa (see here); Mississippi (see here); South Carolina (see here); Maryland (see here); Montana (see here); South Dakota (see here); New York (see here); Illinois (see here); Texas (see here and here); a Georgia city and a company in the state (see here and here); Michigan (see here); Pennsylvania (see here); California (see here); and West Virginia (see here).

Congressional leaders appeared very close to an agreement Monday afternoon on Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act reauthorization legislation, Capitol Hill aides and lobbyists told us. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., also confirmed to reporters Monday they were nearing a deal. The House is set to vote Tuesday on the House Commerce Committee-cleared Television Viewer Protection Act (HR-5035). That bill would make permanent STELA's good-faith retransmission consent negotiations requirement and continue to allow importing distant signals under the compulsory license (see 1911200048). The potential compromise between HR-5035 and other STELA bills draws language from the Satellite Television Community Protection and Promotion Act (HR-5140), which would make permanent STELA's distant-signal compulsory license language but limit its scope to cover only trucks, RVs and households in short markets. Graham and others said Hill leaders are seeking to jettison language added during House Judiciary Committee markup of HR-5140 by Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., that expands beyond the originally proposed 120 days the limited extension of the distant-signal license for categories of subscribers that would be removed from the license (see 1911210052). Lofgren wanted the initial window to be six months. A satellite company could then apply for a theoretically unlimited number of 90-day extensions as long as it files a notice with the Copyright Office proving it acted “reasonably and in good faith” to provide coverage to all markets.

Thomas Susman is the name of the strategic adviser for the American Bar Association Governmental Affairs Office (see 1910020003).