Industry experts raised concerns Wednesday about the future of the FCC’s Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program. Panelists during a Broadband Breakfast webinar urged quicker action from Congress on additional funding (see 2307180079).
The FCC’s draft notice of inquiry on understanding nonfederal spectrum use “through new data sources, technologies and methods” appears to be generating little official reaction from the wireless industry. Only one party filed comments on the draft in a new docket, 23-232 -- the Institute for the Wireless IoT at Northeastern University. No one reported meetings at the FCC about the draft. Some experts said it's unclear what the NOI will accomplish. Commissioners are expected to approve the item at their Thursday meeting, officials said.
The CEOs of the major U.S. tower companies in recent calls with analysts all acknowledged a general slowdown in Q2 on carrier deployment of 5G. SBA on Monday became the last of the big three to report earnings.
DOJ and the FCC on Monday defended the commission’s order last year further clamping down on gear from Chinese companies, preventing the sale of yet-to-be authorized equipment in the U.S. (see 2211230065). Dahua USA and Hikvision USA challenged the order, which implements the 2021 Secure Equipment Act, questioning whether the FCC exceeded its legal authority (docket 23-1032). The case is in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Oral argument isn't scheduled.
The FCC unanimously approved an order and NPRM on digital FM, said an agency news release Tuesday (see 2301130053). The item was on the agenda for commissioners' open meeting Thursday but was instead voted Monday, and a deletion notice was issued. Stemming from petitions filed by NAB and Xperi, the item proposes relaxing restrictions on digital FM power levels to make it easier for more stations to improve their digital FM coverage. The FCC said the proposals in the NPRM would “offer more efficient FM digital operation, increase digital signal coverage and provide a more robust digital signal for reception inside buildings,” though some raised concerns about increased interference. “This would AM-ize the FM band,” said broadcaster Robert McAllan, CEO of Press Communications, referring to the high levels of background interference from multiple sources in the AM band.
Consumer advocates and industry disagreed on whether it's necessary to codify FCC rules to ensure callers may revoke prior express consent through any reasonable means under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, in comments posted Tuesday in docket 02-278. Some carriers warned it could inhibit certain important information being provided to consumers. Commissioners adopted the item in June (see 2306080043).
Cable and direct broadcast satellite (DBS) interests are all out against the FCC's proposed "all-in" video pricing disclosure rules for video service providers, while local franchise authorities and allies are all in, per docket 23-203 comments posted Tuesday. The all-in pricing NPRM was adopted in June (see 2306200042).
Cybersecurity officials and industry experts urged widespread implementation of best practices to improve border gateway protocol (BGP) security, speaking during a hybrid FCC event Monday on securing internet routing (see 2306160050). Many agreed more collaboration between the public and private sector is needed to strengthen BGP security.
Geography and topography could be a big hurdle for states in NTIA's broadband equity, deployment and access (BEAD) program. In draft five-year action plans, many states cited terrain as a chief challenge for getting service to high-cost areas, with several looking at options including satellite broadband and fixed wireless to serve high-cost areas. Numerous states also cited challenges such as labor shortages and affordability, longer supply chain lead times and regulatory hurdles, according to our review of draft plans made public so far.
Allocating the 6 GHz band for unlicensed use can help cut overall energy use relative to using carrier networks, argues a new study by WIK, released by the Wi-Fi Alliance Monday. European nations are considering whether to follow the U.S. lead and allocate the full 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi, and a key decision on the spectrum is expected at the World Radiocommunication Conference, which starts Nov. 20 in Dubai.