Action on Globalstar asking the FCC to revisit allowing unlicensed national information infrastructure (U-NII) devices to operate in the 5.1 GHz band, now 16 months old and counting, (see 1805220006) isn't expected soon. At the 2019 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-19), 5.1 GHz spectrum sharing is on the agenda.
It’s key that DOJ and the FTC clearly divide tech industry investigations to avoid wasted resources and contradictory findings, Senate Judiciary Committee members said in recent interviews. The FTC confirms it’s investigating Facebook for potential antitrust violations, and DOJ is reportedly weighing its own probe of separate but related Facebook conduct. FTC Chairman Joe Simons and DOJ Antitrust Division Chief Makan Delrahim recently acknowledged the agencies wasted resources on interagency squabbling (see 1909170066).
The FCC Office of Economics and Analytics projects three auctions from now through Sept. 30, 2020. Two are already scheduled and a third was promised by Chairman Ajit Pai. The notice doesn’t mention any auctions tied to the USF, including a Mobility Fund II auction. A C-band auction didn’t make the list. The first auction listed is that of the 37, 39, 47 GHz bands, to start Dec. 10 (see 1904120065) and the second is the 3.5 GHz priority access licenses auction, to start June 25 (see 1909260040). The third hasn’t been scheduled, for 2.5 GHz educational broadband service licenses.
Verizon and AT&T clashed on whether the FCC should consider rules to guarantee interoperability as a fundamental responsibility of FirstNet. Comments appeared through Friday (see 1909110062) in docket 19-254 on Colorado's Boulder Regional Emergency Telephone Service Authority (BRETSA) petitions for declaratory ruling or rulemaking. AT&T won a contract to build FirstNet, and Verizon pursues public safety customers for its own network (see 1808140036).
Unmanned aircraft system spectrum is among the topics the Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee will study as it gets to work Tuesday, said a document released last week by NTIA. CSMAC last met in July 2018 (see 1807240057) and once appeared in danger of disappearing entirely (see 1903280060). UAS spectrum will be studied by one of the four subcommittees that will develop reports for CSMAC.
Telecom sector supply chain security and spectrum legislation drew enthusiastic support from House Communications Subcommittee members and witnesses during a Friday hearing, as expected (see 1909260056). They gave no clear guidance during on how they want to proceed on the seven measures the panel examined. Lawmakers focused much of their attention on the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act (HR-4459) and the Studying How to Harness Airwave Resources Efficiently Act (HR-4462), though they also showed interest in other measures.
The FCC apparently missed a deadline to notify NTIA 18 months before the start of the 3.5 GHz auction that an auction would be scheduled. Commissioners approved a public notice on bidding procedures for the citizens broadband radio service auction, to start June 25, at their meeting Thursday. But the FCC denied the band is even subject to Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act (CSEA) requirements. Earlier this year, the Commerce Department and FCC engaged in a battle over 24 GHz band. (see 1908090070).
No matter how sophisticated technology for combating deep fakes and disinformation is, it’s useless without buy-in from large tech platforms, which profit from the rise of sensational content, the House Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee heard Thursday. The worry is companies like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter are more focused on growth than oversight and user support functions, said Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-Va. Platforms disclaim responsibility for user content and have a disincentive to purge fake and bot accounts, she said. Wexton cited a July 2018 report on how Twitter’s stock dropped 8.5 percent after it purged 70 million suspicious accounts over two months. Twitter shares increased about 20 percent between January and December 2018.
In choosing NEXTGEN TV for the go-to-market messaging behind ATSC 3.0 consumer products to be introduced in 2020 (see 1909190066), CTA "ended up with a name and a logo I think we are very happy with and have reviewed with partners,” Brian Markwalter, senior vice president-research and standards, told us. “The collective industry is excited.”
New rules to help prevent access stimulation by telecom providers that take advantage of inefficiencies in existing intercarrier compensation rules got unanimous approval at the Thursday commissioners' meeting. Under the updates, carriers don't need a revenue-sharing arrangement driving call volume to them in order to meet the definition (see 1909190035).