Rural and small ISP officials urged Congress to step in to complement FCC actions aimed at fixing the agency's broadband coverage data collection practices. The appeal came during a House Small Business Committee Infrastructure Subcommittee hearing Tuesday. They cited legislation and the commission's planned August vote on a proposal from Chairman Ajit Pai (see 1906120076). The broadband mapping issue has repeatedly drawn the ire of lawmakers (see 1905150061). The House Rules Committee, meanwhile, cleared for floor consideration three broadband-related amendments to the FY 2020 budget bill (HR-3351) containing funding for the FCC and FTC (see 1906240061).
The 3.5 GHz citizens broadband radio service band is unlikely to play a big role in Wi-Fi and instead will provide the unlicensed component of 5G, Martha Suarez, new president of the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance, said in an interview. Suarez recently joined DSA after serving as general director of the National Spectrum Agency in Colombia. DSA’s global summit is this week in Washington.
FCC Commissioner Mike O'Rielly is open to contribution overhaul to support the USF but doesn't support adding a usage fee for broadband services, he said Tuesday in conversation with former Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth. Adding a fee to broadband could tip the price of the service beyond the reach of some consumers, O'Rielly said. "Raising the cost could change adoption rates. It does matter." O'Rielly spoke about capping universal broadband funds at the Hudson Institute where Furchtgott-Roth is director of Center for the Economics of the Internet.
With an eye on mid-band spectrum for 5G, Ligado sought prompt FCC action on its license modification applications under section 7 of the Communications Act. They have been pending since Dec. 31, 2015, the company said Tuesday. Meanwhile, 40 MHz of spectrum that could be used for 5G isn’t (see 1906050062), the company said. Early in his chairmanship, Ajit Pai promised to “breathe life” into the section 7 rules (see 1703150020). The section requires the FCC to respond to petitions or applications proposing new technologies and services within a year. An NPRM on the section has been open since last year.
FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr is “leaning” toward a plan to loosen radio subcap limits that leave some limits in place in cities but open up ownership limits in smaller markets, he said at a Federalist Society luncheon Tuesday. Carr said he hasn't made a final decision. He acknowledged the plan proposed by NAB and described in the 2018 ownership quadrennial review NPRM is “consistent” with where he's leaning.
The House Communications Subcommittee advanced the compromise Stopping Bad Robocalls Act (HR-3375) Tuesday. But Senate Majority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., also renewed his concerns about it not being a direct companion to his Senate-passed Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (Traced) Act (S-151). HR-3375 would clarify the definition of a robocall and clarify exemptions to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. It would direct the FCC to issue rules requiring carriers to offer opt-out robocall blocking and caller ID services to consumers for free; increases to three years -- and in some cases, four -- the statute of limitations for illegal spoofing; and would increase FCC ability to impose fines (see 1906200061).
Reliability of an online content delivery network (CDN) to replace GOES rebroadcast (GRB) weather data from NOAA is being questioned by some in the weather and satellite community as the FCC seeks comment on proposed allocation and service rules for the 1675-1680 MHz band. Weather interests also raised red flags about possible interference issues (see 1906210056).
Every C-band receive location in the U.S. could be connected to fiber as a replacement for satellite delivery of content for about $1 billion, “demonstrating that it is cost effective to clear all 500 MHz of C- band spectrum” for 5G, T-Mobile filed in comments posted Monday in FCC docket 18-122. T-Mobile submitted a study by Roberson and Associates supporting that proposal. Officials from T-Mobile and the consultant also reported on meetings to present the study. The filing opposes the C-Band Alliance’s proposal.
A trained workforce is critical to 5G and other high tech, officials said Monday at a Heritage Foundation event. James Redstone, special assistant to the president, said President Donald Trump fully supports workforce training and is making it a priority. FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr has stresses training skilled tower workers to 5G (see 1904180054).
House lawmakers are seeking to add at least seven broadband, anti-robocall and privacy-related amendments to the FY 2020 budget bill containing funding for the FCC and FTC (HR-3351) before the chamber begins considering the measure later this week. The House Rules Committee was expected to decide Monday night which of the at least 115 filed proposals it will allow to move to the floor. Lawmakers still need to take a final vote on the “minibus” FY 2020 budget bill (HR-3055) that includes funding for NTIA, other Commerce Department agencies and the Agriculture Department (see 1906190061). The House already approved seven tech and telecom-related amendments to HR-3055 (see 1906210001).