The FCC is seeking comment on bidirectional sharing, as required by the Ray Baum Act. Whether anything will result from a recent notice (see 1905010205) remains unclear, government and industry officials told us this week. NTIA has supported bidirectional sharing and asked the FCC to look more closely at the issue (see 1403250035). Industry officials are interested in what NTIA has to say if it files later this month. Comments are due May 31, replies June 17, in docket 19-128.
Wireless Spectrum Auctions
The FCC manages and licenses the electromagnetic spectrum used by wireless, broadcast, satellite and other telecommunications services for government and commercial users. This activity includes organizing specific telecommunications modes to only use specific frequencies and maintaining the licensing systems for each frequency such that communications services and devices using different bands receive as little interference as possible.
What are spectrum auctions?
The FCC will periodically hold auctions of unused or newly available spectrum frequencies, in which potential licensees can bid to acquire the rights to use a specific frequency for a specific purpose. As an example, over the last few years the U.S. government has conducted periodic auctions of different GHz bands to support the growth of 5G services.
International Association of Fire Chiefs President Dan Eggleston discussed the T-band with Chief Lisa Fowlkes and others from the FCC Public Safety Bureau, said a filing in docket 07-114. A provision in the 2012 spectrum law mandates public safety agencies move off the 470-512 MHz T band by 2021 (see 1808020051). The meeting covered “the challenges posed by an auction of the T-Band, particularly the lack of alternative spectrum options for public safety incumbents,” IAFC said: “Also mentioned were the many benefits that the T-Band provides to public safety as a reliable communications resource.” Eggleston supported tougher standards for locating the vertical access of wireless calls to 911 but suggested the FCC “explore narrowing the margin of error over a reasonable timeframe as technology develops.”
There was much enthusiasm for looking at the 4.9 GHz band when a Further NPRM was approved on a 5-0 vote 13 months ago (see 1803220037). Now, FCC and industry officials said they've heard almost nothing since the agency took comments last summer. While 4.9 GHz offers prized mid-band spectrum, it’s one segment that rarely gets attention as the FCC looks at 5G. Last year’s notice was the sixth the agency issued.
The North American Catholic Educational Programming Foundation and Mobile Beacon urged the FCC to protect existing educational broadband service licensees if it makes changes to the 2.5 GHz band. Commissioners approved 4-0 last May an NPRM on ways to spark interest in the band, including a potential incentive auction (see 1805100053). The foundation and Mobile Beacon said they looked closely at proposals. "The Commission can best achieve its goals by rationalizing all existing licenses to allow operators to ‘edge out’ their networks from the current, outdated circular GSAs to standard geographic boundaries,” they said Thursday in docket 18-120. “This is the most expedient way to facilitate additional investment and deployment, empowering existing licensees and operators to deploy immediately to the areas adjacent to the current GSAs, accelerating both 5G and rural deployment.” Rural operators "support requiring a ‘local presence’ and more stringent build out standards, and urge the Commission against adopting mechanisms such as an incentive auction that may further the issue of spectrum warehousing,” filed Central Texas Communications, Coleman County Telephone Cooperative, Colorado Valley Communications, Mahaska Communication Group, Mark Twain Communications and Peoples Wireless.
T-Mobile CEO John Legere still expects the FCC and DOJ to approve the company’s buy of Sprint by the end of June. The FCC’s unofficial 180-day shot clock expires June 4, he said Thursday. “We remain optimistic and confident,” Legere said on a Q1 call. The company reported it spent $93 million advocating for the deal in the quarter.
New America Open Technology Institute opposition to allowing TV white spaces to be used for the ATSC 3.0 transition runs counter to its previous position that consumers should be protected during the transition, NAB said in a meeting Tuesday with the FCC Media Bureau and Incentive Auction Task Force, per a filing Thursday in docket 16-142. OTI opposed the 3.0 order on the basis of consumer protection but now opposes allowing broadcasters to use TV white spaces to maintain service during the transition, NAB said. OTI has “lost track of its own positions,” NAB said, comparing the advocacy group with Moby Dick’s doomed antagonist Captain Ahab. OTI also acts as though the FCC never sought comment on the use of the white spaces for 3.0 before Sinclair-owned One Media lobbied on the issue, NAB said. “OTI was aware of this at one point, because it joined comments addressing this issue.” The FCC should allow the white spaces to be used for the 3.0 transition, NAB said. "We obviously know the FCC asked a question about it, but the proposal we oppose was initiated by Sinclair’s OneMedia," emailed Michael Calabrese, New America Wireless Future Program director. "Awarding broadcast licensees free, exclusive access to vacant TV channels would violate the Communications Act," impose costs on wireless mic users, and "derail" efforts to expand broadband to rural areas, Calabrese said. Letting broadcasters use the white spaces would "subsidize the broadcasters’ ambition to compete with mobile carriers who, unlike broadcast licensees, paid for their spectrum at auction.”
Whatever C-band clearing plan the FCC takes up for terrestrial 5G use will likely be a compromise, but finding that compromise looks elusive. A Capitol Forum event had debates about the relative merits and shortcomings of rival clearing plans and jostling over whether C-band satellite operators are fully using what they have now.
The House Commerce Committee's upcoming telecom policy focus is likely to include a mix of issues that will provide opportunities for lawmakers to highlight bipartisan agreement on robocalls and increasing commercial spectrum availability, as well as potential mudslinging over FCC oversight matters, lawmakers and lobbyists told us. The Senate Commerce Committee's coming telecom agenda is less well defined, amid an increased focus on privacy legislation. Lobbyists will scrutinize the committee's next moves as it considers whether to reauthorize the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act. Both chambers reconvene Monday after Congress' two-week recess.
Public safety issues rarely dominate the agenda of any FCC chairmen, as in 2004 when one of the biggest focuses of then-Chairman Michael Powell was the 800 MHz rebanding, aimed at protecting safety users from interference. Four years later, then-Chairman Kevin Martin pushed through a failed plan to reallocate the 700 MHz D block for public safety. The main contender, Frontline, dropped its pursuit of the band, which went unsold at auction but now is part of FirstNet. Every chairman since has focused on a few public safety issues.
Public safety issues rarely dominate the agenda of any FCC chairmen, as in 2004 when one of the biggest focuses of then-Chairman Michael Powell was the 800 MHz rebanding, aimed at protecting safety users from interference. Four years later, then-Chairman Kevin Martin pushed through a failed plan to reallocate the 700 MHz D block for public safety. The main contender, Frontline, dropped its pursuit of the band, which went unsold at auction but now is part of FirstNet. Every chairman since has focused on a few public safety issues.