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In what could be its last full meeting under Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, the FCC on Dec. 11 will consider rules that would expand parts of the 6 GHz band where new very-low-power (VLP) devices can operate without coordination, beyond the initial 850 MHz commissioners approved last year (see 2310190054). Commissioners at the open meeting will also consider changing rules that govern letters of credit for USF programs and an item updating several broadcast radio and TV rules. Also on the agenda are various enforcement items, which will be released after the commission's approval.Read More >>

Congressional GOP leaders are doubtful about lawmakers' chances of reaching a year-end deal on an additional $3.08 billion for the FCC's Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program even as some Democrats are softening their insistence that the funding move in tandem with stopgap money for the FCC's lapsed affordable connectivity program. Sen. Steve Daines of Montana, Rep. August Pfluger of Texas and nine other Republicans wrote congressional leaders Monday to press for rip-and-replace funding in a bid to highlight the issue amid the lame-duck frenzy.Read More >>

In a post-Chevron deference era, the FCC's space regulatory work beyond its spectrum bailiwick could be on shaky ground, space law experts said Tuesday during an FCBA CLE. Multiple speakers predicted "friendly chaos" for space policy from the incoming Trump administration, with it likely being friendly to commercial space but change being a constant. The Chevron doctrine, under which courts generally defer to regulatory agencies' expertise, was overturned this year by the U.S. Supreme Court's Loper decision, which gives agency expertise lesser weight.Read More >>

Facing a growing problem of telecom network vandalism and theft, industry groups are calling for updated state laws, including harsher criminal penalties, as deterrents. In a meeting Tuesday at Verizon facilities in Texas with law enforcement representatives, telecom industry officials repeatedly raised the specter of 911 and telehealth service disruptions.Read More >>

A Texas appeals court found "reversible error" in a lower court ruling in cities' challenge of the state's small-cells rules (see 2301270028). The trial court ruling siding with the state was reversed in part and the remainder of the ruling was remanded to the trial court. In Justice Edward Smith's opinion Friday in 03-22-00524-CV, he said the state "identifies no case" in which consideration of 10% of fair market value "was deemed adequate," and the cities "identify none in which that amount was held to result in a gratuity."Read More >>

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Upcoming Events

Full Calendar
Nov
20
Deutsche Bank's Global Space Summit, Deutsche Bank Center, One Columbus Circle, New York — see here
Nov
20
Multicultural, Media, Telecom and Internet Council co-sponsors program on telecom infrastructure deployment, 11:30 a.m., 601 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 800, Washington D.C. — see here
Nov
21
FCC meeting, FCC headquarters, 10:30 a.m., 45 L St. NE, Washington, DC; also livestream — see here
Dec
3
FCC Wireless Bureau session on testing mobile coverage data in the national broadband map, 3 p.m. EST, virtual — see here
Dec
3
FCBA annual dinner with FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, 5:45 p.m., Marriott Marquis, 901 Massachusetts Ave. NW — see here
Dec
3
Fiber Broadband Association webinar on path to 50G, 11 a.m. EST — see here
Dec
3
NTIA industry listening session on open radio access network certification principles, on behalf of the Global Coalition on Telecommunications, virtual, 9 a.m. EST — see here