Clyburn Says Details Matter in FCC Public File Proposal

The FCC is still reviewing the political files draft order, scheduled for a vote at the commission’s April 27 meeting, Clyburn said. If the commission decides to require broadcasters to post the files online, “we must decide how much information should be disclosed and exactly how broadcasters should make such disclosures,” she said. Placing the documents online will make the files more accessible to the public, but “the proverbial devil is in the details,” she said. “I am aware of many concerns of the broadcasters and feel compelled to reiterate that a transition to a digital system needs to be handled carefully and in a manner sensitive to the capability of differently situated broadcasters."

The commission has no plans to slow down, even in an election year, Clyburn said. “The spring and summer stretch will be overwhelmed by the hurricane of presidential politics and followed by the calming cricket sounds of Washington hallways come late July,” Clyburn said. “While it is always tough to predict how much we'll get done in years like this, the FCC will no doubt be real busy."

Adopting rules for voluntary incentive auctions “is at the top of the FCC’s priority list,” Clyburn said. The Democratic commissioner said she’s concerned that many Americans are served by two or fewer mobile providers. The FCC should promote greater competition in wireless backhaul and consider mandating interoperability in the lower portion of the 700 MHz band, she said: “I am eager to see either an industry solution or an order mandating interoperability … by the end of this calendar year.” Also, Clyburn wants to make it easier for smaller carriers to obtain roaming agreements with the larger companies, she said. In addition, the FCC “should urge the industry to consider sharing spectrum through dynamic spectrum access technologies for greater resource efficiency,” she said.

USF and intercarrier compensation changes will busy the bureaus for the next few years, Clyburn said. The FCC must address several reconsideration petitions, she said. Also, the commission will work on implementing the first two phases of the Connect America Fund, complete a regression analysis for rate-of-return changes and conduct an auction for Mobility Fund phase-one support, she said. On the prospects for contribution and rural healthcare support reform, Clyburn said she expects “that we will continue on this endeavor this year.”

Clyburn said her staff continues to review rules on special access. In addition, Clyburn has “asked that the agency commit the necessary resources to complete our review of two inmate payphone petitions that have been pending for far too long."

During the wireless panel discussion, current and potential rivals to AT&T and Verizon Wireless urged immediate FCC action to bolster wireless competition. T-Mobile USA is trying to roll out LTE service but is constrained by limited spectrum, said T-Mobile Vice President Kathleen Ham. Dish Network seeks FCC action to remove S-band regulations that are keeping the satellite company from using its spectrum to enter the wireless market, said Dish Senior Vice President Jeffrey Blum. An interoperability mandate in the lower 700 MHz spectrum would expand 4G mobile coverage to one-third of the U.S. population, said Rural Cellular Association General Counsel Rebecca Thompson.

T-Mobile can “undercut” the big carriers’ LTE pricing, Ham said. “You want us there.” Ham urged the freeing up of government spectrum and rejection of the Verizon deal to acquire cable spectrum. Verizon is sitting on spectrum it already has, whereas T-Mobile would put additional spectrum to immediate use, she said. Dividing the 700 MHz band into “islands” was poor policy because it ruined LTE’s potential for full interoperability across the wireless market, Ham said. Public safety won’t have much choice for roaming, and T-Mobile faces increased costs for LTE roaming since each potential roaming partner requires a different chipset installed in T-Mobile devices, she said.

"Until the FCC completes the rulemaking for the S-band spectrum, we're on the sidelines,” Dish’s Blum said. The current regulatory uncertainty prevents Dish from investing, he said. Blum said the FCC could complete the rulemaking as soon as August. No one has argued the network will cause interference, and many of the other potential issues have been “vetted,” he said. T-Mobile has opposed Dish’s entrance before but is still considering the satellite company’s latest proposal. It’s tough to disagree that getting more spectrum in the market is important, she said.