Industry views the wireless infrastructure NPRM OK'd by FCC commissioners 3-2 Tuesday (see 2006090060) as potentially having bigger implications than the accompanying declaratory ruling. The NPRM seeks comment on a Wireless Infrastructure Association request for amended rules saying a modification doesn’t cause a “substantial change” if it entails excavation or deployments at up to 30 feet outside macro tower compound boundaries. State and local government groups are lining up against the NPRM.
Ericsson’s iconectiv asked the FCC to launch a competitive procurement process to select the toll-free numbering administrator. The company earlier won a fight with Neustar to become the local number portability administrator, a transition completed in 2018 (see 1805290021). Unlike almost any other service in telecom today, toll-free services are still based on an FCC approved tariffs. “The existing administrative structure for toll free numbering is an anachronistic accident of history,” said an iconetiv filing. “Over time, it has been stripped of the checks and balances envisioned by the Commission and it now operates as a Commission-authorized monopoly without adequate incentives for efficiency, transparency, or governance role for the intended beneficiaries.” The way the FCC approaches toll-free numbers “stands in sharp contrast to the pro-competitive, contract-based approach that the Commission has taken with respect to other numbering administrator roles,” the company said. An industry lawyer said the service costs responsible organizations, including carriers, $65 million per year. Providers file data under seal. Transparency is lacking because of the tariff-based system, iconetiv said, and its history managing databases shows “a competitive contract approach would lead to significant cost-savings to the industry and consumers, while simultaneously allowing for more modern commercial protections for the Commission and users that are not provided under the tariff arrangement.” Somos "works tirelessly to benefit the dynamic Toll-Free industry in our role as an independent” administrator, emailed Ann Berkowitz, senior vice president. Somos administers the database. “We welcome the opportunity to demonstrate the success of this relationship and the positive impact it has on the Toll-Free industry,” Berkowitz said.
The FCC wireless infrastructure declaratory ruling and NPRM had numerous changes between when it was circulated and Tuesday when commissioners OK'd it 3-2 (see 2006090060), based on our side-by-side analysis. As indicated by Commissioner Mike O’Rielly, the biggest changes were on the NPRM seeking comment on a Wireless Infrastructure Association request for amended rules that a modification doesn’t cause a “substantial change” if it entails excavation or deployments at up to 30 feet in any direction outside the boundaries of a macro tower compound. The item was in Thursday’s Daily Digest.
The U.S. should “reaffirm its commitment to voluntary global standards that are open and that facilitate the interoperability of communications and information devices and apps,” CTA asked NTIA as the U.S. prepares for ITU’s 2020 World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly. Others said the U.S. should oppose any push to expand ITU work, in comments posted Tuesday. ITU shouldn’t “duplicate, replace, or interfere with existing efforts, particularly with respect to issues outside the ITU’s core mission,” CTA said. “The consumer technology marketplace is innovative and competitive here and worldwide," the group said: “The current voluntary global standards process reflects this competitive environment by promoting innovation and flexibility while providing for interoperability and security.” Oppose a “new IP” proposal before WTSA, the Telecommunications Industry Association said. Proponents Huawei and the Chinese government say the proposal “promises to provide better support for heterogeneous networks that more efficiently combine satellite and terrestrial signals, deliver better performance, increase security, and support futuristic applications,” TIA said. The proposal duplicates work underway by standards bodies, “poses practical and technical challenges,” and “works against the multi-stakeholder approach to the Internet,” TIA said. “There is a concerning trend with respect to the ITU pursuing standards work outside of its mandate, which duplicates work being done in more appropriate fora,” Computer & Communications Industry Association commented: “Duplication can lead to fragmentation of the Internet and hinder further development of new technologies.” Streamline the number of technical ITU study groups, CCIA advised. ACT|The App Association also warned against more regulation. “While larger corporations may be more equipped to absorb the costs associated with unnecessary regulations and trade barriers to market access, small businesses that cannot afford these expenses are effectively excluded from these markets,” ACT said. Most proposals likely at WTSA aren’t “areas of expertise” and shouldn’t be on the agenda, the Information Technology Industry Council said: “ITI would not support the exploration of new study groups and instead supports the continued consolidation of study groups that are no longer relevant or duplicative.” WTSA-20 is "an opportunity for the U.S. government and our allies to ensure that the ITU does not expand its jurisdiction and remains focused on its existing mandate and core competencies,” the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said. NTIA sought comment in May (see 2005080023). WTSA-20 is scheduled for Hyderabad, India, Nov. 17-27.
The FCC Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council approved a report Wednesday that warned vulnerabilities in 4G networks could carry over into a 5G world. The report was developed by the Managing Security Risk in the Transition to 5G Working Group and is expected to be posted by the FCC Thursday, officials said. CSRIC also got an additional charge from the FCC to look at duplicative weather alerts. The group met virtually for the second time because of COVID-19.
The FCC approved clarity on wireless siting rules to speed the collocation of wireless infrastructure on existing cell towers 3-2, over dissents by Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks. They objected, as some expected (see 2006030057), after the agency declined to delay a vote to give state and local governments more time to respond due to the demands because of the COVID-19 pandemic and protests. Republicans said change is needed as companies struggle to build out 5G networks. The ruling takes effect upon release.
All signs are the citizens broadband radio service auction will start July 23 as planned, especially with FCC Chairman Ajit Pai concerned about a December C-band auction, industry and FCC officials said in recent interviews. The auction of priority access licenses was delayed once from June 25, because of COVID-19 concerns (see 2003250052). The agency announced Monday that 348 companies or individuals filed short forms to participate; 106 were deemed complete while others require additional work.
A draft FCC NPRM seeking comment on the future use of the 70, 80 and 90 GHz bands is expected to be approved Tuesday with unanimous support of commissioners, FCC officials said. Two satellite companies weighed in on protecting satellite operations. The NPRM contemplates using the spectrum for wireless backhaul for 5G and to provide broadband to aircraft and ships. Satellite industry officials said they haven’t heard anything definitive but hope for tweaks to the NPRM.
COVID-19 is slowing development of 5G standards by all standard-setting groups, and the problem is getting worse, Technological Advisory Council members said at the group’s quarterly meeting Thursday, held virtually by the FCC. TAC heard from other working groups, in the early stages of preparing reports to the commission.
Now that the comment cycle is complete, move on proposals to allow TV white spaces (TVWS) devices to operate with higher power in less-congested areas, Microsoft and other commenters asked the FCC. Others continue to raise concerns (see 2005050033). Replies were posted through Wednesday in docket 20-36 on an NPRM that commissioners approved 5-0 in February (see 2002280055). Make the changes discussed in the NPRM but address other changes in future items, Microsoft replied. There's broad support for TVWS changes from service providers, tech companies, businesses and schools in rural areas and public interest organizations, the company said: “The record also demonstrates that the proposed rule changes will accelerate the pace of TVWS deployments and significantly improve the ability of TVWS technology to narrow the digital divide.” There's broad agreement “more robust rules” here “would improve connectivity in rural, tribal, and other unserved and underserved areas,” the Public Interest Spectrum Coalition said. New America’s Open Technology Institute, Public Knowledge, Consumer Reports, Access Humboldt, Next Century Cities, Common Cause, the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition and Benton Institute for Broadband and Society were among those on the filing. “Limit this proceeding to the narrow set of proposals set forth in the NPRM” and don't “consider extraneous requests that would dramatically expand those proposals or effectively rewrite Part 15 of the Commission’s rules,” NAB said. Some would expand the proceeding to consider “areas that have already been fully debated and where there have been no new developments that would warrant changes,” the group said. The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council endorsed the changes in general for rural areas, seeking companion tweaks for private land mobile radio operations on TV channels 14-20. NPSTC is “simply seeking to maintain an equivalent level of protection to that offered today,” the group said: “The proposed doubling of the allowed TVWS antenna height will have a significant effect on the separation distance needed to maintain an equivalent level of protection” to public land mobile radio operations. Wireless mic makers kept up their concerns. “Refine the movable platforms proposal by narrowing the scope of eligible vehicles and accounting for antenna height and directionality in the design of the rules,” Shure said: “Retain the less congested areas framework while rejecting impractical/computationally intensive alternative proposals centered around population density and/or terrain-based modeling.”