An FCC order on opening the C band to terrestrial 5G services is likely to come by midyear, with the agency indicating it wants to see that happen in Q2, Intelsat CEO Stephen Spengler said during an analyst call Wednesday. He said the rival T-Mobile band-clearing plan isn't serious but seems designed specifically to slow down the band-clearing process for anti-competitive reasons -- probably related to the pending T-Mobile/Sprint merger and protecting their C-band position, Spengler said. But it's not clear if the FCC also sees it that way, he said. T-Mobile didn't comment.
Faced with overlapping basic cable rate regulation proceedings -- proposed changes to basic tier regulation by local franchise authorities (LFAs) (see 1810230037) and Charter Communications' effective competition petition in Massachusetts and Hawaii (see 1809170020) -- the FCC is likely to handle them separately, though timing and order isn't clear, experts tell us.
The FCC North American Numbering Council is leaning toward handing the agency a list of what it doesn't recommend regarding feasibility of designating a three-digit dialing code for a suicide prevention and mental health hotline, including opposing repurposing any existing N11 number. It likely won't recommend to the agency what it should do, though some members say repurposing 611 makes sense.
The FCC warned staff it lacks reserve funds to stay open in the event of another partial federal shutdown. Trade groups said they're hopeful government stays open, with some concerns if it doesn't. The agency confirmed Wednesday (see 1902130018) it sent memo to all workers saying most FCC operations would shut down at midnight Friday absent a budget agreement.
Satellite interests are backing the FCC NPRM proposing to let earth stations in motion (ESIM) communicate with non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellites operating in the fixed satellite service -- with caveats. EchoStar/Hughes in docket 18-315 comments posted Monday said ESIM operations in Ku- and Ka-bands on a secondary basis should be paired with interference protections of geostationary orbit (GSO) FSS operations via equivalent power-flux density limits and control of ESIM terminals by a network control center that can disable operations during harmful interference to GSO. It said the FCC should require ending or reducing ESIM emissions to prevent harmful interference. Kymeta said existing licensees holding blanket authority for ESIMs to communicate with GSO satellite systems should be allowed to file streamlined modification applications to add blanket authority to communicate with non-geostationary satellite systems in the relevant Ku- or Ka-band. The National Academy of Sciences' Committee on Radio Frequencies said approvals of ESIM operations should be paired with protections for radio astronomy service in adjacent or overlapping bands. Replies are due March 13. Commissioners approved the NPRM in November (see 1811150028).
Predictions of ramped-up space launch activity stem from the assumption satellite mega-constellations will get licensed, but “that is not an easy assumption” given heated competition for spectrum, said National Space Council Executive Secretary Scott Pace at a commercial spaceflight conference Tuesday. FCC members in April approved licensing for SpaceX's planned mega-constellation (see 1803300014). The agency didn't comment now.
The FCC won't stay open longer than other parts of the federal government in the event of another partial federal shutdown, the agency told employees and confirmed to us Wednesday. It said it has insufficient reserve funds to delay largely shutting down when the continuing resolution funding it expires at midnight Friday.
Ditching the requirement to notify VoIP users it won't work without power and eliminating supposedly outdated reporting requirements were among suggestions by telecoms, the cable industry and others for the FCC's 2018 biennial review of telecom regulations. Comments in seven dockets, which had been due Jan. 17 (see 1812180002), were posted Monday due to an extension from the partial federal shutdown.
Clearing C-band through a mix of sale of spectrum by satellite operators and an overlay auction of terrestrial mobile licenses is meeting some skepticism. Spectrum and satellite consultant Tim Farrar blogged Saturday that no side in the band-clearing debate is seemingly interested in compromise, though the sale-overlay auction mix is obvious. Michael Calabrese, director of the Wireless Future Program at New America, said even if the idea were practical, it would "be just another fig leaf [justifying] an unnecessary and unjustifiable windfall" for satellite operators.
The FCC proceeding on updating orbital debris rules could involve whether the agency should be undertaking it, experts told us. Some FCC proposals could get notable commercial industry pushback. Commissioner Brendan Carr raised authority questions when the NPRM was adopted in November (see 1811150028). The item hasn't appeared in the Federal Register. Asked when it expects publication, the FCC didn't comment.