AST SpaceMobile still hasn't justified why it wants to use the 430-440 MHz band for commercial satellite telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) purposes, ARRL told the FCC Wednesday. AST's request "is completely outside the scope of domestic and international allocations for this spectrum" and should be denied, the group said (docket 25-201). Amateur radio interests globally have opposed AST's plans to use the swath of spectrum for TT&C (see 2507210031). ARRL noted that AST also hasn't analyzed the interference potential to amateur radio service, nor has it shown a shortage of spectrum allocated for TT&C.
The FCC’s "Build America Agenda," outlined by FCC Chairman Brendan Carr last month (see 2507020036), will mean faster broadband deployment, Commissioner Olivia Trusty said in a speech Wednesday in Mississippi. She spoke at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, noting that faster broadband is key to telehealth.
Foothills Connect, which notified the FCC early this year that it wouldn't meet its Rural Digital Opportunity Fund first interim buildout milestone in Kentucky (see 2501220004), told the agency this week that it's "making substantial progress" on closing the milestone gap. In docket 19-126 Tuesday, Foothills said it's still struggling with delays beyond its control in getting right-of-way approvals and obtaining easements. It also cited workforce issues related to hiring qualified construction contractors.
The National Agricultural Aviation Association is asking the FCC to designate an aviation radio frequency for agricultural operations, allowing air-to-air communications for situational awareness and safety. The FAA has told the group that 122.925 MHz would be “a suitable air-to-air frequency for this purpose,” but authorizing the channel requires FCC action, said a filing this week.
Representatives of the Wi-Fi Alliance met with FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty to support a proposal that the commission authorize very-low-power operations at higher-power spectral density levels in the 6 GHz band. The group also raised concerns about NextNav’s proposal to reallocate the 900 MHz band to support its 5G-based positioning, navigation and timing service, said a filing Tuesday in docket 18-295. The issues raised mirror those discussed in the alliance's meetings in June with aides to the other commissioners (see 2506300040).
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr welcomed his appointment by President Donald Trump to the new White House task force on the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. “The FCC will bring our expertise to bear to meet the spectrum needs and other operational requirements of this historic event,” Carr said Tuesday. “Thousands of wireless devices will be operating simultaneously within the RF spectrum” during the Olympic and Paralympic games, the FCC said. “This includes critical applications such as timing apparatus for events, radio communications for event coordination and security, and broadcast operations that are vital to seamless, world-wide, coverage and the overall success of the Games,” the agency said. “The FCC will work alongside our Federal, state, and local partners, as well as the LA28 Olympic Committee and other stakeholders to help ensure robust, reliable communications.”
The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau said Wednesday that it removed 185 noncompliant voice service providers from the Robocall Mitigation Database. That follows warnings issued to 2,411 providers in December ordering them to show why they shouldn’t be removed (see 2412180015). “This will prevent those providers from connecting to U.S. networks until they comply with FCC regulations,” the agency said. “All removed providers violated Commission rules by maintaining deficient certifications after repeated warnings and apparently participating in illegal robocall campaigns or failing to support official efforts to investigate such campaigns.” Those removed will need express approval from the FCC’s Enforcement and Wireline bureaus to rejoin the database.
A broad group of local governments and associations on Wednesday protested the FCC’s direct final rule (DFR) order that commissioners approved 2-1 last month, with a dissent from Commissioner Anna Gomez (see 2507240055). The order clarified that the FCC’s bureaus have delegated authority to delete rules under the process without commission votes.
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez said Wednesday that, despite concerns, she voted for a notice of inquiry to study revisions in how the FCC examines competition in its Telecom Act Section 706 reports to Congress. Commissioners approved the NOI earlier in the week, and it was taken off the agenda for Thursday’s meeting (see 2508050056). While Gomez’s comments on the NOI were predominantly negative, she said she voted yes to give the public a chance to weigh in.
Communications Daily is tracking the lawsuits below involving appeals of FCC actions.