CTIA supports a public notice by the FCC Wireless Bureau Thursday seeking comment on how to make unassigned licenses in the agency's inventory available for use absent general auction authority (see 2403070062). CTIA appreciates Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s “focus on spectrum auctions as an ‘indispensable’ tool for promoting economic growth and national security,” emailed Scott Bergmann, senior vice president-regulatory affairs. The notice “only underscores the importance of Congress moving rapidly to restore the FCC’s auction authority and create a pipeline of licensed spectrum to ensure our wireless leadership.”
Competitive Carriers Association President Tim Donovan Friday called on Congress to restore FCC auction authority. The lapse “creates challenges for the wireless industry and frustrates America’s goals to remain the global wireless leader,” he said. “Competitive carriers must have access to spectrum to meet our nation’s insatiable demand for wireless connectivity, especially as carriers deploy 5G and prepare for 6G services.” Auction authority lapsed a year ago.
NTCA raised concerns about a recent petition seeking amnesty for Rural Digital Opportunity Fund or Connect America Fund II recipients (see 2402280078). In a Friday letter to the FCC, the group warned that granting amnesty "without any conditions or consequences would put at risk what the auction programs could still achieve, result in an inefficient allocation of valuable broadband funding resources, and create perverse incentives that reward gaming in the form of attempts to 'hop' between funding programs." NTCA suggested the commission instead grant a waiver for RDOF or CAF II recipients that pay an "early buyout" of "default liability for the abandoned locations" and bar the recipient and "its affiliates or subsidiaries seeking grant funding thereafter to serve those same locations." The letter was posted in docket 10-90.
The Affordable Broadband Campaign urged the FCC not to immediately grant broadband providers forbearance from Communications Act Section 254(d) requirements in its net neutrality proceeding. The group's chair, Vernonburg Group Chief Policy Officer Greg Guice, said granting forbearance of Section 254(d), which governs USF contributions, is "unnecessary and not supported by the record," per an ex parte filing posted Friday in docket 23-320 (see 2310190020). The group urged the FCC to start a proceeding "focused on whether and how the contribution obligation would be undertaken." The group met with Wireline Bureau staff.
Users of the FCC’s Commission Registration System (CORES) must use a new two-step login process before accessing the system starting March 29, said a public notice from the Office of Managing Director in Friday’s Daily Digest. CORES users should make sure ahead of the change that they have access to email accounts associated with their usernames, the PN said.
The FCC’s Communications Equity and Diversity Council will hold its first meeting under its new charter March 27, said a notice in Friday’s Federal Register. The CEDC’s two-year charter was renewed in June. Its hybrid meeting will involve introducing the advisory committee’s members, announcing working groups and receiving guidance on federal advisory committee best practices, the FR said.
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel hailed Fara Damelin's confirmation as the commission’s inspector general (see 2403070072). Damelin’s “decades of experience in roles overseeing government operations will help us ensure the ongoing integrity and success of the Commission’s work,” Rosenworcel said Friday. The Senate approved Damelin Thursday night as part of a package that also included a trio of FTC nominees, including GOP Commissioners Andrew Ferguson and Melissa Holyoak (see 2403080038). Damelin is the FCC’s first Senate-confirmed IG. Her confirmation gives the watchdog office its first permanent leader since appointed incumbent David Hunt died in January 2023 (see 2301260026).
Congress must act now to address national security issues surrounding TikTok, a bipartisan group of senators told us last week leading up to the House Commerce Committee's passage of two TikTok-related bills (see 2403070066). Meanwhile, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Thursday defended TikTok, though he signed an executive order against the platform while president.
An FCC draft NPRM proposing an emergency alert system code for missing adults is headed for unanimous approval with few changes at the commissioners' open meeting Thursday, agency and industry officials said (see 2402210066). The proposed Missing and Endangered Persons code (MEP) alert would be used for missing people older than 17 with special needs and circumstances or who are endangered, abducted or kidnapped. It is intended to fill a gap between Amber Alerts used for missing children and seniors' Silver Alerts. MEP would respond to the rising problem of missing and murdered indigenous people, said the draft NPRM. The item has drawn little ex parte activity since last month's circulation.
The supplemental coverage from space (SCS) licensing framework on the FCC’s Thursday open meeting agenda should receive unanimous approval, space industry experts tell us. There was heavy lobbying last week on the draft order, with suggestions for edits and tweaks.