The FCC announced an in-person workshop March 6 that will provide information about identifying and evaluating opportunities "to develop more robust broadband infrastructure and services in tribal communities." The commission said in a public notice Wednesday that the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana will host the workshop from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. On March 5 at 2 p.m. there will be an "optional tribal library tour."
The FCC Thursday launched its enhanced competition incentive program (ECIP), which commissioners approved 4-0 in July 2022 (see 2207140055). The order was approved in response to provisions in the Mobile Now Act, enacted in 2018 (see 2203310036). ECIP “incentivizes wireless licensees to make underutilized spectrum available to small carriers, Tribal Nations, and entities serving rural areas in furtherance of the Commission’s ‘100 percent broadband policy,’” said an FCC news release. The Wireless Bureau will now accept applications for the program, the commission said.
Wireless ISPs are interested in the lower 12 GHz band and need “additional spectrum for fixed point-to-point and point-to-multipoint services, especially in rural areas that may lack sufficient access to broadband,” WISPA told an aide to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. The association urged that the FCC make the band available, where possible, “on a secondary and opportunistic basis governed by automated frequency coordination” in areas where multichannel video distribution and data service spectrum is in use and to protect direct broadcast satellite operations, said a filing posted Thursday in docket 20-443. “Under this approach, incumbent MVDDS [providers] would be able to expand their operations in their licensed areas with the AFC ensuring interference protection from secondary users under standards adopted by industry stakeholders,” WISPA said. The group urged “a similar spectrum access model” for the adjacent 12.7-13.25 GHz band. DirecTV representatives, meanwhile, spoke with an aide to FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington to refute the latest Dish Network report on safe use of fixed wireless in the lower 12 GHz band (see 2312270045). The representatives discussed the band's importance “for delivery of video to millions of subscribers” nationwide, the company said.
The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) is the latest public safety group urging that the FCC consider giving FirstNet control of the 4.9 GHz band (see 2402140037). The FirstNet network “has brought an entirely new nationwide approach to public safety communications where state and local agencies no longer have to finance, maintain, and synchronize thousands of disparate networks,” said a filing Wednesday in docket 07-100. Because of FirstNet, “public safety is provided priority, preemption, and local control accessed through a portal providing command and control on an incident basis,” IACP said.
Representatives of i-wireless and other small carriers spoke with staff for FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel asking for action on the request expanding eligible telecom carrier designations granted in 2012, especially given the freeze in affordable connectivity program enrollments. Without Wireline Bureau approval, “i-wireless is unable to offer Lifeline to eligible low-income Americans in significant portions of Florida, North Carolina and other states where its ETC designation has been granted by the Commission,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 21-450: With affordable connectivity program “enrollments frozen and consumers needing to find affordable alternatives during the ACP wind-down period, we respectfully urged the Office of the Chairwoman to direct the Bureau to expeditiously complete its review.” Assist Wireless also spoke with Rosenworcel aides on the ETC petition. The Wireline Bureau “has restricted provider participation and impeded competition in the Lifeline program for a dozen years by failing to act on Assist Wireless’s Lifeline compliance plan and federal ETC petition,” Assist said. American Broadband reported a similar meeting. The bureau “has restricted provider participation and impeded competition in the Lifeline program for a dozen years by failing to act on American Broadband’s federal ETC petition (among others),” the provider said. Boomerang Wireless also reported on an ETC call with aides to the chairwoman.
FCC commissioners unanimously approved an order allowing wireless multichannel audio system (WMAS) use, a technology of special interest to wireless mic companies and users. The vote came Thursday during the commissioners' open meeting. Agency officials said the order was tweaked to address broadcasters' concerns, but power levels proposed in the draft order weren’t changed.
The FCC unanimously approved its entire open meeting agenda Thursday, including an order making it easier for consumers to revoke consent for being robocalled, an order revising wireless mic rules (see 2402150037), an NPRM on a licensing framework for in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing missions, and an NPRM seeking comment on using prerecorded script templates aimed at facilitating multilingual emergency alerts. “In the United States, over 26 million people have limited or no ability to speak English,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel at the open meeting. “That means we have to get creative and identify new ways to reach everyone in a disaster.”
House Communications Subcommittee members were universally positive about the Future Uses of Technology Upholding Reliable and Enhancing Networks Act (HR-1513) and four other communications network security bills during a Thursday hearing. House Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and other lawmakers used the hearing to continue the drumbeat for Congress to allocate an additional $3.08 billion to close a funding shortfall for the FCC’s Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program, as expected (see 2402140055). Several Democrats touted the stopgap funding push for the FCC’s affordable connectivity program (see 2402130074) as another priority for securing U.S. networks.
Ligado will oppose Iridium's request to intervene in its L-band litigation against the U.S., the company said in an email to us. Iridium and aviation interests filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Federal Claims last week joining the U.S. in opposing the suit (see 2402120009). Ligado said Iridium is a competitor, and DOD -- also a defendant in Ligado's suit -- is one of its largest sources of revenue. "Iridium is using its proposed participation to support a primary customer, shield itself from discovery, and benefit from the government’s taking of our property," Ligado said. "Contrary to the amicus curiae parties’ assertions, the bipartisan FCC unanimously authorized Ligado to operate terrestrial 5G services within our licensed spectrum after a rigorous, multiyear process," it said. "That April 2020 decision is final."
The full FCC proposed a $40,000 forfeiture for an alleged pirate radio broadcaster in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, said a notice of apparent liability released Wednesday. Brigido Danerys Gonzalez, using the DJ name “Super Dany,” allegedly broadcast an unauthorized station named La Bakana since at least May 2022, the NAL said. Enforcement Bureau agents found Gonzalez by tracing the station's signal to two buildings in Hazleton and interviewing a grocery store owner who paid Gonzalez to advertise on the station. Gonzalez didn’t comment.