Expect continuing friction at the 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference and the WRC-31 between geostationary and non-geostationary orbit satellite operators over interference protections, River Advisors CEO Katherine Gizinski said. She and other panelists Tuesday at the SmallSat Symposium in Silicon Valley said those equivalent power flux density (EPFD) protection items were a hot-button issue at WRC-23. The FCC has seen constellation operators post-WRC-27 joust over EPFD limits (see 2401300032). Several panelists also discussed the changing availability of financing that helped launch numerous space startups in the past nine years.
MVPDs and their allies opposed the FCC's proposed crackdown on video service fees, though backers, ranging from states and localities to broadcasters, cheered. Comments were filed this week in docket 23-405. During its December meeting, a 3-2 commission vote approved the video service fees NPRM, which proposes banning early-termination fees (ETF) and requires prorated refunds when service is canceled (see 2312130019).
Loft Orbital hopes to have its YAM-7 microsatellite launched as soon as June, it said in an FCC Space Bureau application posted Monday. It asked the bureau for permission to launch and operate the satellite in low earth orbit, with the satellite carrying a payload for customer Hydrosat intended to provide earth exploration satellite services. Its YAM-6 is scheduled to launch March 1, it said.
Representatives of the Rural Wireless Association completed a cycle of meetings with aides to the five FCC commissioners on a proposed 5G Fund (see 2402020063). The final session was with aides to Commissioner Anna Gomez. “As the FCC considers modifications to the 5G Fund rules, it should place focus and consideration on providing offers of cost-based support, for at least an 8-year period, to legacy high-cost mobile carriers with two million or fewer subscribers so that they can continue to serve their communities with reliable broadband services and have the needed certainty to plan their future network buildouts,” said a filing posted Monday in docket 20-32.
Roberson and Associates said most public safety 4.9 GHz licensees are using the band for mobile connections. The FCC is finalizing its approach on the band (see 2401020050). The firm examined 1,912 licensed entities and found that 98% hold a mobile-location-class license, according to a report filed last week at the FCC in docket 07-100. Meanwhile, 25% hold fixed and 23% hold both mobile and fixed allocations, Roberson said. Only 38 have a fixed without mobile allocation, the report said. It estimated 4.2% of public safety agencies utilize the band.
Dish Wireless representatives spoke with FCC Wireline Bureau staff about a 2021 petition to serve as an eligible telecom carrier (see 2111290051), and in particular, an amended petition last week to serve as an ETC in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Washington, D.C. Through retail wireless offerings under the Boost Mobile and Gen Mobile brands, “DISH serves a significant number” of affordable connectivity program subscribers, the filing said.
The FCC is investigating AT&T's 2022 complaint against granting T-Mobile additional mid-band licenses in the 2.5 GHz band because of the carrier’s already huge position in the band (see 2211100066) and plans to include data from carriers in its investigation, said a Monday notice by the Wireless Bureau. T-Mobile has asked the FCC to dismiss the complaint (see 2211150017). The bureau said it plans to include a Numbering Resource Utilization and Forecast (NRUF) report, carrier-specific local number portability (LNP) data and other information in the record in the proceeding, subject to a protective order. Companies have until Feb. 15 “to oppose the limited disclosure of their NRUF and LNP data pursuant to the protective order,” the bureau said.
A coalition of advocates for incarcerated individuals urged the FCC to adequate oversight of alternative payment structures and pilot programs that providers of incarcerated people's communications services offer. The Wright Petitioners, United Church of Christ Media Justice Ministry and Worth Rises told Wireline Bureau and Office of Economic and Analytics staff that consumers should have "sufficient information in a clear format that enables them to make informed choices," according to an ex parte filing posted Monday in docket 23-62 (see 2401120067). The groups also urged that the commission "not permit alternative pricing structures that include non-IPCS services, which lack visibility and transparency in their pricing."
In-person meetings at the FCC are increasing, but the majority are virtual, as they have been since the COVID-19 pandemic began nearly four years ago. The number of in-person ex parte meetings appear roughly the same as a year ago, based on a review of filings and industry interviews. Beginning last March, more staff began working in the office on more days of the week (see 2303030047). One tendency, industry officials say, is that more meetings with commissioner advisers are now at FCC headquarters. But meetings with the offices and bureaus are mostly virtual because staffers have differing in-office schedules. Virtual meetings seem the best way of ensuring everyone who needs to attend a meeting can.
FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington thinks the agency should provide consumers with more of an explanation about why they should buy secure smartphones and other devices, he said during a Silicon Flatirons’ conference on global fractures in tech policy. The two-day conference ended Monday.