Comments and petitions are due March 11, responses March 21, and replies to responses March 26 on a Dish Network and Liberty Latin America request to transfer Dish spectrum licenses in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to Liberty, the FCC Office of International Affairs said in a public notice Friday. The PN also established docket 24-55 for the proceeding.
CTIA officials updated FCC staff about progress on deploying managed access systems (MAS) to curb the use of illicit phones in correctional facilities. The FCC Wireless Bureau last year tentatively approved applications of five contraband interdiction system operators to help address contraband phones (see 2306230033). “CTIA’s members have continued to commit both their resources and their technical expertise to make it easier for corrections officials to implement MAS interdiction solutions,” said a filing Thursday in docket 13-111. Efforts include “enhanced coordination with MAS vendors, creation of a MAS ‘How To’ checklist for corrections officials and system vendors, support for federal funding, identification of efficient and accurate methods for permanently disabling contraband devices, and streamlining the roaming agreements needed to enable” evolved MAS, CTIA said.
Rural Wireless Association representatives raised concerns with aides to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel about how the agency documents progress of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program. The program is aimed at removing unsecure gear from telecom networks. Congressional reports fail “to accurately depict the current state of the Reimbursement Program by vastly underestimating how much participants have spent … to date,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 18-89. The reports “have only mentioned the total monies that have been reimbursed to program participants, which is significantly lower than the total spending that program participants have incurred to date,” RWA said: “Many program participants have been forced to file modifications due to the lack of funding and such modifications have slowed the submission of invoices, which would further demonstrate costs already incurred by participants.” Moreover, RWA is frustrated that the latest reports seem to blame program participants for delays, the filing said.
The FCC Wireline Bureau extended until March 13 the deadline to submit reply comments on a Further NPRM on proposed revisions to pole attachment and replacement rules (see 2402140048). Additional time will allow interested parties to also file replies to oppositions regarding a related petition filed by the Edison Electric Institute, the bureau said in an order Friday in docket 17-84.
The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology Friday approved the applications of seven 6 GHz automated frequency coordination (AFC) providers to launch operations by standard-powered unlicensed devices, closing out a multi-year process. The development is one of the most significant for 6 GHz since the 2020 FCC order opening the spectrum for unlicensed use, industry officials said.
SpaceX likely faces a tough challenge as it seeks easier access to the 2 GHz and 1.6/2.4 GHz spectrum bands, spectrum experts tell us. In a pair of FCC petitions last week, the company argued that in both cases the spectrum is underused and urged changes in the licensing and sharing frameworks to allow new entrants and coexistence.
The Texas Association of Business (TAB) petitioned the 5th U.S. Circuit Appeals Court for review of the FCC’s updated data breach notification rules. The rules were adopted Dec. 13, released Dec. 21 and published in the Federal Register Feb. 12, said TAB's Thursday filing (docket 24-60085). They are effective March 13 (see 2402090035).
Broadcasters and the FCC’s Republican commissioners say the agency’s order -- approved 3-2 Thursday -- requiring that broadcasters publicly share annual workforce demographic data is unconstitutional and the courts will knock it down, as it has similar regulations. Still, the agency and public interest advocates argue this version is different.
The FCC should listen to Philadelphians rather than the “politically motivated” out-of-state Media and Democracy Project on the license renewal of Fox’s WTXF Philadelphia (see 2401310059), said Pennsylvania State Sen. Anthony Williams (D) in a letter to the FCC posted in docket 23-293 Thursday. “Here in the city, and the boroughs and suburbs that my colleagues represent, Fox 29 serves as a resource for all local leaders to relay information to constituents and audiences that otherwise would be more difficult to reach,” said Williams. The station is “a critical part of not just the Philadelphia media ecosystem, but a useful tool for state-level representatives to communicate policy to constituents," said Williams.
The FCC Enforcement Bureau removed 12 carriers from its robocall mitigation database. The Thursday bureau order removed certifications for Viettel Business Solutions, Etihad Etisalat's Mobily, TeleCube.PL, Nervill LTD, Textodog and Textodog Software, CIS IT & Engineering, Datacom Specialists, DomainerSuite, Evernex SMC, Humbolt Voip and My Taxi Ride for failing to "correct their facially deficient database certifications" or prove why they should not be removed following an October inquiry. All intermediate providers and voice service providers were directed to cease accepting calls from the listed carriers. In a separate order Thursday, the bureau removed Teleclub's certification for "fail[ing] to include any description of any robocall mitigation efforts" the company is taking.