President Donald Trump signed off Friday on the revised budget reconciliation package, previously known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, restoring the FCC’s spectrum auction authority for the first time since it lapsed in March 2023. The measure, which ultimately mirrored the Senate’s version, mandates an 800 MHz spectrum auction pipeline but exempts the 3.1-3.45 GHz and 7.4-8.4 GHz bands from potential reallocation (see 2507030056). The National Emergency Number Association and WISPA separately aired grievances with Congress failing to act on the groups’ policy priorities via reconciliation.
Litigants disagreed on whether the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Nuclear Regulatory Commission v. Texas precludes the challenge to an FCC order that lets schools and libraries use E-rate support for off-premises Wi-Fi hot spots and wireless internet services. The U.S. government and attorneys representing Maurine and Matthew Molak filed briefs last week at the 5th U.S. Circuit Appeals Court (case 23-60641), which asked for their perspectives (see 2506180067). The government said the FCC may reverse the order regardless of what the court does.
Lawyers for the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition and the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society said Monday that the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last month upholding the USF was a clean win for the program and the FCC (see 2507020049). By rejecting the challenge -- brought by Consumers’ Research, a right-wing group -- SCOTUS lifted a cloud that has loomed over the USF for years, the lawyers said during an SHLB webinar.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr on Monday called for communications providers and power companies to work together in the aftermath of hurricanes and other natural disasters. Other speakers at the FCC's hurricane resiliency roundtable noted that communications between the domains have improved, highlighted by the work of the Cross-Sector Resiliency Forum (see 2504250050), which launched after Hurricane Michael in 2018.
Hudson Institute names former FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington a visiting fellow at the Center for the Economics of the Internet … Changes at DirecTV following its sale by AT&T to TPG: Tony Vinciquerra, formerly Sony Pictures Entertainment, joins the board; AT&T board appointees Thaddeus Arroyo, Lori Lee and Jamie Barton step down, as does independent director Steve McGaw … Sara Cicero, ex-Cisco, joins fiber-optics manufacturer AOI as head of communications.
Broadcasters urged the FCC to issue an NPRM on NAB’s proposal to allow them to use virtual, software-based emergency alert system equipment instead of physical devices, according to an ex parte filing recapping a meeting with an aide to Chairman Brendan Carr. “Certain changes in the EAS marketplace increase the need for prompt attention to this proposal,” said representatives of iHeartMedia, Beasley Media, Cox Media, New York Public Radio and NAB in the filing, posted Thursday in docket 15-94.
A representative of the International Bridge, Tunnel & Turnpike Association raised concerns on NextNav’s proposal for positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) in the lower 900 MHz band (see 2506130010) during a meeting with aides to FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez. “NextNav’s proposed high-power operations in the Lower 900 MHz band pose a substantial risk of harmful interference to licensed electronic tolling systems, threatening to significantly undermine tolling operations and constrain future electronic tolling deployments,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 24-240. The tolling industry “has engaged, and continues to engage, NextNav on the risk of interference.”
NTCA representatives met with FCC Wireline Bureau staff to discuss the challenges carriers face as they maintain or build and upgrade broadband networks in rural areas. “These can include low densities, long distances from urban areas, mountainous and rocky terrain, workforce challenges, and weather-shortened construction seasons,” said a filing Wednesday in docket 17-84. “These challenges are exacerbated by time-consuming and expensive permitting processes at the local, state, and federal levels that inhibit their ability to serve their rural communities.”
The House on Thursday narrowly passed the Senate-cleared version of the HR-1 budget reconciliation package, previously known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (see 2507010070). Passage came after a marathon all-night session, during which most Republicans who had previously resisted backing the measure ultimately voted for it amid pressure and cajoling from GOP leadership and President Donald Trump. The lower chamber approved HR-1 218-214, with only two Republicans joining all 212 Democrats in opposition.
Groups representing prisoners and their families told us they’re examining their options after what they saw as a surprising decision by the FCC Wireline Bureau to delay some incarcerated people’s communications service (IPCS) deadlines until April 1, 2027 (see 2506300068). Just last month, the government defended the order before the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which is considering the challenges of IPCS providers Securus and Pay Tel, as well as other groups (see 2504250030).