The FCC Office of International Affairs rejected a request by Incompas and Morgan Lewis, on behalf of its clients, asking the FCC for a 30-day extension of the deadlines to file comments and replies on an NPRM on Section 214 international authorizations (see 308070045) approved by commissioners 4-0 in April (see 2304200039). Initial comments are due Aug. 31, replies Oct. 2. “We find nothing sufficiently unique or unusual in this instance that would warrant granting the extensions of the comment and reply comment deadlines,” said an order in docket 23-119 in Wednesdays' Daily Digest. OIA agreed to exempt from a one-time information requirement some companies that recently provided information that hasn't changed, providing a break for those that filed applications within three years before the deadline of the one-time information collection. The exemption applies only to those with “no Reportable Foreign Interest Holders of the Authorization Holder other than those disclosed in the application (including any amendment)” and when “there are no changes to the Reportable Foreign Interest Holders disclosed in the application.”
A bill that would restrict California regulators’ discretion to make extra rules for NTIA’s broadband equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program dismayed local and consumer advocates. With a month left in session, California legislators are also weighing broadband bills to require wireless eligibility for federal funding and to streamline broadband permitting. Assembly Communications Committee Chair Tasha Boerner (D) said the goal of her BEAD bill (AB-662) is to bring “accountability” to the California Public Utilities Commission.
Industry groups disagreed on an FCC NPRM proposing to expand certain robocall rules to all voice service providers, in comments posted Thursday in docket 17-97. Commissioners adopted the item in May (see 2305180036). Some urged caution and asked the FCC to grant flexibility if it mandates any additional call blocking rules.
An FCC proposal to allow fixed-wireless use of the lower 12 GHz band remains hotly contested. Multiple satellite interests argued expanded terrestrial use of the upper 12 GHz band, if allowed, must include protection for adjacent-band satellite services. Comments were posed Wednesday and Thursday in docket 20-443. Leaders of the 5G for 12 GHz Coalition are seeking FCC action by year's end (see 2308090061). The FCC also sought comment on an NPRM on the upper 12 GHz band.
Leaders of the 5G for 12 GHz Coalition hope for FCC action by year-end on rules to allow fixed-wireless use of the lower 12 GHz band. Comments were due Wednesday on a Further NPRM, which commissioners approved 4-0 in May, examining fixed-wireless and unlicensed use of 12.2-12.7 GHz spectrum (see 2305180052). That FNPRM was part of a complicated series of items addressing the 12 and 13 GHz bands.
Incompas and Morgan Lewis, on behalf of its clients, asked the FCC for a 30-day extension of the deadlines to file comments and replies on an NPRM on Section 214 international authorizations, approved by commissioners in April (see 2304200039). The extension would mean comments are due Sept. 30, replies Nov. 1. The NPRM “seeks comment on a host of legal and policy questions to which we are working diligently with our respective members and clients to develop input,” said a filing posted Monday in docket 23-119: “The questions posed … involve complex economic, operational, and policy issues and will require us to closely consult with our respective members and clients. Our members and clients also must coordinate internally among business units and, in many cases, with their corporate owners in the U.S. and globally to determine the potential impact of the rules proposed in the NPRM and to develop their input.”
AUSTIN – NARUC's Telecom Committee supported permanent annual funding for the affordable connectivity program (ACP) in a nearly unanimous vote at the association’s conference Tuesday. Congress will fear ending ACP if enough people sign up, Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council CEO Robert Branson told state commissioners on a diversity panel Monday. Panelists said it’s important for digital equity efforts to keep the program that’s meant to help low-income communities afford broadband.
Incompas held Wednesday's webinar on international Section 214 licenses (see 2307120069).
Companies holding international Communications Act Section 214 authorizations should be preparing for the FCC’s one-time data collection authorized in April (see 2304270039) and brace for tighter foreign-ownership disclosure rules and additional filing requirements to come out of that order’s accompanying NPRM, said Morgan Lewis attorneys Patricia Cave and Ulises Pin in an Incompas webinar Wednesday. Once the data collection order takes effect, companies need to “start reacting relatively quickly because there's going to be a short window in order to react” -- probably 30 days -- and the penalty for failure to do so could be “significant,” said Pin.
Support continued in comments from industry groups on the use of third-party caller ID authentication and other efforts to address Stir/Shaken implementation (see 2306060073). Some urged the FCC to clarify which levels of attestation should be allowed for authenticating calls. Reply comments were posted through Thursday in docket 17-97.