Incompas starts BroadLand broadband campaign, with Mignon Clyburn leading this with Incompas CEO Chip Pickering ... ACG Advocacy hires Roberto Fierro from BSA|The Software Alliance as partner ... American Edge Project adds ex-Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., and ex-Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., to lead efforts on “internet openness, accessibility and free expression” ... Sinclair President-Distribution and Network Relations Barry Faber, also former general counsel, retires, effective June 25, and continuing as a consultant to the company on distribution and network relations.

SpaceX, OneWeb, Kepler, Intelsat and SES seek a 30-day extension of the replies deadline in the 12 GHz proceeding. In docket 20-443 Tuesday, they said it's needed because of the "complex factual and technical questions" involved and the hundreds of pages of material that RS Access and Dish Network filed at the comments deadline. The FCC didn't comment. The Wireless Bureau granted an extension in March to deadlines sought by Computer & Communications Industry Association, Incompas, Open Technology Institute at New America and Public Knowledge, but it subsequently rejected a second extension sought by the satellite operators (see 2105040037). Replies are due June 7.

Connectivity difficulties for households trying to apply online during the initial FCC emergency broadband benefit rollout could discourage people from returning to the website to try again, some working to encourage EBB enrollment said in interviews. Users reported initial delays (see 2105130063). The FCC posted an alert May 13, the day after the program began, warning online applicants they could have had connectivity issues in applying online. The alert cited high demand. The Universal Service Administrative Co. posted the same.

Using streaming services to disseminate emergency messages mightn't be feasible, isn’t necessary and is outside FCC jurisdiction, industry trade groups and companies commented on a notice of inquiry. The “broadcast-centric” emergency alert system architecture is “not readily transferable to the varied and location-agnostic nature of internet-connected devices and streaming services,” said CTA. “At best, implementing such a requirement would be extremely cumbersome, and invoke a long list of unknown consequences related to complexity, user privacy and cost,” said NAB.

The FCC has the evidence it needs to act quickly on an order allowing wireless broadband in the 12 GHz band, said Incompas CEO Chip Pickering Wednesday on a 5Gfor12GHz Coalition call. Speakers cited a RKF Engineering Solutions study that said 5G and non-geostationary fixed satellite service deployments can coexist (see 2105100028). The RKF and a Brattle economic study “provide the commission with the clear evidence they need to move forward,” Pickering said. With infrastructure legislation moving through Congress, “we’re about to see significant sums of fund for the national commitment of broadband connectivity,” he said: “This can be done, and should be done, this year.” Coalition members tied the opening of the spectrum to the FCC’s focus on broadband deployment. “The ever-increasing demand for network utilization is forcing us to explore new technologies and methods to build networks faster and with more capacity,” said ISP Xiber CEO Stephen Hon. Xiber uses spectrum mainly for wireless backhaul. Access to 12 GHz “would be a remarkable tool,” he said. “The sheer volume of spectrum available, as well as the location of the band, could enable higher capacity links over longer distances.” Congestion in other bands and the cost of deployment means “many times we and other providers have to turn down customers and communities” seeking service, Hon said. Companies like infrastructure provider Tilson need “every possible tool at our disposal to bridge the gap,” said CEO Josh Broder. Using 12 GHz will let the company “reach more communities with much-needed, high quality broadband,” he said. “It is laughably premature to declare” the RKF study “provides ‘clear evidence’ of any kind whatsoever,” said Eric Graham, OneWeb director-government and regulatory engagement, North America. “The study was only made available on Monday to stakeholders offering broadband in the 12 GHz spectrum, like OneWeb, and we are now beginning to identify the flaws in it,” he said. The current rules for the band “guarantee every American, no matter their location, will have access to at least one satellite broadband network in a matter of months,” he said: “That is more than the MVDDS licensees can offer, regardless of how many secret studies they commission.”

The Administrative Conference of the U.S. Assembly Rulemaking Committee agreed Tuesday to delay until May 24 a vote on a draft proposal recommending the FCC and other federal agencies limit some types of comment, amid outcry from Free Press and others, an FP spokesperson told us. FP, Incompas, the National Hispanic Media Coalition, Open Technology Institute and Public Knowledge are among more than 80 groups that raised concerns Tuesday about the latest plan. The committee plans to vote after members circulate further revisions, the FP spokesperson said. New York Attorney General Letitia James’ (D) office last week found nearly 18 million of the more than 22 million comments submitted to the FCC on repealing net neutrality rules in 2017 were fake (see our report here).

As the FCC considers tougher secure telephone identity revisited (Stir) and signature-based handling of asserted information using tokens (Shaken) rules (see 2104290082), major carriers said they’re protecting customers from unwanted calls, in filings mostly posted Monday in docket 17-59. Banking and other groups warned that rules should ensure calls customers want still get through, in response to the Governmental Affairs Bureau request for input for its second call blocking report. "Customers are harmed when their banks’ outbound calling numbers are mislabeled, or calls from those numbers are blocked, because they may not receive lawful calls affecting their financial health,” the American Banking Association said: “It is critical for customers that these calls be completed without delay.” Incompas heard reports that call blocking is being used “on a more regular basis to block or divert legitimate traffic,” and said it “repeatedly raised concerns that call blocking could be used to erect barriers to competition and discriminate against competitive providers and their legitimate use cases.” Industry is “making great progress protecting consumers from unwanted robocalls” but “robocallers continuously deploy new tactics,” Verizon said: The company is seeing “a concerning increase in a new ‘dual seizure’ technique that bad actors use to efficiently insert millions of messages daily into nonconsenting consumers’ voice mailboxes without the calls ever causing the consumers’ devices to ring.” T-Mobile had a drop in robocalls a year ago, possibly because the pandemic closed some call centers. “Once calls resumed, new scams targeting subscribers purporting to relate to COVID-19 testing, vaccinations, unemployment insurance and stimulus checks arose,” T-Mobile said, noting its call blocking tools help. FCC efforts “have empowered AT&T to better protect its network and customers from illegal and unwanted robocalls,” the company said: “AT&T blocks illegal robocalls consistent with the Commission’s orders and has integrated the STIR/SHAKEN verification results into its call blocking analysis.” NCTA noted major cable operators adopted Stir/Shaken. “Policy advancements, industry investments in call authentication, blocking and labeling, and traceback, and aggressive law enforcement collectively are impacting the landscape,” said USTelecom: “No single initiative alone will solve the problem of illegal and unwanted robocalls, but each step makes an incremental difference.”

As the FCC considers tougher secure telephone identity revisited (Stir) and signature-based handling of asserted information using tokens (Shaken) rules (see 2104290082), major carriers said they’re protecting customers from unwanted calls, in filings mostly posted Monday in docket 17-59. Banking and other groups warned that rules should ensure calls customers want still get through, in response to the Governmental Affairs Bureau request for input for its second call blocking report. "Customers are harmed when their banks’ outbound calling numbers are mislabeled, or calls from those numbers are blocked, because they may not receive lawful calls affecting their financial health,” the American Banking Association said: “It is critical for customers that these calls be completed without delay.” Incompas heard reports that call blocking is being used “on a more regular basis to block or divert legitimate traffic,” and said it “repeatedly raised concerns that call blocking could be used to erect barriers to competition and discriminate against competitive providers and their legitimate use cases.” Industry is “making great progress protecting consumers from unwanted robocalls” but “robocallers continuously deploy new tactics,” Verizon said: The company is seeing “a concerning increase in a new ‘dual seizure’ technique that bad actors use to efficiently insert millions of messages daily into nonconsenting consumers’ voice mailboxes without the calls ever causing the consumers’ devices to ring.” T-Mobile had a drop in robocalls a year ago, possibly because the pandemic closed some call centers. “Once calls resumed, new scams targeting subscribers purporting to relate to COVID-19 testing, vaccinations, unemployment insurance and stimulus checks arose,” T-Mobile said, noting its call blocking tools help. FCC efforts “have empowered AT&T to better protect its network and customers from illegal and unwanted robocalls,” the company said: “AT&T blocks illegal robocalls consistent with the Commission’s orders and has integrated the STIR/SHAKEN verification results into its call blocking analysis.” NCTA noted major cable operators adopted Stir/Shaken. “Policy advancements, industry investments in call authentication, blocking and labeling, and traceback, and aggressive law enforcement collectively are impacting the landscape,” said USTelecom: “No single initiative alone will solve the problem of illegal and unwanted robocalls, but each step makes an incremental difference.”

Terrestrial wireless interests, think tanks and others formed the 5G for 12 GHz Coalition to push for opening the band to terrestrial mobile service, they said Wednesday. Members include Incompas, Public Knowledge, Dish Network, RS Access, New America's Open Technology Institute, Federated Wireless and the Rural Wireless Association. Incompas CEO Chip Pickering and Joe Lockhart, who was President Bill Clinton's press secretary, are co-chairmen.

Terrestrial wireless interests, think tanks and others formed the 5G for 12 GHz Coalition to push for opening the band to terrestrial mobile service, they said Wednesday. Members include Incompas, Public Knowledge, Dish Network, RS Access, New America's Open Technology Institute, Federated Wireless and the Rural Wireless Association. Incompas CEO Chip Pickering and Joe Lockhart, who was President Bill Clinton's press secretary, are co-chairmen.