A Thursday Senate Communications Subcommittee hearing on the FCC and NTIA roles in spectrum policymaking is likely to at least partially focus on the dispute between the two agencies over Ligado’s L-band plan, lawmakers and officials said in interviews. The hearing is also likely to be a venue for lawmakers to address other related policy matters, including FCC disputes with other federal agencies on the 24 GHz auction and other frequencies, and bids to allocate proceeds from the coming auction of spectrum on the 3.7-4.2 GHz C band, lobbyists said. The panel begins at 10 a.m. in 253 Russell (see 2007160054).

Approval of a different cable leased access rate structure went awry Thursday with a brief administrative law crisis. FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel questioned whether the item -- with two approvals and three concurring votes -- had actually been adopted. Administrative law experts told us it's a novel issue. Chairman Ajit Pai and acting General Counsel Ashley Boizelle said it counts as adopted.

Update public safety service prioritization rules to adapt to changing technology and usage, while proceeding with caution on an NPRM up for a vote at Thursday's FCC meeting, TechFreedom General Counsel Jim Dunstan said in an interview last week. "We need a national dialogue for the points of the network not designed to carry emergency communications," he said. Dunstan wants the FCC to beware of unintended consequences, such as cost considerations for smaller carriers, and whether noncarrier networks such as fiber backhauls will be swept up in new regulations. “This week’s vote is an important step toward ensuring that our national security and emergency preparedness communications are keeping pace with an evolving communications landscape,” an NTIA spokesperson emailed Wednesday. NTIA petitioned for changes to the wireless service priority and telecom service priority rules (see 1907170042). Industry has been quiet since the meeting item was released last month (see 2006250062). CTIA, NCTA and the Fiber Broadband Association declined comment. USTelecom, Incompas, Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile didn't comment. "We would anticipate discussing this with members once the NPRM is released for comment to determine what positions we will take, if any, on the proposals," NTCA emailed us Wednesday.

Ballard Spahr adds Jay Coogan, ex-DLA Piper, as partner, Business and Transactions Department, working on deals, with clients including in technology ... Sidley Austin adds Nicolai Schwarz-Gondek, ex-O’Melveny & Myers, as partner, Private Equity practice, working on deals including information services and technology, media and software ... Twilio adds from Facebook Mike Buckley as vice president-corporate communications ... Rockwell Automation advances Patricia Contreras to vice president, she's the "first Latina to lead the company’s global public affairs."

Ballard Spahr adds Jay Coogan, ex-DLA Piper, as partner, Business and Transactions Department, working on deals, with clients including in technology ... Sidley Austin adds Nicolai Schwarz-Gondek, ex-O’Melveny & Myers, as partner, Private Equity practice, working on deals including information services and technology, media and software ... Twilio adds from Facebook Mike Buckley as vice president-corporate communications ... Rockwell Automation advances Patricia Contreras to vice president, she's the "first Latina to lead the company’s global public affairs."

Broaden the USF contribution base by including one-way VoIP services among contributors, the phone industry asked the FCC in comments posted through Tuesday in docket 06-122. "Given the rising contribution factor and the shrinking base of assessable services, the Commission should consider comprehensive USF reform that sets USF contributions on a sustainable path," USTelecom said. "While it is unlikely to make a noticeable difference to the contribution factor at this time, one way to begin addressing this issue in an incremental way is to broaden the base by including one-way VoIP services." Zoom wanted the FCC to ensure new obligations "are consistent with its long-standing commitment to fostering a regulatory environment that will invite investment in information services, including those that incorporate voice." Inaction on more comprehensive changes to USF contribution methodology threatens "the stability of USF funding and its mission to provide universal service nationwide," said the Ad Hoc Telecom Users Committee. Incompas urged comprehensive changes to contribution methodology, seeing the one-way VoIP matter as a distraction.

Broaden the USF contribution base by including one-way VoIP services among contributors, the phone industry asked the FCC in comments posted through Tuesday in docket 06-122. "Given the rising contribution factor and the shrinking base of assessable services, the Commission should consider comprehensive USF reform that sets USF contributions on a sustainable path," USTelecom said. "While it is unlikely to make a noticeable difference to the contribution factor at this time, one way to begin addressing this issue in an incremental way is to broaden the base by including one-way VoIP services." Zoom wanted the FCC to ensure new obligations "are consistent with its long-standing commitment to fostering a regulatory environment that will invite investment in information services, including those that incorporate voice." Inaction on more comprehensive changes to USF contribution methodology threatens "the stability of USF funding and its mission to provide universal service nationwide," said the Ad Hoc Telecom Users Committee. Incompas urged comprehensive changes to contribution methodology, seeing the one-way VoIP matter as a distraction.

Citing bigger risks of collisions in orbit and stymied use of the 12 GHz band for 5G services, satellite and wireless interests filed petitions Monday with the FCC International Bureau asking it to reject SpaceX plans to relocate 2,824 planned non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) broadband satellites to a lower orbit (see 2004200003). SpaceX didn't comment Tuesday.

Phone industry trade groups want the FCC to expand call blocking safe harbor protections to allow network level blocking of robocalls deemed illegal or unwanted. Calling originators with ongoing customer relationships urge commissioners to take a more cautious approach when they vote on an order at Thursday’s meeting (see 2006250062), according to interviews and filings in docket 17-59. The rulemaking stems from the Traced Act.

Charter Communications should expect public interest groups to oppose its ask that the FCC set a May sunset to the data caps and interconnection conditions from its purchase of Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks (see 2006180050). The cable ISP could face watered-down opposition compared with what it faced to get regulatory OK, with some groups telling us it's question of available resources. The commission might be hesitant to act on the petition before the November election, we were told.