An omnibus FY 2021 appropriations measure under negotiation is likely to include funding for the FCC to implement the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act (S-1822), said House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., Thursday. He told a USTelecom webinar that he believes movement on infrastructure legislation like the House-passed Moving Forward Act (HR-2) is “not going to happen” during the waning days of the lame-duck session, but “hopefully we can get it passed” and enacted after President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration. Many advocates of federal broadband spending are optimistic a Biden administration will be able to reach a deal with Congress on infrastructure legislation (see 2011200056).

Dish Network government affairs adds Jamellah Ellis, ex-Verizon, as senior regulatory counsel, and Lyndall Nipps, ex-tw telecom and Windstream, as senior regulatory specialist, both for state regulatory compliance; the MVPD also hires Tripp McKemey, ex-office of Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Mont., who was recently elected governor, as senior government affairs analyst for federal lobbying team, focusing on House Republicans ... Jenner & Block hires Aaron Cooper, ex-Senate Intelligence Committee Russia investigation and former DOJ cybercrime prosecutor, as special counsel for Investigations, Compliance and Defense Practice; Government Controversies and Public Policy Litigation Practice; and Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice.

Dish Network government affairs adds Jamellah Ellis, ex-Verizon, as senior regulatory counsel, and Lyndall Nipps, ex-tw telecom and Windstream, as senior regulatory specialist, both for state regulatory compliance; the MVPD also hires Tripp McKemey, ex-office of Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Mont., who was recently elected governor, as senior government affairs analyst for federal lobbying team, focusing on House Republicans ... Jenner & Block hires Aaron Cooper, ex-Senate Intelligence Committee Russia investigation and former DOJ cybercrime prosecutor, as special counsel for Investigations, Compliance and Defense Practice; Government Controversies and Public Policy Litigation Practice; and Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice.

Backers and some critics of Ajit Pai agreed he was a particularly effective FCC chairman, leaving behind a legacy of major accomplishments and changes. Pai announced Monday he will step down on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20 (see 2011300020). Supporters said his scorecard includes enacting policies that accelerated broadband deployment and steering the agency through the pandemic.

Backers and some critics of Ajit Pai agreed he was a particularly effective FCC chairman, leaving behind a legacy of major accomplishments and changes. Pai announced Monday he will step down on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20 (see 2011300020). Supporters said his scorecard includes enacting policies that accelerated broadband deployment and steering the agency through the pandemic.

NTCA adds Mano Koilpillai, ex-Dynamic Consulting and Accounting, as chief financial officer; Roxanna Barboza, ex-Department of Agriculture, as industry and cybersecurity policy analyst; and Lauren Gaydos, ex-communications director for Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., as public relations manager ... Charlotte Willner from Pinterest named founding executive director of Trust & Safety Professional Association and its sibling organization Trust & Safety Foundation Project.

NTCA adds Mano Koilpillai, ex-Dynamic Consulting and Accounting, as chief financial officer; Roxanna Barboza, ex-Department of Agriculture, as industry and cybersecurity policy analyst; and Lauren Gaydos, ex-communications director for Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., as public relations manager ... Charlotte Willner from Pinterest named founding executive director of Trust & Safety Professional Association and its sibling organization Trust & Safety Foundation Project.

Incompas CEO Chip Pickering is hopeful this Congress enacts FY 2021 funding and a COVID-19 aid bill, despite partisan rancor. Group officials told a Thursday webinar they’re monitoring whether the Senate confirms FCC nominee Nathan Simington, plus the impact of a change to a majority-Democrat commission after President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.

With the greatly diminished voice transmission market power of ILECs, their possession of copper loops is hardly meaningful, so the FCC sensibly ended the requirement they provide copper wire services to competitors at subsidized pricing. That's per the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit Tuesday as it rejected Incompas and California Public Utilities Commission challenges to a 2019 forbearance order (see 2003260040).

Stakeholders seek an FCC NPRM on the future of the 12 GHz band, in a filing posted Monday in RM-11768. Signing were the Competitive Carriers Association, Computer & Communications Industry Association, Incompas, Public Knowledge and Open Technology Institute at New America. Industry officials said a December NPRM is possible. At most, launch a notice of inquiry, OneWeb asked in calls with aides to Carr and Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. The FCC didn't comment. Some have “expressed concerns about whether sharing in the 12 GHz Band is possible” (see 2010260023), the groups said. “These are precisely some of the questions that need to be reviewed in the context of an NPRM -- one that can be crafted in a neutral manner to ask all the pertinent questions concerning the operation of terrestrial 5G service in the 12 GHz Band.” The 12.2-12.7 GHz portion of the band is “5G ready,” the letter said. This coalition “has a long record of supporting competition and innovation,” emailed Angie Kronenberg, Incompas general counsel: “The FCC should take a neutral approach to the NPRM as it considers the availability of 500 megahertz of spectrum in the 12 GHz band. From INCOMPAS’ perspective, this is absolutely needed so that the FCC can fully consider the issues and enable more spectrum that can be used to promote more competition for 5G service.” PK spoke last week with aides to Commissioners Brendan Carr and Geoffrey Starks. “The request for rulemaking is not intended to undermine protections for incumbent satellite uses, including satellite broadband use, but is instead meant to build a record on whether it is feasible to adopt a sharing framework that could expand the availability of spectrum for both fixed and mobile broadband deployments, to expand more flexible and intensive terrestrial use of the band,” the group said. “Given the persistent need for more spectrum, the commission should look at all opportunities to maximize spectrum use,” said CCA President Steve Berry. "The 12 GHz band, which lacks existing government interests, could present a potential opportunity, and CCA encourages the FCC to take a fresh look to see if this spectrum band can support wireless services. ... Opening a proceeding creates an opportunity for all to put evidence on the record so that the FCC can make an informed decision.”