Federal Communications Commission

The Federal Communications Commission has received all approvals required to launch its new Office of Economics and Analytics (OEA), clearing the way for the office to become operational by the end of 2019. The FCC earlier in 2018 voted to create OEA to better integrate the use of economics and data into its rulemakings and other proceedings. This reorganization of the agency required approval from the House and Senate Appropriations Committees and the Office of Management and Budget. It also required the FCC to reach an agreement with the National Treasury Employees Union.

Throughout my time here in New Delhi, I look forward to strengthening friendships—and building new ones—with colleagues across both government and industry. Together, we can help deliver digital opportunity for all those we represent.

In Nov, during what we’ve dubbed Space Month, the Federal Communications Commission will take up nine items to ensure that America leads in the New Space Age, with an emphasis on cutting through the red tape. We start with improving a satellite-enabled technology that millions of Americans rely on every day without even knowing it: the positioning, navigation, and timing service known to most Americans as the Global Positioning System, or GPS. The Commission will vote on allowing American devices to access the European global navigation satellite system, known as Galileo.

The Federal Communications Commission eliminated the nearly 80-year-old requirement that broadcasters routinely file paper copies of station contracts and certain other documents. Broadcasters have the option of either uploading these documents directly to their online public inspection file or maintaining an up-to-date list in of these documents in their online file and providing copies of the documents to requesting parties within seven days. Thus, the routine paper filing requirement is redundant and unnecessary.

The Federal Communications Commission is allowing certain rural telecommunications carriers the opportunity to transition from rate-of-return regulation to light-touch incentive regulation for their business data services. Recognizing the importance of business data services to the nation’s economy, the FCC in 2017 modernized its regulation of those services for large carriers – known as price cap carriers – to encourage deployment of modern, packet-based services.

The Federal Communications Commission proposed to make up to 1200 megahertz of spectrum available for use by unlicensed devices in the 6 GHz band (5.925-7.125 GHz). The proposed rules are designed to allow unlicensed devices to operate in the 6 GHz band without interfering with the operation of the licensed services that will continue to use this spectrum.

The Federal Communications Commission adopted a Report and Order that makes modifications to the rules governing the Citizens Broadband Radio Service in the 3.5 GHz band. This action will promote additional investment and encourage broader deployment in the band, ensure that our rules for this service keep up with technological advancements, and help to maintain U.S. leadership in the deployment of next-generation services, including 5G. Specifically, the Order: