Federal Communications Commission
FCC Proposes Rules for Expanded Incentive-Auction Reimbursements
The Federal Communications Commission proposed rules to implement a recent Congressional directive to reimburse certain Low Power TV (LPTV), TV translator, and FM stations for costs incurred as a result of the FCC’s incentive auction.
FCC Establishes Incubator Program Procedures To Increase Diversity In The Broadcast Industry
The Federal Communications Commission adopted requirements that will govern an incubator program to assist new, small, or struggling voices, including women and minorities, in overcoming the key barriers to entry into the broadcast sector. Under the program, an established broadcaster will provide financial and operational support, including training and mentoring, to a new or small broadcaster.
FCC Speeds Access to Utility Poles to Promote Broadband, 5G Deployment
The Federal Communications Commission is speeding the process and reducing the costs of attaching new network facilities to utility poles. The FCC fundamentally reformed the federal framework governing pole attachments by adopting a process in which the new attacher moves existing attachments and performs all other work required to make the pole ready for a new attachment.
FCC Establishes Procedures for First 5G Spectrum Auctions
Auction procedures to speed the deployment of 5G services in the 28 GHz (27.5-28.35 GHz) and 24 GHz (24.25-24.45, 24.75-25.25 GHz) bands. The FCC will offer the 28 GHz and 24 GHz band licenses through two auctions with separate application and bidding processes for each auction. The application windows will run concurrently. The bidding for the 28 GHz UMFUS licenses (Auction 101) will commence on November 14, 2018, and the bidding for the 24 GHz licenses (Auction 102) will commence after the bidding concludes in Auction 101.
FCC Proposes Steps Towards Auction of 37 GHz, 39 GHz, and 47 GHz Bands
The Federal Communications Commission proposed next steps to prepare the upper 37 GHz, 39 GHz, and 47 GHz bands for auction. In particular, auctioning the 39 GHz and upper 37 GHz bands together presents a critical opportunity for 5G deployment as it represents the largest amount of contiguous spectrum available in the millimeter-wave bands.
FCC Anticipates Renewing Consumer Advisory Committee
The Federal Communications Commission announces the anticipated renewal of its Consumer Advisory Committee and solicits applications for membership, subject to renewal of the CAC's charter. Applications for membership are due by 11:59 P.M. EST, September 14, 2018. The FCC seeks applications from interested consumers, nonprofit organizations, corporations, or other entities from both the public and private sectors that wish to be considered for membership on the Committee.
Chairman Pai Announces New Appointments to the Intergovernmental Advisory Committee
Chairman Ajit Pai appointed 18 new members to the FCC’s Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC) and named Doug Ducey, Governor of Arizona, Chair of the newly expanded IAC. The 18 newly appointed members join the 12 existing members. The vacancies that are now being filled resulted from both the January 2018 order expanding the IAC from 15 to 30 members and the need to replace two members whose elected terms ended in January 2018—Commissioner Ronald Brisé from the Florida Public Service Commission and Kasim Reed, Mayor City of Atlanta—and the late Edwin M.