Federal Communications Commission

The Federal Communications Commission made optional a previously mandatory requirement that compelled the officers and board members of noncommercial educational (NCE) stations to report personal information. NCE broadcasters said that, if left unchanged, this requirement would deter volunteers from serving in these important leadership positions. April 20’s action will allow NCE stations to more readily utilize “special use” registration numbers, which do not require the submission of personal information to the Commission, on their ownership forms.

NCE stations will no longer be required to make “reasonable and good faith efforts” to obtain the information needed to use unique registration numbers for board members and officers—and individuals serving in these important leadership positions will no longer be required to provide such information under the threat of FCC enforcement action. However, the FCC will still require NCEs to submit information about the gender, race, and ethnicity of their governing officers and board members.

The Federal Communications Commission sent a letter to Universal Service Administrative Company on April 17, 2017 to revise directions regarding how USAC should administer E-rate program funds and, in particular, how USAC should account for the different categories of potential funding disbursements. The revised guidance is effective immediately and supersedes a previous letter sent to USAC.

I’m honored to be here and grateful to you for your participation on the Advisory Committee of the World Radiocommunication Conference 2019, or WRC-19. This Advisory Committee is a crucial element in the preparation of America’s positions at the WRC. Your efforts will ensure that the FCC represents effectively a broad spectrum of views during international negotiations and in the course of domestic decision-making. I encourage you to continue to work together and find consensus as you develop draft proposals for WRC-19. I know that finding consensus on these issues is challenging, even here at home. But working in good faith, I’m confident that we can find it. And find it we must, for it’s critical that we present a clear, consistent message beyond our shores.

Unfortunately, it has come to my attention that there are serious flaws in Universal Service Administrative Company’s (USAC) administration of the E-Rate program—flaws that relate to the process by which schools and libraries apply for E-Rate funding and that are in fact preventing many schools and libraries from getting that funding.

The specific problem involves USAC’s development and roll-out of the online E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC). EPC implementation issues have created major headaches for applicants requesting E-Rate funding. The current state of affairs is unacceptable. I seek your unqualified commitment that USAC will administer the E-Rate program in a manner that fully complies with Commission direction; works for applicants and participants; and promptly apprises the FCC of all relevant information concerning implementation.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai issued the following statement on the announcement that Verizon Communications has agreed to purchase at least $1.05 billion in optical fiber from Corning Incorporated.

“The FCC’s top priority is closing the digital divide that has persisted for far too long. And the key to meeting that priority is setting stable, market-friendly rules that will lead to investment in online infrastructure. The FCC has already taken significant actions to promote greater capital expenditure on broadband deployment, from reducing regulatory barriers to wiser spending of federal subsidies for buildout. Later this week, we will vote on several proposals that would unleash major capital expenditures on next-generation networks. Against this backdrop, I’m pleased to see that Verizon and Corning have reached a $1.05 billion agreement under which Corning will manufacture and Verizon will buy up to 12.4 million miles of optical fiber each year. This agreement heralds the construction of ‘densified’ 5G networks that will benefit American consumers. It will create thousands of high-quality jobs building and laying fiber. And it will go a long way toward closing the digital divide. Going forward, the FCC will continue to focus on creating a regulatory climate that favors greater investment and competition. A forward-thinking approach—one that relies on market incentives, rather than the tired ideology of heavy-handed Washington micromanagement—is the best way to deliver digital opportunity to all Americans.”

The Federal Communications Commission's experimental licensing program has played a key role throughout the years in the process of developing innovative new products and services. This new type of experimental license allows greater flexibility for parties—including universities, research labs, health care facilities, and manufacturers of radio frequency equipment— to develop new technologies and services while protecting incumbent services against harmful interference. Today, we are pleased to announce that our experimental licensing system can now accept applications for program licenses. Parties may apply for an experimental program license using the existing Form 442 application for experimental licenses. Once approved, licensees may go on the new "Experiments Notification System" website and begin registering new program experiments. The program license registration system continues the FCC's commitment to encouraging research and development.

The Federal Communications Commission has proposed to fine a New York City resident for apparently operating a radio transmitter on frequencies that the FCC licensed to the New York Police Department (NYPD), causing interference with the NYPD’s radio system.

Jay Peralta faces a proposed fine of $404,166 for this egregious conduct. Peralta allegedly transmitted threatening messages directed at NYPD officers. These messages included false bomb threats and false officer-in-distress calls to NYPD dispatchers. This action is a result of an investigation that began in August 2016 when a FCC employee observed a Twitter post about an unlawful intrusion on the NYPD’s radio system. The NYPD provided the FCC with a written statement by Peralta, who is currently in police custody for related charges, in which he apparently acknowledged making nine unauthorized transmissions on the NYPD’s radio system. The proposed fine details the FCC’s allegations of unlawful conduct and proposes the maximum monetary penalty permitted under the law. As with any proposed fine, Peralta has 30 days to respond to this notice. According to his statement to the NYPD, on at least one occasion, Peralta apparently made unauthorized transmissions on the NYPD’s radio system in order to distract officers while his accomplices allegedly committed a robbery.

Reverse Auction:
$10.05 billion Revenues to winning broadcast stations
$304 million Largest individual station payout
$194 million Largest non-commercial station payout

Forward Auction:
$19.8 billion Gross revenues (2nd largest in FCC auction history)
$19.3 billion Revenues net of requested bidding credits
$7.3 billion Auction proceeds for federal deficit reduction

Today marks a major accomplishment for the Commission: the ‘auction’ portion of the world’s first incentive auction is officially over. The reverse and forward auctions have concluded and the results have been announced. But this process is far from over. Now, we begin the post-auction transition period. This day has been a long time coming. We congratulate all bidders who were successful in the incentive auction, and we applaud all of those past and present Commission staffers who worked so diligently on every aspect of this complex undertaking. We have only reached this point because of their tremendous skill and dedication to this groundbreaking endeavor. Again: While we celebrate reaching the official close of the auction, there is still much work ahead of us. It’s now imperative that we move forward with equal zeal to ensure a successful post-auction transition, including a smooth and efficient repacking process.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced a transition in the leadership of the agency’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB). Current Bureau Chief Alison Kutler has decided to leave the agency, and Chairman Pai intends to appoint Patrick Webre as her replacement.

Webre has most recently worked at Jenner & Block in Washington, DC. He served for nine years in several leadership roles at the FCC, including as an Associate Bureau Chief and Chief Programs Officer in CGB, where he helped lead the FCC’s historic transition of broadcast television from analog to digital. He also served as a legal advisor to the chief of the Media Bureau and as an attorney in the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. Webre has also practiced law in Louisiana, where he earned a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and a juris doctorate from Tulane University Law School. Kutler will be moving to the private sector. Her last day at the agency is expected to be Friday, April 14. Webre is expected to take over as Acting Bureau Chief on Monday, April 17.