Verizon urged the FCC to take steps to...

Verizon urged the FCC to take steps to further speed up decisionmaking, in process reform comments. Verizon said the unofficial 180-day shot clock on transaction reviews starts the day a deal is put on public notice by the FCC, rather than the day an application is filed. “Often it can take weeks for the Commission to release a Public Notice after the applications are filed with the Commission, and starting the shot-clock on release of the Public Notice adds unnecessary delay,” Verizon said (http://bit.ly/OdhFC9). It supported a proposal that the FCC post initial Freedom of Information Act decisions on its website. “This will increase transparency and afford parties equal opportunity to review Commission precedent as they take steps to protect confidential information and respond to FOIA requests,” the carrier said. Samsung urged the FCC to allow Technical Certification Bodies (TCBs) to recertify all radiofrequency devices. “The Commission established the TCB program to provide manufacturers an alternative to obtaining certification from the Commission, and to facilitate the more rapid introduction of RF equipment into the market,” Samsung said (http://bit.ly/QFtBi7). “In many ways, TCBs have improved the device approval process. But, for some classes of devices, the TCB approval process is followed by a frequently-redundant FCC review process that can take considerable time and introduce uncertainty into when a device will reach consumers.” Mobile Future also urged the FCC to tweak the shot clock. “The Commission’s ability to review proposed spectrum transactions in a timely, predictable, and transparent manner is critical to wireless consumers,” Mobile Future said (http://bit.ly/1iZGhcU). “Secondary markets facilitate new business combinations and new transactions that allow spectrum to flow to its highest and best use and for the industry to keep pace with fast-changing consumer demand.” Other commenters sought process reform at all FCC bureaus (CD April 2 p9).