'Easy Stuff' With Infrastructure Done; 5G, Broadband Need More, MMTC Hears

Even with FCC progress in easing the infrastructure path to 5G deployment and extending broadband connectivity, industry officials at a Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council event Wednesday sought lower barriers to infrastructure deployment. Some commissioners also said the draft Telecom Act Section 706 broadband deployment report points to big progress in closing the digital divide.

That came partly through the Title II rollback, Commissioner Brendan Carr said. "Obviously, there is a long way to go, but the trend lines are good," Chairman Ajit Pai said. He said data also points to increased speeds and infrastructure investment. Consumer advocates are skeptical of the report findings (see 1902200057).

To ensure high-speed networks are available to underserved areas like communities of color, infrastructure deployment is key, said Marie Sylla-Dixon, T-Mobile vice president-federal government and external affairs. Companies are open to paying “reasonable rates" to access local rights of way, she said. Verizon Director-Strategic Alliances Debra Speed added that local governments’ best move is to allow small-cell deployment. Beyond the FCC’s USF program, the money other agencies like the Agriculture Department are increasingly putting toward connectivity in rural areas is also of increased importance, said Microsoft Senior Director-Government and Regulatory Affairs Paula Boyd.

The FCC can incentivize network investment through more accurate broadband mapping to better understand where unserved areas are, Boyd said. She said FCC data indicates 24 million Americans don’t have broadband access, but Microsoft usage data indicates it’s more than four times that.

Comcast Vice President-Public Policy Jay Schwarz said there’s need for more regulatory certainty because there has been local franchise authority “creep” on franchise fees charged cable networks, hurting investment. Charter Communications Vice President-Policy and External Affairs Donald Cravins said advocates need to push for “reasonable [and] sensible” policies for connectivity instead of overbuilding.

5G

The U.S. is in “pretty good shape” on 5G deployment due largely to FCC deregulatory steps, with the number of cities wired expected to double this year and projections the country will have twice as many 5G connections as Asia, Carr said. He said the agency is looking for other areas to streamline.

The FCC has "done the easy stuff" on broadband expansion and 5G deployment and now is dealing with tougher challenges like bringing connectivity to unserved areas, Commissioner Mike O'Rielly said. "We are not going to get fiber to every single home," but the agency is trying to ensure everyone has some connectivity, he said, and the 2 to 3 percent of the U.S. with 10/1 speeds or less needs to be addressed.

Eric Einhorn, senior counsel-technology and communications policy for Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, said Republicans are interested in a federal privacy rule, and Democrats' priority is it contain particular consumer protections -- such as putting more responsibilities on companies. If any bill lacks that, Democrats are apt to oppose a federal rule and instead let individual states create their own standards, said Einhorn.

A lot of localities were “pretty grouchy with us” after the Streamlining the Rapid Evolution and Modernization of Leading-Edge Infrastructure Necessary to Enhance Small Cell Deployment Act, which tried to set time frames for state and local small-cell consideration (see 1806290063), was introduced last Congress, but it could be reintroduced, Einhorn said. He said Schatz’s office is looking for ways to improve it.

Asked about the 2.5 GHz band, Cravins said Charter's “absolutely interested” and the band’s key to the company's wanting to increase its own wireless spectrum instead of relying so much on its Verizon MVNO. Sylla-Dixon said T-Mobile buying Sprint is motivated in part by T-Mobile’s need for 2.5 GHz spectrum. Schwarz said Comcast has been studying the band and has obtained some experimental FCC licenses.

Asked about 5G consumer availability timelines, Speed said LG, Samsung and Motorola devices will be able to access its 5G network this summer. Sylla-Dixon said T-Mobile is rolling out the network in the first half of this year, with 5G-enabled devices following in the second half. Asked about the 10G rollout timeline, Schwarz said Comcast has deployed 1 GB speeds throughout its footprint, and going to 10G should drive unthought-of new services and devices. Cravins said 5G and 10G aren't wireless vs. cable issues. “5G is very important to Charter as well,” with its wireless business, and Charter hopes to offer 5G service as well if it can access more spectrum, he said. For 10 Gbps, or 10G, cable operators are working with industry groups in a new campaign (see 1901070048).

Privacy

NTIA is going through comments it received as it helps develop the administration’s internet privacy policy, but a couple of themes have emerged -- a sense of urgency and industry consensus there can’t be a regulatory patchwork, NTIA Administrator David Redl said. He said NTIA also is focused on developing the mapping platform for an updated broadband availability map.

In a talk with Pai, NCTA President Michael Powell said "really worrisome" issues are emerging on how the algorithms used in artificial intelligence and facial recognition technology can end up racially biased against people of color, and diversity is sorely lacking in the tech industry. Pai said such issues are somewhat beyond FCC jurisdiction, but they remain "something we think about a lot," citing the rechartering of the agency's Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment.

Asked whether privacy is a right or expectation, Pai said consumers have privacy expectations that often aren’t met in the internet economy, necessitating the need for Congress to set “consistent levels of protection.”

Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said Congress needs to allow the FCC to levy larger robocalls fines and to extend the statute of limitations. She said the agency also needs to make robocalls more central to its enforcement division structure. Commissioner Geoffrey Starks again said the amount of station ownership by people of color is "not acceptable" (see 1902080056) and he's looking into the minority tax certificate program, which deferred capital gains to encourage sale of broadcast properties to minorities. Congress terminated it in 1995.