Ultra-high band spectrum remains a “wild, wonderful and challenging” world, said Ted Rappaport, director-NYU Wireless at New York University School of Engineering, during a National Science Foundation webinar Wednesday. The FCC tapped Rappaport to speak on the importance of spectrum above 95 GHz before a vote last year approving the spectrum horizons order (see 1903150054). Some are looking to spectrum as high as 700 GHz, he said. Commissioners will consider an NPRM on the 70, 80 and 90 GHz bands at their June 9 meeting (see 2005190058).
Country of origin cases
Smaller carriers that haven’t converted landline systems to VoIP seek extensions to comply with the secure telephone identity revisited (Stir) and secure handling of asserted information using tokens (Shaken) caller ID authentication framework requirements from the Traced Act, in comments posted through Monday in docket 20-67. They face implementation challenges (see 2002260058). NTCA wants the deadline extended to June 2023 for rural LECs. The FCC should “adopt compliance timeframes tied to RLECs’ ability to obtain and integrate into operating budgets vendor solutions," NTCA said. Extensions "without regard to the actual circumstances impacting implementation would only risk holding back the pace of the IP transition," AT&T said. USTelecom urged "proceed[ing] with caution" because in its experience "virtually all illegal robocalls are either originated by small IP-based providers" or gain network access through them. USTelecom said it supports a one-year implementation extension "due to undue hardship for small voice providers, on a case-by-case basis." Establish "policies that address the robocall and spoofing challenges differently for TDM than for IP," Verizon said. ACA Connects members need time and flexibility to overcome implementation barriers, it said. Consider transition costs and the amount of TDM that remains in the network, WTA suggested: Encourage research and deployment on alternative call authentication methodologies. WISPA asked for waivers. "Unlike larger nationwide providers, small providers often are dependent on third-party vendors" in such situations, the Competitive Carriers Association said: "Any delay by a vendor would be out of a provider’s control." T-Mobile wants the FCC to extend the mandate to intermediate carriers because otherwise terminating carriers can't verify a call's identification. Include wireline, wireless, VoIP providers and over-the-top voice services, NCTA said. Facilitating the VoIP transition could maximize effectiveness, Comcast said.
Two Senate Democrats and two Republicans introduced legislation Wednesday that would require clear country-of-origin labeling for products sold online. S-3707 is directed at thwarting listings of imported goods that misleadingly say or suggest the products are domestic. Sponsors are Sens. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.; Rick Scott, R-Fla.; Chris Murphy, D-Conn.; and Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga.
The order and NPRM on regulatory fees is expected to include changes from the draft intended to accommodate the concerns of VHF TV stations, said broadcast industry and FCC officials in interviews this week. The NPRM is likely to include language proposing possible regulatory fee relief for entities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, an FCC official noted. The order is to be approved before Wednesday's commissioners’ meeting, and unanimous approval is expected (see 2005080046).
The FCC Public Safety Bureau’s report Tuesday on the 2019 nationwide emergency alert system test shows the test’s largest problem was a failure to retransmit by the source stations that are monitored by other broadcasters (see 1908070074). The simulation “was successful in that it demonstrated that the nationwide broadcast-based EAS distribution system would largely perform as designed, if activated without the availability of the Internet” but also revealed some deficiencies, the report said. More than 2,600 test participants, 13.3%, reported they didn't receive a signal from their monitored sources, the report said. FCC staff found many participants included incorrect information in their filings to the emergency test reporting system, with hundreds of broadcasters giving the wrong EAS designation for their stations. The report showed participation in the test slightly increased to 78.6% from 76.3% in 2018. Radio broadcaster participation improved to 82% from 78.7% and TV increased to 68.2% from 65.5%. Participation by cable systems, IPTV and wireline video systems fell to 73.4% from 76.4%. The report also laid out the bureau's plans to address issues with the test, such as encouraging EAS participants to monitor multiple sources to reduce failures. Due to the complications with monitoring assignments and inaccurate reporting, the bureau will “engage in further analysis of the 2019 test performance” and state EAS plans, the report said. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is also taking steps to improve the test, the document said. “To ensure more accurate origination of national messages, FEMA intends to review and update its alert origination procedures, as well as conduct additional testing.”
Facebook should take a hands-off approach to content moderation, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr told us in arguing the company's new oversight board injects political bias and lets the platform avoid responsibility. Carr criticized the board in a series of tweets, calling it Facebook "speech police" and arguing most members have left-leaning bias. Facebook and several board members didn’t comment Tuesday.
The FCC approved an order aimed at streamlining rules and procedures for the final stage of the 800 MHz band rebanding, as proposed in a Further NPRM approved 5-0 last year (see Notebook at end of 1910250036). The order, released Tuesday, said the FCC will no longer require the transition administrator give the commission "an annual audit or conduct other financial reconciliation of Sprint’s rebanding expenditures.” The TA no longer must review and approve amendments to frequency reconfiguration agreements “with respect to cost creditability,” the docket 02-55 order said. While eliminating some requirements, “we affirm that the Transition Administrator will continue its tracking, reporting, analytical, and mediation functions as needed to facilitate the rebanding program's goals and assure its successful conclusion,” the order said. Commissioners approved the original rebanding order in July 2004, aimed at addressing interference to 800 MHz public safety radio systems caused by what was then Nextel’s “enhanced” specialized mobile radio system. Nextel was later bought by Sprint and then Sprint by T-Mobile. T-Mobile didn't comment. Also on the 800 MHz band, the FCC approved an order revising parts of the rules for public land mobile radio use of the spectrum, approved 4-0 by commissioners in 2018 (see 1810220050). The Land Mobile Communications Council filed a recon petition seeking modification and clarification of some of the technical rules for coordinating interstitial channel applications and got some of what it sought (see 1812280024). “We allow for some 800 MHz interstitial channel applicants to streamline their applications, clarify standards for calculating interference contours that define the distances that must be maintained between interstitial and incumbent stations, and refine certain technical elements of the interstitial channel rules,” said the order in docket 15-32. LMCC proposed that in calculating the potential for a proposed station to receive interference from an adjacent-channel incumbent, “it should be assumed that the proposed station will operate at maximum effective radiated power for its proposed antenna height,” the FCC said: “We do not agree with this element of LMCC’s proposal, which could artificially constrain the availability of interstitial channels even where applicants propose to operate at less than maximum power.”
The FCC could act on CTIA and Wireless Infrastructure Association proposals for more changes to wireless infrastructure rules designed to accelerate siting of towers and other 5G facilities (see 1910300027) at commissioners' June 9 meeting, industry and agency officials said in interviews this and last week. The regulator wrapped up a comment cycle last year, with support from CTA and other industry groups and widespread opposition from local government groups (see 1911210054). That opposition continues.
FCC chairman's Press Secretary Tina Pelkey leaves for Blue Origin, where she's named senior manager-government affairs communication ... Other FCC Office of Media Relations changes: new deputy director-communications is Anne Veigle, from NTIA; Will Wiquist advances to associate director-communications and policy adviser and Katie Gorscak to senior communications adviser.
The FCC’s 900 MHz order, set for a vote Wednesday, is expected to be approved with the full support of commissioners and few changes, if any, agency and industry officials said. The order would reallocate a 6 MHz swath to broadband while keeping 4 MHz for narrowband. The commissioners’ meeting will be brief, with items approved beforehand and no oral statements, the agency announced Wednesday evening.