New Report Addresses 5G, the Internet of Things (IoT), and Communities of Color

• 5G solutions must be able to bolster capacity, speed, and coverage to reach more populations of color.  Efforts to deploy 5G networks must focus on achieving ubiquitous service to minority populations that offers high capacity and speed.  Policymakers can also encourage the expeditious deployment of small cells, which will also be critical in serving minority populations who are vastly concentrated in urban areas. Local governments should support the streamlining of siting and permitting processes and standardize pricing on pole attachments.  Slow and expensive permitting could not only stifle 5G deployment in these communities, but also lead to slower network upgrades, resulting in lags in the functions of critical IoT applications in health care, public safety, and other areas. 
• 5G must be affordable for consumers, despite massive telecom investments and costs. While the monthly cost of 5G mobile service is not yet determined for consumers, more pre- and post-paid plans, and not less, should be encouraged in the marketplace to guarantee ubiquity in use.  Further, more flexibility in data plans and not just rigid caps may be a more viable solution for consumers where cost matters  Once fully deployed, 5G services should be eligible for government subsidies targeted to mobile access to ensure the participation of historically disadvantaged and vulnerable populations in the digital economy. 
• 5G networks must serve the public interest.  Governmental efforts are critical in freeing up the resources required to operate reliable, resilient and nationwide 5G networks. With this type of support, companies can focus on 5G solutions and applications that advance the public good, whether through making dents in health and wellness disparities or helping students gain access to more equitable learning environments and communities. In either case, the increased availability of spectrum will create the allowances for more strategic and purposeful IoT applications that can support communities of color and other vulnerable populations.

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The Regulatory Mix Today: 5G, IOT, Communities of Color, ATIS Seeks Anti-Robocalling Administrator, Court Denies Request to Stay FCC Small Cell Order; Transfers Cases to Ninth Circuit

ATIS Seeks Anti-Robocalling Administrator 

As a major step in its work to combat illegal robocalling, the Secure Telephone Identity Governance Authority (STI-GA), under the auspices of the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) has issued an RFP to select a Secure Telephone Identity Policy Administrator (STI-PA).  The STI-PA applies and enforces the rules as defined by the STI-GA to put the SHAKEN protocol into action.  This solution will help to authenticate calls and let consumers know the information displayed on their caller ID can be trusted — or when that is not the case.  The RFP and associated documents are posted below. Respondents must notify the STI-GA of their interest in bidding by e-mailing sti-ga@atis.org.  Interested parties will be provided with instructions for bidding. E-mail, facsimile, or hard-copy responses will not be considered. Responses are due by February 4, 2019.

Court Denies Request to Stay FCC Small Cell Order; Transfers Cases to Ninth Circuit

Judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit denied a request by local governments and other entities for a stay of the FCC Small Cell Order (September 27, 2018) which is scheduled to take effect January 14, 2019.  The Court decided that ”have failed to meet their burden of showing irreparable harm if a stay is not granted.” 

Also, a separate panel of Judges from the same Circuit decided to grant a request to transfer the cases before the Tenth Circuit to the Ninth Circuit where a challenge to the FCC’s One-Touch Make Ready Order (August 3, 2018) is pending.  The Court decided that the “FCC’s August Order and its September Order are the “same order” for purposes of § 2112(a).”  The Court noted that four other petitions for review of the FCC’s Small Cell Order are currently pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.  Since those petitions are not before this Court, it declined to address them.

Inteserra Briefing Service subscribers see Briefings dated 8/22/18, 10/24/18, and 12/12/18.

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The Regulatory Mix, Inteserra’s blog of telecom related regulatory activities, is a snapshot of PUC, FCC, legislative, and occasionally court issues that our regulatory monitoring team uncovers each day. Depending on their significance, some items may be the subject of an Inteserra Briefing.