FCC Spectrum Horizons Order

The FCC voted to adopt new rules to encourage the development of new communications technologies and expedite the deployment of new services in the spectrum above 95 GHz.  This spectrum has long been considered the outermost horizon of the usable spectrum range, but rapid advancements in radio technology have made these bands especially ripe for new development.  The bands are seen as presenting opportunities for data intensive high-bandwidth applications as well as imaging and sensing operations. 

The FCC’s order will create a new category of experimental licenses for use of frequencies between 95 GHz and 3 THz. These licenses will give innovators the flexibility to conduct experiments lasting up to 10 years, and to more easily market equipment during the experimental period.  The item also makes a total of 21.2 gigahertz of spectrum available for use by unlicensed devices.  The propagation characteristics of the selected bands are expected to permit large numbers of unlicensed devices to use the spectrum, while limiting the potential for interference to existing governmental and scientific operations in the above-95 GHz bands, such as space research and atmospheric sensing.

See the presentation on the potential for this spectrum here.

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The Regulatory Mix Today: FCC Spectrum Horizons Order,  FCC Moves EEO Enforcement Unit, FCC’s Carr At WISPAMERICA Convention

FCC Moves EEO Enforcement Unit

The FCC announced that, effective March 19, 2019, it had officially moved its Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) team from the Media Bureau to the Enforcement Bureau.

“By moving our Equal Employment Opportunity team to the Enforcement Bureau, we will improve the FCC’s enforcement of these rules and strengthen our commitment to fighting discrimination,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. “For half a century, the FCC has been tasked with ensuring that broadcasters, cable operators, and other multichannel video programming distributors comply with our national policy against discrimination in hiring. This reform will help us fulfill that charge. I thank all those involved in this modernization process.”

The EEO team’s work is primarily focused on periodic random audits of broadcast licensee and multichannel video programming distributors (MVPD) EEO programs, along with any necessary enforcement actions arising from those audits. The team also investigates complaints and takes enforcement action based on those investigations when necessary.

Although the FCC voted to move the functions in 2018, it could not actually complete the transfer until it obtained approval from the House and Senate Appropriations Committees and the Office of Management and Budget. 

FCC’s Carr At WISPAMERICA Convention

Speaking at the WISPAMERICA Convention in Cincinnati Ohio, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr discussed spoke about the FCC’s wireless agenda for this year.  Among other things, he said:  “This year, I am taking another look at the federal rules governing wireless infrastructure deployment. We will look to fully and faithfully implement the decisions Congress has made to streamline the deployment of next-generation technologies. We will push the government to be more pro-infrastructure by eliminating needless restrictions on siting wireless facilities.”

He also discussed the FCC’s efforts to support the buildout of broadband.  With respect to the recently concluded CAF II auction he said: “We’re tech-neutral in this endeavor. We want robust broadband for as many Americans as possible, regardless of the particular delivery mechanism. We pay for performance. And I was glad to see that not only a number of WISPs participated in CAF-II, but a number of WISPs won preliminary bids to build more broadband.”

Discussing Spectrum, Carr called it the “lifeblood of wireless Internet service.”   He said he has been particularly focused on the C-Band, which he said is “prime, mid-band spectrum that can help fuel next-gen wireless services.”  Carr noted there have been “many productive conversations at the FCC and among industry about the best way to open up the C-Band for terrestrial use. One proposal on the table involves clearing around 200 MHz of the 500 MHz total to be used for mobile. I think we can do better. So I am focused right now on approaches that will clear more than 200 MHz, at least in big cities where demand for high capacity, mid-band spectrum is greatest. And I think we should move forward this year with an order that gets us there. This will help further solidify U.S. leadership in wireless for the coming decade.”

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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.