Today: FCC Agenda For October Meeting, Unlicensed Use of 6GHz Band, Cable Rate Regulation, Paper Filing of Contracts, Business Data Services for Rate-of-Return Carriers

FCC Agenda For October Meeting

The FCC announced the final agenda for its October 23, 2018, Open Meeting.  The following items will be considered:

• Unlicensed Use of the 6 GHz Band – A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that promotes the use of mid-band spectrum for broadband by proposing to allow new unlicensed uses of the 5.925-7.125 GHz band while protecting existing and future licensed operations. 
• Promoting Investment in the 3550-3700 MHz Band – A Report and Order that would make limited changes to the Citizens Broadband Radio Service in 3.5 GHz band to increase incentives for innovation and investment, including for mobile 5G services.
• Revitalizing the 800 MHz Band – A Report and Order and Order opening up new channels in the 800 MHz Private Land Mobile Radio (PLMR) band, eliminating outdated rules, and reducing administrative burdens on PLMR licensees.
• Cable Rate Regulation – A Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Report and Order to modernize the FCC’s cable television rate regulations and update or eliminate outdated rules.
• Paper Filing of Contracts – A Report and Order eliminating the requirement that broadcast stations routinely file paper copies of contracts and other documents with the FCC.
• Business Data Services for Rate-of-Return Carriers Receiving Fixed Universal Service Support A Report and Order that will allow rate-of-return carriers that receive fixed universal service support to elect incentive regulation for their business data services; a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on eliminating ex ante pricing regulation for lower capacity TDM services offered by rate-of-return carriers receiving fixed support; and a Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing to eliminate ex ante pricing regulation for TDM transport services offered by price cap carriers.

The FCC will also consider an Enforcement action for which no details were released.

Because of the unexpected closure of the FCC headquarters on Monday, October 15, the FCC delayed, for one day, the onset of the sunshine period prohibition (during which all presentations to Commission decision-making personnel relating to items on the agenda a prohibited) will begin at 11:59 PM on Wednesday, October 17, rather than at 11:59 PM on Tuesday, October 16. 

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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.