An Incompas grandfathering proposal on dark fiber (see 2002060006) is “a reasonable path forward,” Uniti told the FCC. “The record in this proceeding conclusively shows competitive local exchange carriers continue to be impaired without unbundled network element access to dark fiber interoffice transport,” the company said in a filing posted Wednesday in docket 19-308. “Recent AT&T and USTelecom filings ignore the evidence, which is replete within the Commission’s record, demonstrating the importance of unbundled Dark Fiber Transport to competitive last mile deployment" and a" lack of viable commercial alternatives."
The Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Coalition asked the Department of Transportation and FAA to extend the integration pilot program for drones established in a 2017 presidential memorandum. The memo expires Oct. 25, the coalition said Wednesday: It can be extended by the transportation secretary but “we have been informed that the Department has decided not to seek an extension.” Coalition members participating “have gained valuable experience,” the group said. Drone companies used the program to explore delivery of medical supplies (see 2006150056).
COVID-19-related calls from labs, insurers and healthcare facilities to people who have tested positive encouraging plasma donations after recovery fit in the "emergency purposes" exception to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act and don't need prior express consent, the FCC Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau said Tuesday.
The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology approved a waiver request by Leica Geosystems to allow its Ictos radar system on commercial drones (see 1911210063). The system uses multiple radar modules in the 60-64 GHz for hazard detection in flight. OET will permit sale of 400 devices the first year and 800 in subsequent years. “As we will limit the number of Ictos devices per year, the use of the Ictos device will be restricted and contained,” said an order Tuesday in docket 19-350: It won't "increase the potential for harmful interference to other services in the 60-64 GHz band.”
The Aerospace Industries Association said the FCC shouldn’t make a quick decision on a request for waiver for drones of 450 MHz general aviation air-ground radiotelephone service rules by Aura Network Systems and A2G Communications (see 2006240023). Other commenters said drones need more spectrum for command and control (C2) and the request should be approved. Several reminded of a pending rulemaking on use of the 960-1164 MHz and 5030-5091 MHz bands by drones (see 1912270039), posted through Monday in docket 20-185. AIA raised air safety concerns. “Given that the waiver is seeking a change in the use of spectrum from the Land-Mobile service … to an aviation safety use, AURA should be required to consult with" FAA, the group said. Boeing also raised safety issues: “Issuing an expedited waiver to a single provider, in a frequency band that has not been demonstrated to be safe for UAS [unmanned aircraft system] C2 operations, is not the best path.” The 5030-5091 MHz band is allocated for drone control “pursuant to international consensus,” Boeing noted. The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council endorsed waiver, warning “additional spectrum for payload and possibly for command and control will be needed for effective UAS operations, given the expanding demand for UAS.” The Enterprise Wireless Alliance “supports whatever waiver relief the FCC considers necessary,” EWA said: “This is a logical response to technology advances that often exceed the pace of regulatory changes.” EWA agreed drones need spectrum beyond 450 MHz. The Edison Electric Institute said drones are increasingly important to electric utilities and the waiver should be approved. The band’s “propagation characteristics, bandwidth and lack of other incumbents makes it well suited for command and control and non-payload communications at low altitudes and a cost-effective nationwide coverage for low-altitude, Beyond Visual Line of Sight and other expanded operations,” EEI said. Federated Wireless said dynamic sharing can prevent harmful interference.
An Aug. 3 virtual workshop on the role of U.S. libraries in encouraging digital adoption will feature speakers from the American Library Association and from public libraries in Washington, D.C., and Nashville, said an FCC Media Bureau public notice in Monday’s Daily Digest. It's part of the work of the FCC Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment (see 2004280070); several ACDDE members will also speak. Panelists will discuss "what constitutes digital inclusion," the role of libraries, public-private partnerships in supporting digital literacy and the impact of COVID-19, the PN said.
The FCC will allow employees who are teleworking now to continue doing so until at least June, and delayed its move to new headquarters until September over concerns over staff exposure to COVID-19 during the packing process. The decision allowing staff to continue teleworking until next summer was made “in light of recent announcements by school districts as well as the ongoing nature of the pandemic,” wrote Chairman Ajit Pai’s Chief of Staff Matthew Berry in a memo emailed to workers Friday that we obtained. “We want to provide those with concerns ranging from childcare to their own health with the peace of mind that they will have the flexibility they need over the coming months,” said Berry. Telework will be mandatory until the move to the new headquarters is complete in September, he told employees.
The FCC fined HobbyKing $2.86 million for marketing noncompliant drone transmitters. The devices link the unit's transmitters by video with users flying the drones, the commission said in an item in Friday's Daily Digest (see related items here). After getting complaints, the Enforcement Bureau investigated, finding 65 models that operated in unauthorized RF bands and sometimes at excessive transmission power. After warning the company to follow the rules, the commission received more complaints and ordered HobbyKing to provide information on its marketing of the transmitters, the agency said. "Yet HobbyKing provided no further response, as required by law." If the retailer doesn't pay in a month, the FCC said it will refer the debt to DOJ for collection. "Continued failure to comply with the equipment marketing requirements is likely to be met with additional sanctions," warned a forfeiture order. "The Company’s pledge to use 'best efforts' not to market additional noncompliant products identified by the Bureau is not sufficient." Commissioner Mike O'Rielly noted the company's actions aren't "analogous to the equipment authorization rule changes I have proposed" that would allow presale of devices before his agency's OK (see 2006020069). That reflects "today’s world where people are used to Kickstarter campaigns and ordering handsets weeks before they are delivered into consumers’ eager hands." These rule changes "can be effectively implemented without causing any harm," he added, but "the same cannot be said of HobbyKing’s actions." Repeated attempts to reach a company representative were unsuccessful.
Industry and regulators should collect more data on broadband network quality and affordability to help address digital redlining, said speakers on a Public Knowledge webinar Thursday. Inequitable broadband deployment and infrastructure in impoverished neighborhoods contribute to the digital divide, said Daiquiri Ryan, National Hispanic Media Coalition strategic legal adviser. She said "lots of vulnerable communities are still reliant on older copper lines," which often aren't well maintained. Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council CEO Maurita Coley said better research and data are needed so policymakers can surgically target broadband where the need is greatest. "There's no federal money for digital inclusion efforts," said Angela Siefer, National Digital Inclusion Alliance executive director. She said big cities like Chicago have been able to secure funding from donors, "but what about smaller communities?" Lukas Pietrzak, Next Century Cities policy associate, said some cities with already degraded networks have had as much as 40% of broadband traffic fall below stated performance standards during the pandemic, citing New Orleans.
The FCC Office of Economics and Analytics and Wireline Bureau will collect information from selected voice and broadband providers through Aug. 28 for an annual urban rate survey to develop comparability benchmarks for 2021, said a public notice Thursday.