House Communications Subcommittee leaders appear to be eyeing ways to combine language from at least five bills on improving the federal government's collection of broadband coverage data, before a planned Wednesday hearing on the subject, communications sector officials and lobbyists told us. The lawmakers are aiming to make progress on broadband mapping legislation, an issue that drew bipartisan interest. That's amid slower progress on other House Commerce Committee communications policy priorities to clear spectrum in the 3.7-4.2 GHz C band for 5G and Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act reauthorization (see 1908050037 and 1908230049).

NTIA plans a spectrum policy symposium Tuesday. With the agency under interim leadership since Administrator David Redl left in May (see 1905090051), experts told us questions remain about the future of administration policy. At last year’s symposium, officials indicated the Trump administration planned to build on, rather than replace, the previous administration's policies (see 1806120056).

The FCC Wireless Bureau approved a waiver request granting Choice Communications permanent authorization to use 2.5 GHz spectrum in St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands for which it previously held special temporary authority. Viya, through Choice, has been using spectrum in the band there for more than 20 years, the bureau said. The order noted the current freeze on applications to use educational broadband service spectrum. In July, commissioners approved 3-2 revised rules, including an incentive auction of unused 2.5 GHz spectrum and EBS white spaces (see 1907100054). “Application of the filing freeze would be inequitable and contrary to the public interest under the unique circumstances,” the bureau said: “Other than Viya’s network, there is limited broadband available in the USVI. Viya’s 4G LTE network is better able to reach more areas than the island’s wireline broadband network. In addition, Viya is using all of the available EBS spectrum and has no other immediate alternative than to seek permanent authorization.”

Eutelsat's no longer being allied with the C-Band Alliance (CBA) (see 1909030041) hurts its band-clearing plan before the FCC, though it remains to be seen how much, experts told us. The key is why Eutelsat left and what it does now. Chairman Ajit Pai’s office and Eutelsat didn’t comment.

The Incentive Auction Task Force and Media Bureau are extending from Friday until Sept. 11 the completion date of phase 5 of the post-incentive auction repacking because of Hurricane Dorian, said a public notice Tuesday. The extension is to “assure that viewers will not be required to rescan their TVs during this period and risk missing important emergency news and information,” said the PN. “This extension will permit each station to determine the appropriate transition timing for its station and its viewers based on the developing conditions in its market.” Stations in areas not affected by the storm are encouraged to continue transitions on the original schedule, the PN said. “We will continue to work with individual stations, including those impacted by Hurricane Dorian, on a case-by-case basis." The FCC has been “working throughout the weekend” on preparations for Hurricane Dorian, said Chairman Ajit Pai Monday. It's working with other agencies, communications providers and power companies to encourage coordinated service restoration efforts “making sure they implement lessons learned from Hurricane Michael,” Pai said. After that storm, Pai urged action on wireless resiliency and service losses due to utility work (see 1905210035). Commission staffers were deployed to survey RF spectrum in areas projected to be hit by Dorian, to help identify impacts and outages, Pai said. The agency activated the disaster information reporting system for several Florida counties and has staff on hand 24 hours a day to assist first responders and communications providers, Pai said. An agency webpage acts as a hub for Dorian-related information. Storm damage to 34 Florida counties was described as “minimal” in a Tuesday morning DIRS report. No public safety answering points were reported down or rerouted, and 0.2 percent of cell sites were out of service in the affected area. The report listed 6,884 cable and wireline subscribers as out of service, and no broadcast stations were reported off-air.

One of four members left a group of satellite operators seeking to have its sector sell about 200 MHz that would be repurposed for 5G. Eutelsat dropped out of the C-Band alliance, it said in a brief FCC filing and release Tuesday. It cited disagreements with other CBA members, without being more specific. The company wishes to “take a direct active part on discussions on C-band clearing and repurposing,” it said. The departure stirred more speculation about what might happen to the swath of airwaves.

The FCC Office of Economics and Analytics and Wireless Bureau granted T-Mobile’s request to apply to participate in Auction 103, despite its pending purchase of Sprint (see 1908270023), said an order in Tuesday's Daily Digest. Bidding rules for such auctions bar participation by companies that have ongoing arrangements with other bidders, but the FCC granted similar waivers for T-Mobile in auctions 101 and 102, the order said. This now allows more participation in the “historic” auction of high-band spectrum, the staff said. The auction will “make available the largest amount of high-band spectrum for advanced wireless services ever in American history, releasing 3,400 megahertz of spectrum into the commercial marketplace for 5G deployment,” the order said. “The public interest will be best served by permitting T-Mobile to seek to participate.”

Leaders of the House Communications and Senate Appropriations Financial Services subcommittees are using the month-plus August recess to finalize their plans for a legislative solution to the debate over how to clear spectrum in the 3.7-4.2 GHz C band for 5G use. Some lawmakers said they need to reach a quick decision on how to proceed to influence the outcome before the FCC releases its proposal. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai appears to be aiming for a plan to clear at least 300 MHz of C-band spectrum (see 1908200044). The sides offered conflicting readings earlier this month of initial comments to the FCC on alternative plans (see 1908150042). Those comments showed little move toward consensus (see 1908080041).

While an FCC proposal is still taking shape, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is telling industry officials he wants at least 300 MHz of C-band spectrum allocated for 5G. Pai also appears to be leaning toward an FCC auction rather than a private sale to allocate the licenses, industry officials said. The C-Band Alliance plan for clearing the band has dominated discussions. Last week, the FCC took reply comments on alternate proposals (see 1908150042). Again, comments were sharply divided. Pai said last month the FCC should have “results to show” on the C band in the fall (see 1907050024). The FCC and CBA didn't comment.

The Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee is gearing up for its first meeting since being rechartered, likely in early fall, said CSMAC members and federal officials Monday. CSMAC last met in July 2018 (see 1807240057). “We are finalizing the topics and questions that we wish the CSMAC to address prior to our first meeting, which is tentatively scheduled for early October,” an NTIA spokesperson emailed: The location and exact time haven't been decided.