Almost two years after Chairman Ajit Pai announced the media modernization effort, many items taken up under that umbrella have had a small scope, an uncontentious docket, and sometimes don’t even draw formal responses from the opposing party. General agreement and a tight focus aren't bad things, broadcast and MVPD attorneys and FCC officials said of the program. “That the items are often unanimous is a compelling case for getting rid of the rules,” said Matthew Berry, Pai’s chief of staff.
Senate Communications Subcommittee members focused on 5G, need for rural broadband and potential for freed-up federal spectrum during a Thursday hearing on implementing the Making Opportunities for Broadband Investment and Limiting Excessive and Needless Obstacles to Wireless Act. The Mobile Now Act was enacted as part of the FY 2018 omnibus spending bill (see 1803230038). The law requires DOD and other federal agencies identify at least 255 MHz for broadband use by 2022. It requires the FCC and NTIA identify at least 100 MHz for unlicensed use below the 8 GHz band.
There’s skepticism an FCC incentive auction for the C band is viable since it likely would take longer than alternatives, said C-band panelists Thursday at a Capitol Forum event. Other options include a forward auction with the new licensees required to pay incentives to parties like satellite operators, they said. A third option is an overlay auction, but bidders would want to know how much they're paying for spectrum rights while they're bidding, said AT&T Vice President-Federal Regulatory Hank Hultquist. Whatever type of auction is adopted will likely be a clock auction, he said.
House Communications Subcommittee members from both parties grilled FCC commissioners during a Thursday hearing on recent actions, including the commission's long-running investigation into wireless carriers' location tracking practices (see 1805240073), and what some deemed Chairman Ajit Pai's failure to adequately loop legislators in on his plans. Pai was praised on his proposal for a public auction of spectrum in the 3.7-4.2 GHz C band, as expected (see 1912040028). House Communications Chairman Mike Doyle, D-Pa., and others drilled in further on C-band plans, with an eye to advancing legislation (see 1911210056).
The FTC “effectively removed” Facebook’s independent privacy assessor (see 1912050065), Chairman Joe Simons wrote recently in a congressional letter. We obtained the document in response to a Freedom of Information Act request. Senators reached Thursday were skeptical that the FTC's $5 billion settlement resulted in meaningful structural change at Facebook.
The Technological Advisory Council recommended the FCC drive more spectrum sharing in rural areas, pursue additional repurposing for low- and mid-band spectrum, and improve the agency’s practical understanding of artificial intelligence, at its final meeting of the current charter. TAC’s most contentious discussions were about a recommendation the FCC encourage the use of advanced antenna technology, and a proposal the council tackle the aesthetics of small-cell installations in 2020.
The expected January draft order establishing a C-band spectrum auction method might also lay out an incentive payment scheme for the spectrum's stakeholders, such as satellite and earth station operators, said wireless and industry experts and watchers Tuesday evening at an FCBA CLE. But the FCC incentive regime the agency lays out might not be the final word. The chairman's office didn't comment Wednesday.
Privacy proposals from Senate Commerce Committee Republicans and Democrats both provide stronger consumer protections than California’s privacy law, said Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Wednesday. During a long-awaited hearing, ranking member Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., raised concerns about third-party data sharing. Lawmakers gave varying views on a private right of action.
Local government action on net neutrality could pick up next year after relative quiet in the two years since many municipalities protested the FCC's repeal of open-internet rules, said local advisers and others in interviews. Cities have been waiting for state policies and legal resolution. Applying restrictions to broadband public-private partnerships, as done by Tacoma, Washington, could be a model.
The House Communications Subcommittee's Thursday FCC oversight hearing is expected to include criticism of commission actions and a focus on telecom policy priorities like deciding how to allocate proceeds from a coming auction of the 3.7-4.2 GHz C band, said lawmakers and others in interviews. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and the other four commissioners are to testify during the panel, which will begin at 10 a.m. in 2123 Rayburn. The hearing will happen a day after the House easily passed another FCC-related policy priority, the Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (Traced) Act (S-151).