FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel's final monthly meeting was largely a victory lap for the outgoing leader, with commission officials offering more than two hours of testimony Wednesday detailing accomplishments during her tenure. Also, Commissioner Anna Gomez criticized what she called an "apparent campaign to bring broadcasters and content platforms to heel" -- a seeming jab at Commissioner Brendan Carr's commitment to battle a "censorship cartel" (see 2411180059, 2412160052 and 2411080046).
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel circulated an NPRM Monday to start auctioning AWS-3 spectrum that will fully fund the FCC’s Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program (see 2412240036). Congress agreed to send an additional $3.08 billion for carriers to rip and replace unsecure network equipment from Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE, though questions remain about whether that amount will suffice since the program's total is based on cost estimates filed years ago (see 2412310016). The auction would be the first since the agency’s general auction authority expired in March 2023. Rosenworcel is seeking approval of the NPRM through an electronic vote by commissioners. The NPRM “would propose updates to the service-specific competitive bidding rules to grant licenses for spectrum in the FCC’s inventory in the AWS-3 spectrum bands (generally the 1695-1710 MHz, 1755-1780 MHz, and 2155-2180 MHz bands),” said a news release. The FCC assigned the majority of AWS-3 licenses in an auction that ended Jan. 29, 2017. “Nevertheless, there remains spectrum in these bands that is not currently licensed due to various circumstances,” the release said: “Pursuant to the Congressional mandate, the Commission will now offer licenses for the unassigned AWS-3 spectrum in a new auction.” The FCC said the NPRM also would propose to update definitions of small and very small businesses “to conform with the Small Business Act’s five-year lookback period that has been used in recent spectrum auctions.” Rosenworcel cited Salt Typhoon, the Chinese government-associated effort at hacking U.S. telecom networks (see 2411190073), in seeking quick action on the NPRM. "With ‘Salt Typhoon’ and other recent incidents, we are all acutely aware of the risk posed by Chinese hackers and intelligence services to our privacy, economy, and security,” Rosenworcel said. “I am confident that the FCC’s world-leading and award-winning auction team will meet this important moment.” Rosenworcel, a Democrat, plans to leave the FCC in two weeks, when Republican Commissioner Brendan Carr is expected to replace her as chair.
President Joe Biden signed off Monday on the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (HR-5009) with language that allocates $3.08 billion in funding for the FCC’s Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program (see 2412110067). Congress passed the measure earlier this month (see 2412180033). The NDAA gives the FCC $3.08 billion in Treasury Department borrowing authority through 2033 for rip-and-replace reimbursements. It offsets the rip-and-replace funding by authorizing the FCC to reauction the 197 AWS-3 licenses that Dish and affiliated designated entities returned to the commission last year.
Backers of the revised AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (HR-8449) signaled Wednesday they want to move swiftly on the proposal next year after congressional leaders didn't reach a deal to include it in a continuing resolution that extends federal appropriations through March 14. The CR released Tuesday night includes language from the NTIA Reauthorization Act (HR-4510) and several other telecom and tech bills. Meanwhile, the Senate voted 85-15 Wednesday to pass the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (HR-5009) with language that would authorize the AWS-3 reauction to offset $3.08 billion in funding for the FCC’s Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program (see 2412070001).
The Senate voted 83-12 Monday night to invoke cloture on the House-passed FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (HR-5009) with language that would authorize the AWS-3 reauction to offset $3.08 billion in funding for the FCC’s Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program (see 2412110067). The chamber hadn't scheduled a final vote on the measure as of Tuesday afternoon, but it's expected to happen Wednesday. Meanwhile, House Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., hailed the chamber's passage Monday (see 2412160062) of the Promoting U.S. Wireless Leadership Act (HR-1377), an amended version of the Expediting Federal Broadband Deployment Reviews Act (HR-3293) and Federal Broadband Deployment Tracking Act (HR-3343). “Bureaucracy and red tape have stopped too many Americans from accessing high-speed broadband,” Rodgers said. “I am proud of the work" of House Commerce members “to advance bipartisan priorities to speed up broadband deployment and close America’s digital divide. I want to thank these members for their commitment to these bills that will promote innovation and support American technological leadership in years to come.”
The Senate voted 85-15 Wednesday to pass the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (HR-5009) with language that would authorize the AWS-3 reauction to offset $3.08 billion in funding for the FCC’s Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program. The measure now goes to President Joe Biden, who's expected to sign it.
The House approved the Promoting U.S. Wireless Leadership Act (HR-1377), an amended version of the Expediting Federal Broadband Deployment Reviews Act (HR-3293) and Federal Broadband Deployment Tracking Act (HR-3343) Monday on voice votes. The Senate, meanwhile, was set to vote Monday night to invoke cloture on the House-passed FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (HR-5009) with language that would authorize the AWS-3 reauction to offset $3.08 billion in funding for the FCC’s Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program (see 2412110067). HR-1377 lead sponsor Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., said on the floor that the measure “strengthens American leadership in 5G and future wireless communications” by directing NTIA to encourage U.S. companies and others to participate in international standards-setting bodies (see 2303240065). “China and other adversaries are investing heavily in 5G deployment and are actively working to shape these standard-setting processes to serve their interests,” he said: “If they succeed in skewing future standards toward their own priorities, the U.S. risks being placed at a significant economic and strategic disadvantage.” HR-3293 lead sponsor Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., said his legislation “takes a crucial step towards bridging this divide and streamlining the process for deploying broadband infrastructure” by directing NTIA to lead an interagency strike force to help prioritize reviews for communications use authorization requests to deploy on federal land (see 2305240069). “Faster broadband deployment will create jobs, stimulate economic development and improve quality of life for all Americans,” he said: “Students will have access to online reading resources, telehealth services will become more accessible and rural communities will be better connected to the global economy.” HR-3343 lead sponsor Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, said the bill “will help close the digital divide for rural Americans” requiring NTIA to submit a plan to Congress for tracking the acceptance and processing of communications use authorizations on federal property. “By enhancing government accountability and accelerating broadband deployment, we're not just improving a process,” he said: “We're investing in our future as a nation. This will help ensure investments in broadband expansion reach Americans more quickly and effectively.”
NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson said during a Thursday Broadband Breakfast event he intends to resign Jan. 20, declaring the day President-elect Donald Trump is set to return to office as the end of his leadership of the agency. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel plans on leaving the same day (see 2411210028). Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and some other event participants predicted potential changes in NTIA’s $42.5 billion BEAD program once Republicans have unified control of government upon Trump’s inauguration, but suggested it’s less clear how spectrum policymaking may change next year.
Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Ted Cruz, R-Texas, during a Wednesday Communications Subcommittee hearing criticized FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s draft declaratory ruling last week finding that Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act Section (CALEA) Section 105 requires telecom carriers to secure their networks against cyberattacks (see 2412050044). Republican FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to become chairman Jan. 20, told reporters Wednesday he believes the commission’s response to the Salt Typhoon Chinese government-affiliated effort at hacking U.S. telecom networks (see 2411190073) should focus on continuing to “closely” coordinate with other federal cyber-related agencies and identify vulnerabilities to the private sector.
Senate Armed Services Committee ranking member Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and some other congressional leaders are objecting to a compromise version of the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (HR-5009) released Saturday night with language allocating $3.08 billion to fully fund the FCC’s Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program (see 2412070001). The leaders’ concerns complicate plans for HR-5009's passage. House leaders are eyeing a vote on the measure this week. Meanwhile, some lawmakers want to attach the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (HR-8449) and permanently lift some telehealth restrictions via other end-of-year measures.