Pai Promises ‘Summer Blockbuster’ June Agenda

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The FCC is planning to vote on an unprecedented 12 items at its monthly meeting on June 7. Several concern telecom. Indeed, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai characterizes the ambitious agenda as a summer blockbuster in a blog.

In 2016, the agency adopted the Spectrum Frontiers Order which established rules for wireless broadband operation in the 24 GHz and higher frequencies. Last year, the agency modified those rules and made available an additional 1,700 MHz of spectrum for wireless use in the 24 GHz and 47 GHz bands. Now, Pai is proposing multiple proposals for multiple bands, to free up more spectrum for 5G.

The Third Report and Order would establish performance requirements for IoT networks, revise the Commission’s mobile spectrum holdings rules, and resolve pending sharing and operability issues in the 24 GHz band. The FCC would also resolve outstanding petitions and establish a band plan for the lower 37 GHz band. The notice asks more questions about how to establish a sharing framework for federal and non-federal users in the 37 GHz band. The agency is also proposing to make the 26 GHz and 42 GHz bands available for flexible use.  

A wireline item removes regulatory barriers to deployment of next-gen networks. Pai says consumers want this: “As I’ve traveled from the Mountain West to the Gulf Coast, I’ve heard many of them say that they want to benefit from modern, more resilient technologies like optical fiber instead of limping along with slower services like DSL provided over old, often-degraded copper.” This proposal would make it easier for companies to discontinue outdated, legacy services and invest in technologies of the future, according to Pai.

Another item would end disparate treatment of rural broadband providers and eliminate the need for them to pay Universal Service Fund contributions on broadband services that other carriers don’t have to pay. The Commission believes the change will reduce broadband costs for those customers.

The FCC has also been looking to the skies for 5G, authorizing satellite technologies to help close the digital divide. The June agenda includes two items that would allow satellite companies to offer new services in the United States.     

May 21, 2018

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