Telecom Alert: 6 GHz Band Petitions for Reconsideration; T-Band NPRM; Bill to Update National Broadband Plan; KH Webinar on Dark Fiber; [Vol. XVII, Issue 28]

6 GHz Band Petitions for Reconsideration

APCO, CTIA, the Fixed Wireless Communications Coalition (FWCC), and Verizon have all filed Petitions for Reconsideration of the FCC’s Report and Order permitting unlicensed operations on 1,200 megahertz of spectrum in the 6 GHz band.  APCO and FWCC’s petitions expressed concerns over the Order’s measures to prevent interference to incumbent 6 GHz licensees, while CTIA and Verizon argued that the FCC’s Order should have authorized higher power unlicensed devices operating under Automated Frequency Coordination.  For more information, please contact Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com; 202.434.4239).

T-Band Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

Last week the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to commence the process of reallocating and auctioning the T-Band (470-512 MHz) as directed by Congress in the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (Vol. XVII, Issue 21).  The NPRM seeks comment on reallocating the T-Band, assigning new licensing by auction, and relocating incumbent public safety entities from the band.  The Government Accountability Office reported to Congress that the T-band mandate is unworkable and could deprive first responders of their current ability to communicate by radio.  Accordingly, FCC Chairman Pai has asked lawmakers to repeal the mandate to auction the band, and draft legislation to repeal the bill have been introduced by the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.  Comments are due July 30.  For more information, please contact Greg Kunkle (kunkle@khlaw.com; 202.434.4178).

Bill Introduced to Update National Broadband Plan

Rep. Anna Eshoo ((D-Calif.) introduced the National Broadband Plan for the Future Act last week, which would direct the FCC to update the national broadband plan by reassessing areas of focus and strategy for ensuring access to broadband Internet access service and examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education, teleworking, and receiving medical information, among other areas, as well as the impact of the pandemic on Americans’ reliance on broadband.  For more information, please contact Tim Doughty (doughty@khlaw.com; 202.434.4271).

KH Webinar on Dark Fiber

Join Keller and Heckman partners Doug Jarrett and Tom Magee on August 4, 2020, at 2:00 PM EDT as they host a complimentary webinar, "Dark Fiber: Monetizing a Valuable Asset in a Broadband World."

This presentation is intended for fiber optic network operators currently offering, or considering offering, dark fiber connectivity to service providers, communities, institutions, and large enterprises.

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Keller and Heckman LLP's Telecom Business Alert is a complimentary weekly electronic update created by the Telecommunications Practice Group of Keller and Heckman LLP. All articles, videos, and quotations are on topics of general interest and do not constitute legal advice for particularized facts. Keller and Heckman LLP's Telecom Business Alert © 2020. All rights reserved. Articles may be copied with attribution. To sign up for our weekly alert, please send us an email at telecomalert@khlaw.com and provide us with your name and email. Please follow us on Twitter at @KHtelecom.