Telecom Alert: Deregulatory Initiative; Council on National Security; AWS-3 Bidding Procedures; USF Q2 Contribution Factor; FCC Forfeiture Bill [Volume XXII, Issue 11]
FCC Announces Delete, Delete, Delete Deregulatory Initiative
The FCC has announced a sweeping deregulatory initiative to identify and remove unnecessary regulations. The “Delete, Delete, Delete” docket (GN Doc, 25-133) is seeking public comment on “every rule, regulation, or guidance document that the FCC should eliminate for the purposes of alleviating unnecessary regulatory burdens.” The FCC has indicated that the effort is being launched in furtherance of Executive Orders issued by President Trump calling on administrative agencies to unleash prosperity through deregulation. Comments are due on April 11, 2025, with Reply Comments due on April 28, 2025. For more information, please contact Casey Lide (lide@khlaw.com; 202.434.4186) or Sean Stokes (stokes@khlaw.com; 410.458.1342).
FCC Chairman Carr Establishes National Security Council
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced the Commission will establish a Council for National Security. The Council will be comprised of representatives from all bureaus and offices at the Commission to ensure the agency is aligned on goals to combat national security threats to the country’s telecommunications infrastructure. Carr’s press release laid out a three-part strategy: focus on securing domestic supply chains; reduce the threat of foreign cyberattacks; and ensure the United States wins the 5G and 6G, AI and other technological races. The announcement was supported by Commissioner Gomez, who shared Chairman’s Carr’s views on protecting critical infrastructure against foreign interference. For more information, please contact Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com; 202.434.4239) or Tim Doughty (doughty@khlaw.com; 202-434-4271).
FCC Seeks Comment on AWS-3 Competitive Bidding Procedures
Following the adoption of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) during the February Open Meeting, the FCC formally released its request for comments on competitive bidding procedures for the auction of Advanced Wireless Spectrum (ASW-3) licenses (Auction 113). The AWS-3 spectrum available at Auction 113 will be comprised of 48 Economic Area (EA) and 152 Cellular Market Area (CMA) licenses in five and ten megahertz blocks within the 1695-1710, 1755-1780, and 2155-2180 MHz bands. The FCC is specifically requesting comment on the Clock-1 Auction Structure, the scope of acceptable bids, and bid processing procedures. For more information, please contact Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com; 202.434.4239) or Tim Doughty (doughty@khlaw.com; 202-434-4271).
OMD Announces USF Second Quarter Contribution Factor
The Commission’s Office of Managing Director (OMD) announced that the Universal Service Fund’s (USF) contribution factor for the second quarter of 2025 would be 36.6%. The Commission determines the quarterly factor based on a ratio of total projected quarterly costs to total projected end-user interstate and international telecommunications revenues. Absent any action to account for projections of demand and administrative expenses, the Commission will approve the new contribution factor after a 14-day review period. For more information, please contact Casey Lide (lide@khlaw.com; 202.434.4186) or Sean Stokes (stokes@khlaw.com; 410.458.1342).
Democrat Senator Introduces FCC Forfeiture Bill
Senator Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) introduced a bill to permit the FCC to enforce its own forfeiture penalties, but narrowly for violations of restrictions on the use of telephone equipment. The bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. The Department of Justice currently has the authority to handle the enforcement of unpaid forfeitures, which the FCC refers. For more information, please contact Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com; 202.434.4239) or Tim Doughty (doughty@khlaw.com; 202-434-4271).
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