Telecom Alert - DIRS Activated in California; Anterix and EWA Partner for 900 MHz Transition; FirstNet, NIST, EDA Announce Grant; Broadband Deployment Report NOI; Broadband Policy Webinar - Vol. XVI, Issue 43

DIRS Activated in Wake of California Public Safety Power Shutoff

The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau issued a Public Notice last week announcing the activation of the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) in response to the California Public Safety Power Shutoffs.  The FCC asks communications providers in the counties of interest to submit and update information through DIRS regarding the status of their equipment, restoration efforts, and whether they are using commercial power or back-up power.  The counties of interest are Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Placer, San Diego, San Mateo, Sonoma, and Tehama.  For more information, please contact Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com; 202.434.4239).

Anterix and EWA Partner for 900 MHz Transition

Last week, Anterix (formerly pdvWireless) announced an agreement with the Enterprise Wireless Alliance (EWA) that authorizes EWA to formally assist 900 MHz incumbents with relocation on Anterix’s behalf (Vol. XVI, Issue 41).  The agreement is consistent with the Commission’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking looking to establish a 3x3 MHz broadband segment within the 900 MHz band (Vol. XV, Issue 38).  For more information, please contact Greg Kunkle (kunkle@khlaw.com; 202.434.4178) or Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com; 202.434.4239).

FirstNet, NIST, EDA Announce $1 Million Challenge Grant

The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced the launch of the Accelerate R2 Network Challenge last week.  The $1 million interagency grant challenge is meant to address the nation’s most pressing disaster response and resiliency (R2) challenges with innovative technologies by connecting stakeholders in the disaster response and resiliency industries from across the country.  EDA will provide up to $750,000 in funding and NIST will contribute up to $250,000 through its Public Safety Communications Research program.  FirstNet will provide program support and technical assistance as needed. 

Broadband Deployment Report NOI

The FCC issued a Notice of Inquiry seeking comment and other information for its annual review of the state of broadband deployment throughout the country.  The Commission issues an Annual Broadband Deployment Report (Vol. XVI, Issue 14) to fulfil its statutory mandate of determining whether advanced telecommunications capability is being deployed to all citizens in a reasonable and timely fashion.  The NOI asks individual consumers, broadband providers, consumer advocates, policy institutes, governmental entities, and any other interested parties to submit comments to assist in the FCC’s analysis.  For more information, please contact Doug Jarrett (jarrett@khlaw.com; 202.434.4180).  

Register for Keller and Heckman’s Broadband Policy Webinar

KH’s Fall 2019 Broadband Policy Webinar will update emerging broadband services providers on legal and regulatory developments impacting the domestic broadband industry.  This complimentary webinar will focus on the implications of Mozilla v. FCC, the RDOF Phase I Auction, broadband reporting and mapping, and broadband testing.  The webinar is on Thursday, November 7 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. EST.

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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 © 2019.  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.