Telecom Alert: FCC Denies Petitions for Stay of 6 GHz Order; Comment Sought on Broadband Mapping; AT&T's E911 Galileo Request Granted; 3.5 GHz Band Auction Update [Vol. XVII, Issue 34]
FCC Denies Petitions for Stay of 6 GHz Order
The FCC has denied petitions filed by the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) and the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials International, Inc. (APCO) to stay the application of the rules adopted in the Commission’s 6 GHz Order (Vol. XVII, Issue 17). EEI is concerned that unlicensed operations in the band without the use of an automated frequency coordination system would result in harmful interference. The band is heavily utilized by utilities for microwave backhaul and other internal critical communications operations. In response, the Commission pointed to its extensive record in this proceeding, which included numerous technical studies submitted over almost three years. The agency remains convinced that low-power indoor unlicensed devices can operate without causing significant harmful interference to incumbent users in the band. For more information, please contact Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com; 202.434.4239).
Comment Sought on Broadband Mapping
The FCC’s recently adopted Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking has been published in the Federal Register, setting the Comment and Reply Comment deadlines as September 8 and September 17, 2020, respectively (Vol. XVII, Issue 26). Specifically, the Commission’s Third Further Notice looks to implement the recently enacted Broadband Data Act, seeking comment on additional processes for verifying broadband availability, proposes a process to allow parties to challenge the accuracy of broadband maps, and seeks comment on implementing the fabric of broadband-serviceable locations.
AT&T’s E911 Galileo Request Granted
Last week, the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau granted a Request for Authorization filed by AT&T Services, Inc. to use the European Union Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), known as GNSS, for Enhanced 911 (E911) purposes. AT&T sought authorization to use Galileo in conjunction with the U.S. GPS system to improve mobile device location determination to support emergency response. This is consistent with several efforts undertaken by the FCC in recent years to provide more accurate location information with 911 calls. For more information, please contact Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com; 202.434.4239).
3.5 GHz Band Auction Update
On Friday afternoon the FCC conducted the 66th round of the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) auction (Auction 105). 14 County licenses still have demand in excess of supply, and gross bids have reached almost $4.6 billion. Beginning on Tuesday, the FCC will conduct 5 bidding rounds per day. For more information, please contact Greg Kunkle (kunkle@khlaw.com; 202.434.4178).
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