Telecom Alert - FCC June Meeting and Spectrum Frontiers Order; Emergency Alerting Roundtable; $250 Million for PTC Projects; Agriculture Appropriations Bill; Connectivity Expo - Vol. XV, Issue 21
FCC June Open Meeting Agenda includes Spectrum Frontiers Order
Last week, Chairman Pai released the tentative agenda for the Commission’s June Open Meeting, which currently has 12 items for consideration. The Commission released a draft of the next item in the Spectrum Frontiers Proceeding, the Third Report and Order, Memorandum Opinion and Order, and Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. The Order would make changes to a number of bands above 24 GHz including the 24 GHz, 28 GHz, 37 GHz, and 39 GHz bands. The Further Notice would seek comment on possible uses of the 42 GHz band and the 26 GHz band, among other things. For more information please contact Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com; 202.434.4239).
Emergency Alerting Roundtable
On May 15, the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau held an Emergency Alerting Roundtable. The roundtable consisted of two panels of representatives from government, private industry, and quasi-government organizations. The purpose of the roundtable was to discuss the false missile alert in Hawaii, and what can be improved. Speakers emphasized that positive changes have been made, but it is important to reestablish credibility in the Emergency Alert System.
$250 Million for PTC Projects
Last week, the Federal Railroad Administration issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity for Positive Train Control (PTC) projects. The notice aims to solicit applications for grants “to fund the deployment of PTC system technology for intercity passenger rail transportation, freight rail transportation and/or commuter rail passenger transportation. Eligible projects include: back office systems; wayside, communications and onboard hardware equipment; software; equipment installation; spectrum; any component, testing and training for the implementation of PTC systems; and interoperability.” Applications are due 45 days after publication of the Notice in the Federal Register. For more information, please contact Greg Kunkle (kunkle@khlaw.com; 202.434.4178).
Agriculture Appropriations Bill Fails to Pass House
Last week, the H.R. 2, the Agriculture Appropriations Bill (also known as the “Farm Bill”) failed to pass the House of Representatives. The bill failed when a group of lawmakers stated they would not support the bill without a commitment that votes on certain immigration-related measures would be scheduled immediately. As we reported (Vol. XV; Issue 21), the bill allocates $620 million for broadband deployment in rural areas.
KH Attorneys Attending Connectivity Expo
KH Attorneys Mike Fitch and Doug Jarrett will attend the Wireless Infrastructure Association’s Connectivity Expo in Charlotte, North Carolina on May 21-24. For more information, click here.
Send Us Your Feedback
We welcome your feedback on topics of interest that you would like to see covered in our Telecom Business Alert. To make suggestions, please e-mail telecomalert@khlaw.com.
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 © 2018. 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.