Telecom Alert: March Open Meeting Agenda; NG911 FNPRM; 2025 E-Rate Funding Caps; 6 GHz VLP Rules Effective Date; SPEED for BEAD Act. [Volume XXII, Issue 10]
FCC Announces Tentative March Open Meeting Agenda
At its March 27, 2025, Open Meeting, the Commission plans to consider a notice of inquiry to explore alternatives to the Global Positioning System (GPS) for Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) data for national security and commercial activities. Additionally, the Commission will consider proposals to advance the implementation of NG911 technology and reliability standards, and strengthen caller accuracy requirements on 911 calls. The agenda also cites consideration of restricted adjudicatory matters, and is subject to change. For more information, please contact Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com; 202.434.4239) or Tim Doughty (doughty@khlaw.com; 202-434-4271).
FCC Releases Next Generation 911 (NG911) FNPRM
The FCC released the draft text of a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) the Commission will consider adopting later this month (see above). The FNPRM seeks to update the 911 reliability rules to implement emerging Next Generation 911 (NG911) technology and facilitate transitions from legacy emergency networks. The proposed rules would update the definition of “covered 911 service provider” to broaden the coverage to all critical services within the NG911 network, as well as the reasonable reliability standards for such services. Additionally, the proposed rules would impose interoperability requirements for interstate transfers of 911 traffic to permit PSAPs across state lines to transfer calls with minimal roadblocks. For more information, please contact Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com; 202.434.4239) or Tim Doughty (doughty@khlaw.com; 202-434-4271).
WCB Announces 2025 E-Rate Funding Caps
The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) announced in a Public Notice that the E-Rate program funding caps would be $5.06 billion for funding year 2025. The E-rate annual caps are adjusted based on the rate of inflation using the Gross Domestic Product – Chain-type Price Index (GDP-CPI), and reflects a 2.4% funding increase from 2024. The E-rate program helps schools, school districts, libraries, and other entities implement and expand broadband solutions to increase student internet access, while keeping pace with new digital learning opportunities. For more information, please contact Casey Lide (lide@khlaw.com; 202.434.4186) or Sean Stokes (stokes@khlaw.com; 410.458.1342).
FCC Publishes Effective Date for VLP Operation Rules
The FCC’s new rules for unlicensed very low power (VLP) device operations on the 6 GHz band will be effective on May 5, 2025. These rules, which were adopted last December, expand VLP operations to the entire 6 GHz (5.925-7.125) band, permitting the same types of virtual reality, augmented reality, and handheld technologies previously supported on the U-NII-5 and U-NII-7 portions of the band. VLP devices across the entire band will be required to adhere to existing power level limits, employ a contention-based protocol, and implemental transmit power controls. For more information, please contact Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com; 202.434.4239) or Tim Doughty (doughty@khlaw.com; 202-434-4271).
House Rep Announces SPEED for BEAD Act
Representative Richard Hudson (R-NC), Chairman of the House Communications and Technology Subcommittee, introduced legislation to expedite the deployment of the BEAD program to get “shovels into the ground as soon as possible.” The Streamlining Program Efficiency and Expanding Deployment (SPEED) for BEAD Act would rename the acronym of the existing program to “Broadband Expansion, Access and Deployment,” as well as eliminate reporting provisions related to labor, climate change and rate regulations. The bill reflects frustrations voiced by committee members during a recent hearing on the BEAD program, who stated that reforms were needed to ensure technology neutrality and efficient allocations of funding solely for deployment. For more information, please contact Casey Lide (lide@khlaw.com; 202.434.4186) or Sean Stokes (stokes@khlaw.com; 410.458.1342).
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