Telecom Business Alert – 5.9 GHz Automotive Band, Internet Privacy Rules, ASR Applications, Complimentary Spectrum Webinar, KH Blogs, and FCC Opens, Vol XIII, Issue 4
Commission Eyes 5.9 GHz Band for Wi-Fi
FCC Commissioners, Rosenworcel and O’Reilly voiced support for opening the 5850-5925 MHz (5.9 GHz) Band for unlicensed use at a forum held by the Open Technology Institute. In 1999, the Commission set aside the 5.9 GHz Band for Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC) (e.g., navigation assistance, in-vehicles signage, and other non-safety applications) utilized by the automotive industry The Commissioners proposed to refresh the record of the 2013 rulemaking pertaining to the 5.9 GHz band and testing unlicensed device prototypes for the 5.9 GHz band. This comes on the heels of the Department of Transportation’s announcement pertaining to a $3.9 billion investment into programs to test, develop, and adopt self-driving automobiles. For additional information, please contact Greg Kunkle (kunkle@khlaw.com; 202.434.4178) or Tim Doughty (doughty@khlaw.com; 202.434.4271).
Changes to ASR Applications
Last week, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau announced that any application for Antenna Structure Registration (ASR) submitted to the Bureau without an Environmental Assessment (EA) that has been pending for more than ten months will be returned to the applicant. If an applicant fails to resubmit the application within sixty days, the ASR application will be dismissed. An incomplete application that is resubmitted to the Bureau (i.e., a resubmitted application that does not have an EA) will be dismissed after an additional six months. Additionally, on a case-by-case basis, a long-pending ASR application may be returned for various other reasons.
Complimentary Spectrum Webinar
On Thursday, February 11, 2016, Keller and Heckman attorney Greg Kunkle will host a complimentary webinar providing an update on spectrum at the FCC. The webinar will cover FCC spectrum policy, the 800 and 900 MHz land mobile bands, the Broadcast Incentive Auction, new rules for fixed telemetry units in the 173 MHz band, and the impact of the longstanding MCLM hearing on the AMTS band. For additional information, please contact Greg Kunkle (Kunkle@khlaw.com; 202.434.4178).
KH Blogs
Keller and Heckman’s telecommunications blog, Beyond Telecom Law (Blog), is off to a fresh start in 2016, with new posts covering a range of issues. The Blog is updated regularly; you may subscribe to the blog here. Another KH blog, Consumer Protection Connection, has new posts concerning a TCPA class action and the passing of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act.
FCC Reopens After Heavy Snowfall
Today, the FCC opened under a 3-hour delay after the federal governmnet in the Washington, DC area was closed for several days due to heavy snowfall in the area last week. With respect to filings in ULS and ECFS, there will likely be backlogs and downtimes. For additional information, please contact Greg Kunkle (kunkle@khlaw.com; 202.434.4178).
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Keller and Heckman LLP's Telecom Business Alert is a complimentary weekly electronic update created by the Telecommunications and the Business Counseling and Transactional practice groups 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 © 2015. 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.