Welcome back to TLP’s Weekly Wireless Wrap-Up, your weekly update on the wireless telecommunications regulatory landscape, important wireless decisions, and more! This week, the FCC announced the procedures for the 3.45-3.55 GHz Band Auction, the Agenda for the June Open Meeting, and the next test of the Emergency Alert System. Here’s your wrap up:
FCC:
- Last Wednesday, June 9, 2021, the FCC released a Public Notice announcing the procedures for the 3.45-3.55 GHz Band Auction (“Auction 110”). Bidding in Auction 110 is scheduled to begin on October 5, 2021 and 4,060 licenses will be available. For more information, including relevant pre-auction dates and deadlines, check out our post here.
- Last Thursday, June 10, 2021 the FCC released its June Open Meeting Agenda. The June Open Meeting will be held tomorrow, June 17, 2021 at 10:30 AM on the FCC’s website and YouTube page. The FCC will consider eight items, including a NPRM and NOI seeking comment on securing the nation’s communication supply chain, a R&O on modifying the equipment marketing and importation rules, a R&O and FNPRM on improving the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts, and a R&O on implementing a streamlined process for robocall reporting. For more information, see our post here.
- Also last Thursday, the Office of Managing Director released a Public Notice announcing that the universal service contribution factor for the third quarter of 2021 will be 31.8%. For more information, check out our post here.
- On Friday, June 1, 2021, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau released a Public Notice announcing that the next nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts will be Wednesday, August 11, 2021 at 2:20 PM Eastern Daylight Time. FEMA will initiate the Wireless Emergency Alert portion of the test utilizing the State/Local WEA Test category. For additional information, see our post here.
- Also on Friday, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau released a Public Notice reminding wireless radio applicants, licensees, registrants, and interested parties that, beginning June 29, 2021, they must utilize electronic filing for applications and pleadings in ULS and/or ASR. As of June 29, 2021, all manually filed applications and pleadings will be dismissed for failure to comply. For additional information, check out our post here.
- On Friday, the FCC also announced new dates for its Open RAN Showcase. The Showcase was originally scheduled for June 29, 2021, but due to the large number of interested participants, the FCC has expanded the Showcase to two days and rescheduled it for July 14-15, 2021. For additional information, see the Public Notice here.
- Additionally, on Friday, the FCC published the Text-to-988 FNPRM seeking comment on expanding access to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by requiring covered text providers to support text messages to 988 in the Federal Register. Comments are due on or before July 12, 2021 and reply comments are due on or before August 10, 2021. For more information, see our post here.
- Yesterday, Tuesday, June 15, 2021, the FCC announced that the Emergency Connectivity Fund Application Window will open on June 29, 2021. Schools and Libraries will have 45 days, until August 13, 2021, to submit requests for funding to purchase eligible equipment and services for the 2021-22 school year. For more information, see the FCC’s press release here and our post on the Program here. In addition, the FCC also announced that it would be hosting a webinar on the program on Friday, June 25, 2021 beginning at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. For more information on the webinar, see the Public Notice here.
Congress:
- On Tuesday, June 15, 2021 the Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture held a hearing on the Department of Agriculture’s 2022 Budget Request. Secretary Vilack testified on the Department’s budget, which included $700 million for the ReConnect Program to expand rural broadband service. For more information and to view the hearing, see the Committee’s webpage here.
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