Good afternoon from Washington, DC and happy November! Below you will find this week’s Weekly Wireless Wrap-Up, your update on the wireless telecommunications regulatory landscape, important wireless decisions, and more! Of note this week, the FCC released the Tentative Agenda for the November Open Meeting and announced the opening of the filing window for the Secure and Trusted Networks Reimbursement Program. Here’s your wrap-up:
FCC:
- Last Thursday, October 28, 2021, the FCC released the Tentative Agenda for the November Open Meeting, which is scheduled for Thursday, November 18, 2021. The FCC is set to consider five items, including a Second Report and Order that would require covered text providers to support text messaging to 988 and a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing an Enhanced Competition Incentive Program to promote competition and access to spectrum by small carriers and Tribal Nations and expand rural wireless coverage. For more information and to view a copy of the Tentative Agenda, see our post here.
- On Friday, October 29, 2021, the FCC published in the Federal Register the Eighth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on a nationwide framework for the 4.9 GHz band, thereby setting the comment and reply comment deadlines. Comments are due on or before November 29, 2021 and reply comments are due on or before December 28, 2021. For more information and to view a copy of the notice, see our post here.
- Also on Friday, the FCC announced that the application window for the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program had opened. The window will close on January 14, 2022 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. For more information and to view a copy of the announcement, see our post here.
- On Monday, November 1, 2021, the FCC published in the Federal Register the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on rules that would require voice service providers to block autodialed calls made to PSAP telephone numbers registered on the PSAP Do-Not-Call Registry, thereby setting the comment and reply comment dates. Comments are due on or before December 1, 2021 and reply comments are due on or before December 16, 2021. For more information and to view a copy of the notice, see our post here.
- Yesterday, November 2, 2021, the FCC published in the Federal Register the Public Notice seeking to supplement the record in the 70/80/90 GHz Band NPRM, thereby setting the comment and reply comment dates. Comments are due on or before December 2, 2021 and reply comments are due on or before January 3, 2021. For more information and to view a copy of the notice, see our post here.
Congress:
- This morning, the House Committee on Homeland Security held a hearing entitled “Evolving the U.S. Approach to Cybersecurity: Raising the Bar Today to Meet the Threats of Tomorrow.” The hearing focused on modernizing Federal network security programs, whether the Federal approach to securing critical infrastructure serves the security of the American people, and how to protect public confidence in our democratic institutions, particularly elections. Witnesses include the Honorable Chris Inglis, National Cyber Director, Executive Office of the President of the United States, and Honorable Jen Easterly, Director, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, U.S. Department of Homeland Security. For more information and to view the hearing, see the Committee’s website here.
For more information or assistance on telecommunications matters, please contact us.