Good afternoon from Washington, DC! 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 technical requirements to implement the mobile challenge, verification, and crowdsourcing processes for the Broadband Data Collection and also held its March Open Meeting. Here’s your wrap-up:
FCC:
- Late last Wednesday, March 9, 2022, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (“WTB”), Office of Economics and Analytics (“OEA”), and Office of Engineering and Technology (“OET”) released an Order adopting technical requirements to implement the mobile challenge, verification, and crowdsourcing processes, as required by the Broadband DATA Act and as part of the FCC’s ongoing Broadband Data Collection (“BDC”). The Order largely adopts the proposals from the Public Notice seeking comment on the process. For more information, see our post here.
- Last Thursday, March 10, 2022, the Office of Engineering and Technology released a Public Notice seeking comment on the District of Columbia Circuit Court’s remand of the FCC’s 6 GHz Report and Order. The Notice seeks comment on NAB’s arguments regarding broadcasters’ experience in the 2.4 GHz band, how that experience relates to the contention-based protocol operations prescribed for indoor use in the 6 GHz rules, and whether the 2.4 GHz experience warrants reservation of a portion of the 6 GHz band for mobile indoor operations or any other modification to the Commission’s 6 GHz rules. For more information and to view a copy of the Notice, see our post here.
- Yesterday, March 15, 2022, the FCC published in the Federal Register the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on revisions to the Rural Health Care Program’s (“RHC”) funding determination mechanisms and administrative processes, thereby setting the comment and reply comment dates. Comments are due on or before April 14, 2022 and reply comments are due on or before May 16, 2022. For more information see our post here.
- This morning, the FCC held its March Open Meeting. The FCC considered and approved four items. An additional restricted adjudicatory matter was originally scheduled for consideration, however it was deleted from the agenda prior to the meeting in this Deletion Notice. For more information and to view a copy of the Agenda, see our post here.
- Finally, as a reminder, there are two notable filing deadlines on April 1, 2022:
- Telecommunications carriers, interconnected VoIP and advanced communications services providers must file their annual CVAA compliance certificate by April 1, 2022 in the “Recordkeeping Compliance Certification and Contact Information Registry” (RCCCI Registry). For more information, see our post here.
- All telecommunications carriers and other providers of telecommunications services (including Voice over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”) service providers) must file their FCC Form 499-A and supporting documentation by April 1, 2022. For more information, see our post here.
Nominations:
- This morning, the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Communications and Technology held a hearing entitled “5G and Beyond: Exploring the Next Wireless Frontier.” The hearing focused on the spectrum and other technical requirements for next-generation wireless technology, including 6G. Witnesses included Scott Bergmann, Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs at CTIA, Mary L. Brown, Senior Director, Government Affairs at Cisco Systems, Inc., Greg Guice, Director of Governmental at Public Knowledge, Jayne Stancavage, Global Executive Director, Product and Digital Infrastructure Policy at Intel Corporation, and Von Todd, Chief Executive of Corporate Strategy and Analytics at HTC Inc. and Director at Competitive Carriers Association Board of Directors. For more information and to view the hearing, see the Committee’s website here.
- In addition, the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Communications and Technology has scheduled an oversight hearing on the FCC for March 31, 2022. For more information, see the Committee’s post here.
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