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 procedures for Auction 108, the 2.5 GHz Auction. Here’s your wrap-up:
FCC:
- Last week, the Office of Managing Director released a Public Notice announcing that the proposed universal service contribution factor for the second quarter of 2022 will be .238 or 23.8%. The Contribution factor will be deemed approved 14 days after the release of the Notice unless the FCC takes action. For more information and to view a copy of the Notice, see our post here.
- Last Thursday, the FCC published in the Federal Register the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) seeking comment on incorporating four new updated standards that are integral to the testing of equipment and accreditation of laboratories that test RF devices, thereby setting the comment and reply comment dates. Comments are due on or before April 18, 2022 and reply comments are due on or before May 16, 2022. For more information and to view a copy of the Notice and NPRM, see our post here.
- On Monday, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (“WTB”) released a Public Notice establishing the procedures for the filing and processing of challenges to decisions made by the 3.7-4.2 GHz (“C-band”) Relocation Payment Clearinghouse (“Clearinghouse”). The WTB has established two different processes for Clearinghouse appeals based upon the number of parties joining in the dispute. For more information and to view a copy of the Notice, see our post here.
- Also on Monday, the FCC released a Public Notice adopting the procedures for Auction 108, which will auction approximately 8,000 flexible use licenses in the 2.5 GHz band. Auction 108 will be conducted using the previously proposed Clock-1 Auction format, and bidding is scheduled to begin on July 29, 2022. For more information and to see a copy of the Notice, see our post here.
Congress:
- This morning, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, held a hearing entitled “Developing Next Generation Technology for Innovation.” The hearing focused on American competitiveness as it relates to semiconductors and the impact of vulnerabilities in our semiconductor supply chains. Witnesses included Pat Gelsinger, Chief Executive Officer at Intel Corporation, Sanjay Mehrotra, Chief Executive Officer at Micron, Tim Archer, President and Chief Executive Officer at Lam Research, and Preston Feight, Chief Executive Officer at PACCAR Inc. For more information and to view the hearing, see the Committee’s website here.
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