Happy Leap Day and good afternoon from Washington, DC! Below you will find this week’s Wireless Wrap-Up; your update on the wireless telecommunications regulatory landscape, important wireless decisions, and more! Here is your wrap-up:
- OPEN MEETINGS
- The FCC will hold its March Open Meeting next Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 10:30 AM. The FCC is scheduled to consider five items, including a Report and Order on a voluntary cybersecurity labeling program for wireless consumer Internet of Things products, a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Supplemental Coverage from Space, and a Report on the state of broadband and raising the broadband speed benchmark. For more information and to view a copy of the Tentative Agenda, see our post here.
- WIRELESS EMERGENCY ALERTS
- On 2/15, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (“Bureau”) released a Public Notice seeking comment on specific mechanisms to implement multilingual Wireless Emergency Alerts (“WEA”). For more information and to view a copy of the Notice, see our post here.
- TELEPHONE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT
- On 2/16, the FCC released the Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“R&O” and “FNPRM” respectively) codifying certain consumer protections under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”) and proposing to clarify that the TCPA applies to robocalls and robotexts from wireless providers to their own subscribers. The item was adopted at the February Open Commission Meeting. For more information and to view a copy of the item, see our post here.
- ROBOCALLS
- On 2/22, the Enforcement Bureau (“Bureau”) released two Orders removing 13 entities from the Robocall Mitigation Database (“Database”) due to failure to cure deficient certifications. For more information and to view the two orders, see our post here.
- ACCESSIBILITY RECORDKEEPING
- On 2/26, the FCC released a Public Notice reminding service providers (and equipment manufacturers) that are subject to the accessibility requirements of sections 255, 716, or 718 of the Communications Act, of their obligation to file their annual recordkeeping compliance certifications and required contact information no later than April 1, 2024 in the Recordkeeping Compliance Certification and Contact Information Registry (“RCCCI Registry”). For more information and to view a copy the Notice, see our post here.
- 6 GHZ
- On 2/23, the Office of Engineering and Technology (“OET”) released a Public Notice announcing the approval of seven 6 GHz band automated frequency coordination (“AFC”) systems for commercial operations and seeking comment on C3 Spectra’s proposed AFC system. For additional information and to view a copy of the Notice, see our post here.
- 2.5 GHZ BAND
- On 2/27, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and Office of Economics and Analytics released a Memorandum Opinion and Order (“Order”) granting T-Mobile’s Auction 108 Form 601 application for licenses in the 2.5 GHz band (2495-2690 MHz), subject to certain divestiture conditions. The Order also denies AT&T’s Petition to Deny. For additional information and to view a copy of the Order, see our post here.
- ENHANCED COMPETITION INCENTIVE PROGRAM
- On 2/15, the FCC released a Public Notice announcing that it would begin accepting assignment and lease applications to participate in the Enhanced Competition Incentive Program (“ECIP”). For more information and to view a copy of the Notice, see our post here.
- On 2/15, the FCC published in the Federal Register notice that the FCC had received OMB approval for certain provisions in the FCC’s ECIP Report and Order. For more information and to view a copy of the Notice, see our post here.
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