By unanimous vote, the FCC launched a rulemaking this past week to consider allocating the 1675-1680 MHz band for co-primary use by flexible commercial terrestrial fixed and mobile operators with incumbent federal operators. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”), released on Monday, May 13, is, in many fundamental ways, similar to a proposal Ligado first made in a 2012 petition for rulemaking, with adjustments over the years, seeking to allow terrestrial mobile operations in the 1675-1680 MHz band.
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FCC Plans to Bar Chinese Telecom Provider from U.S. Market and Open Up More Shared Use Spectrum at May Open Meeting
Highlighting recent network security and corporate espionage issues involving foreign-owned carriers, the FCC plans to take the unprecedented step of denying a Chinese telecommunications provider’s application to offer service in the United States based on law enforcement concerns at its next open meeting on May 9, 2019. The agency would conclude that China Mobile USA, a Delaware corporation ultimately owned by the Chinese government, is vulnerable to foreign exploitation that could undermine the security and reliability of U.S. networks. The proposed denial is in line with the 2018 recommendation of the federal agencies commonly known as “Team Telecom,” which represented the first time the group called for the rejection of a carrier’s application due to security risks. The FCC also anticipates freeing up additional spectrum for commercial wireless operations by allowing shared use of the 1675-1680 MHz band currently allocated for federal weather monitoring operations. Rounding out the major actions on the May agenda, the FCC expects to seek comment on the procedures governing its long-awaited auction of “833” toll free numbers, adopt rules aimed at improving the Video Relay Service (“VRS”) used by individuals with hearing or speech disabilities, and propose the regulatory fees for fiscal year 2019.
You will find more details on the significant May meeting items after the break:
Federal Register Thaw: Dates Set for Comments in the FCC’s 3.7-4.2 GHz Band Rulemaking
By Chip Yorkgitis on
After almost two months of anticipation, the Federal Register is expected to publish the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) concerning the future use of 3.7-4.2 GHz (the “4 GHz Band”) by the mobile, fixed, and satellite services released by the FCC on July 13, 2018. The August 29 publication in the Federal Register will establish the comment and reply comment dates as Monday, October 29, and Tuesday, November 27, 2018.
There will be plenty for interested parties to comment on, as we discussed in an earlier blog post providing an overview of the draft NPRM, which was largely retained in the document finally adopted. The FCC is considering myriad options to restructure that spectrum to introduce commercial flexible mobile use and fixed point-to-multipoint operations while protecting incumbent fixed satellite service uses and grandfathered point-to-point licenses. The 4 GHz Band is commonly recognized by the mobile industry, the FCC, and others, as a key mid-spectrum band for next-generation networks and applications, including 5G and the Internet of Things.
Fluid and Frozen: FCC Ponders Best Path Forward for 4 GHz Band
By Chip Yorkgitis on
The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) recently took steps to preserve the status quo for existing users in the 3.7-4.2 GHz band (the “4 GHz Band”) while it considers myriad options to restructure that spectrum for commercial flexible mobile use and more intensive fixed use. The FCC appears set to move forward with deliberation while it considers modifications to the regulatory structure in the adjacent 3.5 GHz Band (3.55-3.70 GHz). Both bands are touted by the mobile industry, and the FCC itself, as key mid-spectrum bands for next generation networks and applications, including 5G and the Internet of Things.
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