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The FCC released a light agenda for its next Commission Open Meeting, scheduled for November 18, 2021. The agency will consider a Second Report and Order to require covered text providers to support text messaging to 988 by routing those texts messages to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (“Lifeline”). The FCC will next address a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“FNPRM”) to adopt an incentive program to encourage licensees to make spectrum available to small carriers and Tribal Nations, as well as to carriers seeking to expand wireless services in rural areas. The FCC will also review a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) to assess whether FM and Low Power FM (“LPFM”) broadcast radio license applicants can verify directional antenna patterns by computer modeling instead of by taking physical measurements. The FCC will close its meeting by considering a Declaratory Ruling and Order (“Order”) that would grant Knéis, a French private satellite operator, with access to the United States market so that it can support connectivity for Internet of Things (“IoT”) devices and improved data collection.

You will find more information about the items on the November meeting agenda after the break:…

Continue Reading FCC’s November Meeting Agenda Focuses on Enabling Text-to-988 for Suicide Prevention and Spectrum Access to Close the Digital Divide

On August 28, 2018, the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau announced a Consent Decree with Marriott International, Inc. (“Marriott”) to resolve an investigation into unauthorized transfers of wireless radio licenses in connection with Marriott’s acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. (“Starwood”). The civil payment levied against Marriott and the other conditions set forth in the Consent Decree serve as a reminder to companies that may not normally be subject to the FCC’s jurisdiction to thoroughly review the regulatory implications of mergers, acquisitions, or other corporate transactions as part of any due diligence conducted before a deal is reached.
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Continue Reading Marriott Pays Half Million to Resolve Unauthorized FCC License Transfer Investigation

At the beginning of August, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) took steps to reconcile a diversity of renewal requirements and permanent discontinuance conditions within its rules for many of the licensed radio services.  However, although the Second Report and Order (“Second R&O”) was published in the Federal Register September 1, the rules will take effect only in staggered fashion as set forth in the notice beginning on Monday, October 2, 2017, with significant portions set to take effect months later after further review or, per the FCC’s decision, years in the future.  In the interim, depending on the service and situation, existing rules governing renewals and discontinuance will continue to apply.  Licensees will certainly want to become familiar with the parts of the Second R&O pertinent to their rules service, whether the licenses were issued on a geographic or site-based basis.  Below, we breakdown the time frames in which the rules will take effect:…
Continue Reading Portions of the FCC’s Recent Wireless License Renewal Order Take Effect Oct. 2nd, but Key Rule Sections Delayed Pending OMB Review