Communications and Technology Alert: NG911 Reliability Rules Adopted; E-Rate Program Online Safety NPRM; UAS Conditional Approvals from Covered List; Section 253 NPRM; Auction 113 Results [Vol. XXIII, Issue 26]
Commission Approves NG911 Reliability Rules and FNPRM
Last Thursday, the Commission approved a Second Report and Order implementing modernized reliability rules alongside the Commission’s NG911 transition from legacy 911 technology. The reliability rules expand the definition of a “covered 911 service provider” to include additional operators essential to NG911 call delivery, as well as update physical diversity, operational integrity, and network monitoring standards for NG911 networks. The Second Report and Order was approved alongside a Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, which seeks comment on detailed interoperability requirements and implementation of Direct Video Calling (DVC) frameworks. For more information, please contact Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com; 202.434.4239).
Commission Approves E-Rate Program Review
Last Thursday, the Commission approved a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) which seeks to conduct an extensive review of the E-Rate program, specifically addressing how the services are being used for educational purposes. The NPRM seeks comment on Commission actions to improve online safety for children while accessing E-Rate funded networks and services, and parental tools to monitor online activity. Additionally, the NPRM seeks comment on whether the current implementation of the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) is sufficient to protect children from “inappropriate and harmful content” online. For more information, please contact Casey Lide (lide@khlaw.com; 202.434.4186) or Sean Stokes (stokes@khlaw.com; 202.434.4193).
Commission Issues Additional UAS Conditional Approvals
Last Monday, the Commission’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) announced that certain uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) from Real-Time Robotics, Inc. and Ceres Air LLC as well as Wi-Fi router components from Hitron Technologies Americas, Inc. were removed from the Commission's Covered List. Last December, the Commission added all UAS and UAS critical components produced in a foreign country to the Covered List. In January, the Commission established a process to permit certain manufacturers to apply for Conditional Approvals which would deem certain UAS and UAS critical components “do not pose unacceptable risks to national security.” For more information, please contact Tim Doughty (doughty@khlaw.com; 202.434.4271) or Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com; 202.434.4239).
Commission Approves Section 253 NPRM
Last Thursday, the Commission unanimously approved a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) which seeks comment on state and local preemption under Section 253 of the Communications Act as it pertains to barriers to the provision of interstate or intrastate telecommunications service. The NPRM will specifically request input on limiting excessive application processing times, as well as limiting application fees and in-kind compensation. The NPRM builds on a previous Notice of Inquiry (NOI), in which the Commission collected feedback on state and local regulations for wireline deployments. For more information, please contact Casey Lide (lide@khlaw.com; 202.434.4186) or Sean Stokes (stokes@khlaw.com; 202.434.4193).
Auction 113 Closes with Over 3.5 Billion in Bids
Last Tuesday, bidding in the FCC Auction 113 for AWS-3 spectrum closed with the gross bids reaching $3,572,889,200. The re-auction for 200 mid band spectrum licenses in the 1695–1710 MHz, 1755–1780 MHz, and 2155–2180 MHz blocks lasted 72 rounds. The Commission is expected to release more complete data as well as a full list of the auction winners in the next few days. For more information, please contact Greg Kunkle (kunkle@khlaw.com; 202.434.4178) or Tim Doughty (doughty@khlaw.com; 202.434.4271).
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