Telecom Alert: CBSD Reauthorization Modifications; 5G Fund FNPRM; No Updates to Covered List; $41 Million in ECF Funding [Vol. XX, Issue 39]
CBSD Reauthorization Modifications Announced
The FCC issued a Public Notice last week announcing modifications to the Citizens Broadband Radio Service Device (“CBSD”) reauthorization periods. The Commission is extending the reauthorization period for CBSD from five minutes to 24 hours in areas that are outside of the Dynamic Protection Area (“DPA”), where federal use of the 3.55-3.7 GHz band (“3.5 GHz band”) requires shorter reauthorization periods. The FCC believes longer reauthorization periods will create more stability and predictability, while still allowing spectrum access system (“SAS”) administrators time to respond to instructions from the federal government. For more information, please contact Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com; 202.434.4239).
5G Fund for Rural America FNPRM
Last week, the FCC released a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“FNPRM”), seeking comment on multiple issues that will help clarify the scope of the 5G Fund for Rural America (“5G Fund”) (Vol. XVII, Issue 17). Among other things, the Commission seeks to establish the areas that will be eligible for 5G support, reassess the 5G Fund budget, reconsider the metrics used for accepting bids, and aggregate eligible areas into minimum geographic areas. Comments and reply comments are due by October 23 and November 21, respectively. For more information, please contact Sean Stokes (stokes@khlaw.com; 202.434.4193).
No Updates to Covered Services List
The FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau announced that there are no updates to the “covered list” of communications equipment or service deemed a threat to national security pursuant to the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 (Vol. XIX, Issue 15). For more information, please contact Greg Kunkle (kunkle@khlaw.com; 202.434.4178).
Almost $41 Million in ECF Funding
The FCC announced it is committing over $40.8 million in new funding for the Emergency Connectivity Fund (“ECF”). The commitment supports applications from the third application window, and will benefit approximately 110,000 students in Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Utah, and Washington. To date, the funding has provided support to over 11,300 schools, 1,060 libraries, and 120 consortia. For more information, please contact Casey Lide (lide@khlaw.com; 202.434.4186).
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