The FCC last week released a DRAFT order, scheduled for a vote at its September 26 meeting, designed to dictate the process and fees that state and local governments must apply to small cell wireless antenna installations on government-owned poles and similar facilities, and on newly-constructed poles the wireless carriers want to install in state
FCC Fines Private Licensee More Than $500k For Transactional Violations

Late last month, Marriott International, Inc. entered into a Consent Decree with the FCC to resolve a violation of Section 310(d) of the Communications Act.
Background. In September 2016, Marriott acquired StarwoodHotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc. The parties closed the transaction without obtaining the Commission’s prior consent to transfer control of 65 wireless…
CAF II Auction Closes

The FCC’s Connect America Fund Phase II Auction concluded last week. The auction allocated nearly $1.5 billion in federal funding over the next decade to support broadband deployments in unserved areas of 45 different states. This aggregate amount was almost $50M per year ($500M for ten years) short of the available CAF II funds. …
FCC to C-Band Satellites: File to Protect Existing Operations

The FCC has established deadlines for Fixed Satellite Service earth station licensees to certify the accuracy of all information on their current earth station license and provide the agency with additional details about existing operations. Earlier this year, the Commission sought comment on the feasibility of allowing commercial wireless services to use or share use…
FCC Seeking Comment on 3.5 GHz Band Rule Changes

On August 10, 208, the FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology released a Public Notice seeking comment on the rule changes resulting its 2015 rule-making regarding the 3.5 GHz band. It’s unusual for the Commission to seek comment on rule changes that were adopted several years ago when it is not reconsidering those rules. In…
FCC Adopts One-Touch Make-Ready Policy for Pole Attachments

On Friday, August 3, the FCC released its order adopting a One-Touch Make-Ready (OTMR) policy for attaching telecom and cable facilities to utility poles in the 30 states that don’t regulate pole attachments themselves. The FCC stated that it believes its action should help enable deployment of small cells and wireline backhaul for 5G services.…
Revisiting 911 Network Reliability

In December 2013, the FCC adopted rules to improve 911 network reliability. The rules require Covered 911 Service Providers (“Providers”) to take certain measures to provide reliable 911 service. The specific measures adopted by the agency attempt to address three network vulnerabilities identified by the FCC in the aftermath of the derecho storm that knocked…
Let’s Make A Deal – 5G and Model Agreements
To speed deployment of wireless broadband to the nation’s communities, the FCC created a Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (BDAC) charged with drafting model codes to govern the relationship between wireless carriers and states and local jurisdictions. However, what may be a “model” for carriers looking to speed broadband deployment and maximize profits is not being…
FCC Streamlines Wireless Environmental Review Process—Part 2
Update: the FCC decision described in these two articles was reversed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in August 2019. The Court summarized its conclusion as:
We grant in part the petitions for review because the Order does not justify the Commission’s determination that it was not in the public…
FCC Streamlines Wireless Environmental Review Process—Part 1
Update: the FCC decision described in these two articles was reversed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in August 2019. The Court summarized its conclusion as:
We grant in part the petitions for review because the Order does not justify the Commission’s determination that it was not in the public…