Posts Tagged ‘Broadband Plan’
Comments on Preliminary Plan for Retrospective Analysis of FCC Rules Due February 8, 2012
Posted on December 9, 2011In November the FCC released its Preliminary Plan for Retrospective Analysis of Existing Rules (Preliminary Plan) describing its efforts to identify outmoded or counterproductive rules as well as proceedings including retrospective analysis. A goal of the Preliminary Plan is to help the FCC achieve statutory objectives while removing burdens on industry and promoting innovation and job growth. Comments on the Preliminary Plan are due by February 8, 2012 and reply comments by February 22, 2012.
FCC Releases Preliminary Regulatory Review Plan
Posted on November 8, 2011In accordance with a July 2011 Executive Order directing independent regulatory agencies to streamline their regulations, the FCC has released a preliminary plan for review of its existing rules. The plan outlines how FCC bureaus and offices will be involved in the retrospective analysis of the rules that they have implemented. The FCC’s plan also accounts for regulatory review efforts that were established prior to the Executive Order—namely as part of its 2009 National Broadband Plan and 2010 Data Innovation Initiative—and incorporates ongoing proceedings such as the USF/ICC Reform and E911/NG911 dockets. A copy of the preliminary plan is available on the FCC’s website.
FCC to Host Workshop on Cybersecurity Roadmap on November 5
Posted on October 20, 2010The FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (Bureau) announced that it will host a workshop on Friday, November 5, 2010 to discuss the FCC’s development of a Cybersecurity Roadmap. The Cybersecurity Roadmap was developed pursuant to a recommendation from the National Broadband Plan and is intended to identify critical cybersecurity threats to communications infrastructure and end users. The workshop is open to the public and will be webcast on the FCC’s website.
Comment Deadlines Set for Wireless Backhaul Proceeding
Posted on August 26, 2010The FCC has established comment deadlines for its wireless backhaul proceeding. The proceeding includes a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Notice of Inquiry (NPRM and NOI) offering numerous proposals to increase spectrum use for backhaul, especially in rural areas. Comments on the NPRM and NOI are due by October 25, 2010, and reply comments are due by November 22, 2010.
Proceeding to Bring Terrestrial Broadband to MSS Spectrum Gets Comment Deadlines
Posted on August 18, 2010The FCC has established a pleading cycle for its proceeding to free up 90 megahertz of Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) spectrum for terrestrial broadband deployment. Comments are due by September 15, 2010 and reply comments are due by September 30, 2010.
FCC Seeks Comment on Cybersecurity Roadmap
Posted on August 10, 2010The FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) has released a Public Notice requesting comment on the creation of a Cybersecurity Roadmap pursuant to a National Broadband Plan (NBP) recommendation. The Roadmap would identify vulnerabilities to communications networks or end-users and, in coordination with other federal agencies, develop countermeasures and solutions to respond to cyber threats and attacks. Though the Roadmap was to be completed in a 180-day timeframe (i.e., September 13, 2010), the PSHSB, in order to establish a “complete and robust record” will instead aim to complete the Roadmap by November 2010. Comments on the Public Notice are due by September 23, 2010.
FCC Seeks Comment on Broadband Availability Across Country
Posted on August 9, 2010The FCC has released a Notice of Inquiry seeking data and information that will help the FCC complete its annual task of determining whether broadband is being deployed in a reasonable and timely fashion to all Americans. Section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, as amended, requires the FCC to initiate a notice of inquiry to determine whether Americans have access to advanced telecommunications capabilities, especially in primary and secondary school classrooms. In the 2010 Sixth Broadband Deployment Report the FCC determined that broadband was not getting deployed in a timely and reasonable matter to all Americans because approximately 14 to 24 million Americans did not have broadband access and market forces were such that citizens without access in unserved areas were unlikely to obtain broadband access anytime soon. The FCC raised the minimum speed designated as “broadband” from 200 kilobits per second in either direction to 4 megabits per second for downloads and at least 1 megabit per second for uploads. The Commission also seeks comment on the National Broadband Plan, the National Broadband Map, and how to improve subscribership data. Comments are due Tuesday, September 7, 2010 and reply comments are due Tuesday, October 5, 2010.
FCC Commences and Seeks Comment in Wireless Backhaul Proceeding
Posted on August 6, 2010The FCC has adopted two actions that commence a proceeding aimed at removing regulatory barriers to the use of spectrum for wireless backhaul and other point-to-point and point-to-multipoint communications. In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Notice of Inquiry (NPRM and NOI), the FCC seeks comment on several proposals. The NPRM offers specific proposals for increasing utilization of and providing increasing flexibility with respect to microwave spectrum, including permitting greater sharing between Fixed Service operations in certain BAS and CARS frequencies, permitting adaptive modulation, and permitting “auxiliary” fixed stations. In the NOI, the FCC solicits proposals for more cost-effective and intensive use of microwave spectrum, including modification of efficiency standards in rural areas, a review of antenna standards under Part 101 of the FCC’s rules, and a general review of Part 101 as it relates to backhaul. Comments on the NPRM and NOI will be due 60 days after publication in the Federal Register, which has not yet occurred, and reply comments will be due 30 days thereafter.
House Seeks to Reign In FCC on Internet
Posted on August 3, 2010Representives Gene Green (D-TX) and Fred Upton (R-MI) have introduced a concurrent resolution in the House of Representatives that calls upon the FCC not to take action in its pending “Third Way” rulemaking until Congress acts to grant the FCC explicit authority to assert jurisdiction over Internet services. The resolution states that Congress, and not the FCC, should determine the scope and structure of Internet regulation and that the FCC must act within the framework established by Congress. The resolution is non-binding and does not have the force of law but is likely to carry significant weight as an expression of congressional intent if passed. The resolution has 49 co-sponsors and has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.