Commerce / NTIA to Release First NOFA for Broadband Stimulus Funds in June 2009
An NTIA report to Congress and a submission to OBM that appeared on Recovery.gov this week confirmed the schedule we anticipated for NTIA’s distribution of broadband grants. The Commerce Department told Congress that NTIA is on track to open its first broadband grant application window in the “summer of 2009,” a more circumspect timeframe than the June 2009 date listed on Recovery.gov. The Commerce Department also reaffirmed to Congress that it intends to issue three rounds of broadband stimulus grants. The first application window will open in the summer following publication of a Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) that will establish more specific criteria and funding conditions. No date was offered for the NOFA’s publication, but we expect the NOFA to be issued around the end of June. The Commerce Department also indicated in its report that it anticipates making broadband stimulus grants beginning in the fourth quarter of 2009.
This information is slightly less specific than the “Schedules and Milestones” reported on Recovery.gov, which was submitted by NTIA to OMB on May 15, 2009:
- Procurement for Grants Program Assistance Services March – June 2009
- Award Contract for Grants Program Support June 2009
- Preparation for Initial Solicitation for Proposals April – June 2009
- Publish Notice of Funds Availability June 2009
- [We believe this means applications will be accepted in July and August]
- Initial Proposal Processing and Review Sept – Dec. 2009
- Initial Grant Awards Made December 2009
- Second Solicitation for Proposals Oct – Dec 2009
- Third Solicitation for Proposals April – June 2010
- All Awards to Be Made September 2010
The Report to Congress also notes that each round of grants will commence with its own NOFA “that will allow NTIA to make any appropriate changes to the program based on its previous experience.” Broadband stimulus applicants should be on the lookout for more information about outreach and grant guidance workshops, which NTIA expects to schedule between July and September 2009.
Also noteworthy, NTIA intends to issue a separate NOFA on broadband mapping early this summer. NTIA intends to actively engage states in fulfilling the broadband mapping initiative as well. NTIA also indicated plans to coordinate closely with other federal agencies that are administering stimulus funds, including the Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Transportation and Energy Departments and the Small Business Administration. “Through constructive coordination, funds and expertise can be leveraged where appropriate—and duplication and redundancy will be avoided to maximize the use of taxpayer dollars.”
European Commission Proposes Broadband Guidelines Supporting Rural Areas
The European Commission recently proposed guidelines on “state aid” rules to fund broadband networks with government support in unserved rural areas. The European Commission is seeking comment on its proposed guidelines by June 22nd and plans to adopt guidelines by year’s end. According to TR Daily, Competition Commissioner Nellie Kroes said the goal is to provide a “clear and predictable framework for the application of EU state aid rules in this strategic sector,” an objective that is “all the more important in the present economic circumstances as investments in this important infrastructure may … help economic recovery ...”
Under the proposal, state aid for unserved “white areas” would be noncontroversial, but the commission sees no need for state intervention in “black areas” served by at least two broadband operators. “When in a given geographical zone at least two broadband network providers are present and broadband services are provided under competitive conditions (facilities-based competition), there is no market failure,” it said.
“Grey areas,” such as those with one network operator, would warrant detailed analysis. The commission proposed conditions for approval of state aid in grey areas, including that no “affordable or adequate” services are offered to satisfy the needs of citizens or business users and that there are “no less distortive means available to meet the same goals.”
FCC Imposes Discontinuance Obligations on VoIP Providers
The FCC extended to providers of interconnected VoIP service the FCC’s discontinuance obligations that apply to domestic non-dominant telecommunications carriers to protect consumers of interconnected VoIP service from the abrupt discontinuance, reduction, or impairment of their service without notice. As a result, before an interconnected VoIP provider discontinues service, it must provide written notice to all affected customers, notify relevant state authorities, and file an application for authorization of the planned discontinuance with the Commission. The FCC intends that the new rules will prevent interconnected VoIP providers from “closing up shop” without notice, leaving customers unexpectedly without phone service or recourse.
FCC Reduces Porting Interval to One Business Day
The FCC has made it easier and quicker for consumers to switch voice service providers by reducing the porting interval for wireline and intermodal (wireline-to-wireless or vice versa) port requests from four business days to one business day, unless the new provider requests a longer period or the customer elects a longer period. All providers, except for small carriers, have nine months from the date that the North American Numbering Council (NANC) submits its revised provisioning flows to the Commission, to comply with the new one business day porting requirement.
Because smaller carriers do not necessarily have automated systems capable of handling port requests and may have limited resources to upgrade their systems, small carriers have 15 months from the date that the NANC submits its revised provisioning flows to comply with the new one business day porting requirement. For this purpose, the FCC defines small carriers as providers with fewer than 2 percent of the nation’s subscriber lines installed in the aggregate nationwide and CMRS carriers with 500,000 subscribers or fewer as of the end of 2001 (Tier III wireless carriers). In the same proceeding, the FCC is also seeking comment on what further steps it should take to improve the process of changing providers.
Commenters Seek Adjustment of Minimum Opening Bids in Upcoming BRS Auction for Vacant 2.5 GHz Spectrum
Commenters recently urged the FCC to adjust the upfront payments and minimum opening bids for available Broadband Radio Service (“BRS”) licenses when those licenses are auctioned by the FCC beginning Oct. 27, 2009. Seven companies filed comments regarding Auction 86. The Wireless Communications Association International, Inc. noted that of the 75 BTA licenses subject to auction, 21 have incumbency levels that exceed 50 percent of the BTA’s MHz*Pops. Of those 21 licenses, seven have incumbency levels that exceed 80 percent of the BTA’s MHz*Pops.
The Ad Hoc BRS Applicants Association echoed WCAI’s comments, noting that in most areas, only fragments of unlicensed white space exist in each BTA, making it difficult to serve. “Thus it makes no sense for the FCC to use gross geographic population figures in calculating minimum bids for Auction 86,” the Association stated. Utopian Wireless Corp urged the FCC to commence the auction immediately. “In order to demonstrate to NTIA and RUS that they care capable of deploying broadband services to rural, unserved and underserved areas, applicants to the stimulus programs will want first to acquire rights to licensed broadband spectrum in their proposed project areas.”
Other commenters, such as Inforum, asked the FCC to correct the Public Notice by removing certain BTAs. Inforum sought the removal of Sarasota-Brandenton, Florida, BTA 408 from the licenses to be offered in Auction because of its pending Petition for Reconsideration of a Wireless Bureau decision denying Inforum’s Petition for Reconsideration regarding cancellation of its license. Inforum argued that because its pleading remains pending, the FCC’s inclusion of BTA408 is in error and should be corrected.
Clearwire and Cisco Form a 4G Alliance
Clearwire and Cisco recently announced an alliance to enhance and expand Clearwire’s 4G mobile WiMAX CLEAR network throughout the United States. Pursuant to the multi-year alliance, Cisco is Clearwire’s national Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) core infrastructure provider. Cisco also announced plans to construct new mobile WiMAX devices for Clearwire’s 4G CLEAR network later this year. The new devices will be suitable for use by consumers, small offices or home offices and small and medium sized businesses.
CLEAR mobile WiMAX service is currently available in Baltimore and Portland, Oregon, and will be available in more than 80 markets across the United States by the end of next year.
Scott Richardson, Clearwire’s chief strategy officer, said, “By teaming with Cisco, one of the world's most forward-looking IP network infrastructure providers, we're building a robust and cost-efficient next-generation network that's designed specifically for delivering rich broadband services. In addition, Cisco plans to develop WiMAX technology for end-user devices, which will give consumers and businesses more compelling ways to stay connected through our CLEAR 4G service." Cisco is equally excited about the alliance and Brett Galloway, Senior Vice President – Wireless and Security Technology Group, at Cisco, stated "Around the globe, mobile WiMAX providers continue to make great strides bringing 4G mobile Internet services to market, and we are pleased that Clearwire has selected Cisco to help untether its Internet customers across the United States while delivering high performance." Ned Hooper, Senior Vice President - Corporate Development and Consumer, at Cisco, remarked "Clearwire's ecosystem of partners, coupled with our all-IP next-generation network, will deliver a true mobile broadband experience. In addition, incorporating WiMAX into our products will help enable people to move freely throughout the United States, while maintaining continuous connectivity to personalized applications and services."
Cisco estimates that mobile data traffic will increase a thousand-fold over the seven years from 2005 through 2012, and a significant component will be video. This estimate is one of the driving forces behind Clearwire’s decision to select Cisco as its primary IP network solution provider for its data-centric, nationwide 4G CLEAR network.
Clearwire and Cisco also announced their involvement in forming the WiMAX Innovation Network for developers in Silicon Valley. Developers will be able to bring 4G wireless service to the campuses of some of the world’s leading technology companies, including Google and Intel. Cisco will contribute the core Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) infrastructure equipment and the service is expected to be available to developers by the end of the third quarter of this year. Commercial launch of the service will take place during 2010. A limited number of free developer subscriptions will be available for one year and Clearwire will sell WiMAX USB Modems for $49.99. Other Cisco WiMAX infrastructure projects include Russian wireless ISP Scartel, Georgian mobile operator MagtiCom, and AsiaBell's mobile WiMAX service in central Kazakhstan.
House Bill Calls For Broadband Conduits on Federal Highway Projects
A leading technology lawmaker in the House introduced legislation that would require all new federal highway projects to include a “broadband conduit” – pipes that will house fiber-optic communications cable. “According to industry experts, more than half of the cost of new broadband deployments is attributable to the expense of tearing up and repaving roads,” said Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-CA, who introduced the Broadband Conduit Deployment Act with three co-sponsors. “By putting the broadband conduit in place while the ground beneath the roadways is exposed, we will enable any authorized communications provider to come in later and install fiber-optic cable at far less cost.”
The measure would apply to all new road projects funded by federal surface transportation legislation, which is due to be reauthorized this year. Under the bill, the Department of Transportation would be permitted to waive the requirement where necessary and is required to work with the FCC to determine levels of existing service and potential demand for broadband service in a particular area.
Strickling, Chopra Vow To Boost Broadband
The President’s nominees to lead the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and for Chief Technology Officer vowed to make broadband Internet service more accessible during their Senate confirmation hearing.
Former FCC Common Carrier Bureau Chief Lawrence Strickling, who has been nominated to be NTIA administrator, said “we must do everything we can to ensure that all Americans have access to modern communications services.” In response to the only substantive question he was asked during the hearing, Strickling told Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-TX, the committee’s ranking member, that the digital TV transition would be his “highest priority” as NTIA chief, although the June 12 deadline is less than a month away. He commended Congress for delaying the deadline from Feb. 17th, saying more than three million households have become prepared for the transition since then. Hutchison said she was “encouraged that since February we have been able to cut the number of unprepared households in half, but there remain concerns, particularly in Texas where we have many vulnerable communities. Recently, the FCC and NTIA have ramped up their efforts to target assistance to the Spanish-speaking population.”
Virginia’s secretary of technology, Aneesh Chopra, who has been nominated to be associate director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, where he would serve as the nation’s first chief technology officer, said that if confirmed, he would work “to execute the president’s vision for a 21st century economy,” which would include making “broadband more abundant.” Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-MN, asked Chopra about broadband technology in long-term care facilities in rural areas, enabling a range of services from healthcare monitoring to communications and information for facilities’ residents. Chopra noted, “This is an example of an opportunity to address two of our challenges,” by creating jobs in deploying broadband and by improving in-home health care, which in turn would lower the cost structure for health care. The full Senate confirmed Chopra’s nomination last Friday, but Strickling’s was apparently being held up by two Senators.
Without a confirmation vote, Strickling is unable to lead NTIA before June 1st, 11 days before the deadline for the analog to digital television transition.
TRDaily reported from multiple sources that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-NV, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-CA, placed holds on Strickling’s nomination stemming from his response to a written question from Senate Commerce Committee members about applying nondiscrimination requirements to broadband grant applications where unlawful content is at issue, such as content that violates copyrights. Reid’s and Feinstein’s offices would not confirm those reports.
AirTran to Offer In-Flight Wireless Internet Access
AirTran recently announced that this summer it will be the first U.S. airline to offer wireless internet access on all of its U.S. flights. It plans to equipment all 136 of its Boeing 737 and 717 planes with in-flight wireless service by the end of July. Passengers will be able to access the Internet from a handheld device or laptop for $7.95 to $12.95 per flight, depending on the device and the length of the flight. Other carriers, such as Virgin America, Delta, United, Air Canada and American Airlines, have announced plans to offer in-flight wireless internet access but are making the service available much more slowly and on a smaller number of jets. Aircell, the provider of the Gogo in-flight wireless service, estimates that more than 1,000 jets from airlines will be WiFi equipped by the end of the year, which is a significant increase from 30 at the end of 2008.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Locke and U.S. Energy Secretary Chu Announce First Smart Grid Device Standards
The Recovery Act included funding for Smart Grid, a new “smart” energy power grid that would replace the current, outdated power grid. The Smart Grid will use real-time, two-way communication technologies, which will allow users to connect directly with power suppliers and reduce consumer energy costs. Secretaries Locke and Chu recently announced the first set of 16 interoperability and security standards for the Smart Grid, which are needed before construction of the Smart Grid may begin. The standards include but are not limited to specifications for smart customer meters, distributed power generation components, and cybersecurity. The goal of the standards is to ensure that software and hardware components from different vendors will work together seamlessly and to minimize Smart Grid disruptions. Development of the standards is funded, in part, with $10 million in Recovery Act funds, which were transferred by the Energy Department to the Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Comments on the initial standards will be accepted for 30-days after publication of the standards in the Federal Register. The standards have not yet been published but comments may be submitted early to smartgrid@nist.gov.
In response to public comments and Smart Grid stakeholders, Secretary Chu also announced that the Department of Energy is increasing the maximum award available under the Recovery Act for Smart Grid programs. Under the Smart Grid Investment Grant Program, the maximum award will increase from $20 million to $200 million and for the Smart Grid Demonstration Projects, the maximum award will increase from $40 million to $100 million. The Energy Department will award the funding in such a way to ensure that funding is provided to a diversity of applications, including small projects as well as end-to-end larger projects.
FCC Plans Stricter Enforcement of Net Neutrality Guidelines
Broadband service providers that block or degrade Internet content for anti-competitive reasons may face penalties, including fines, FCC Acting Chairman Michael Copps said recently. Copps, spoke to reporters at a summit sponsored by the nonprofit group Free Press, noting the agency would add strict enforcement as a fifth principle to the agency’s four “network neutrality” principles governing access to the Internet. He said the new principle would be modeled on requirements the Commission imposed on the 2006 merger of AT&T and BellSouth.
The other four principles, which focus on consumer rights, are voluntary. The FCC now contends, however, that it can enforce the principles -- a stance that Comcast Corp. is challenging in court. The Free Press and consumer groups have long sought a fifth principle to ensure that broadband providers do not curb access to Web sites for competitive reasons.
Copps said the FCC measures do not supplant congressional action, including legislation being formulated by Sens. Byron Dorgan, D-ND, and Olympia Snowe, R-ME. “What we’re looking for is something the Commission can do on its own in the near-term future,” said Copps. The vote on expanding the Internet guidelines would likely occur after President Obama’s nominee for FCC Chairman, Julius Genachowski, is confirmed by the Senate and replaces Copps as chairman.
Senators Urge Commerce to Monitor ICANN Relationship
Some Senators are urging Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Assistant Secretary-Designate Larry Strickling to monitor the relationship between the U.S. government and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (“ICANN”), a private California entity that administers the Internet addressing system. A joint project agreement that has allowed Commerce oversight of ICANN will sunset on Sept. 30th amid accountability concerns.
Sens. Olympia Snowe, R-ME, and Bill Nelson, D-FL, wrote to Locke last Tuesday urging him to figure prominently in finding a permanent accountability mechanism for ICANN. The senators note that much of the progress ICANN has made could be jeopardized if its historic link to the United States is diminished. The letter pointed out that some stakeholders have suggested a temporary extension of the joint agreement to allow time to design and deploy a framework. The Internet consists of 174 million Web sites, 570 million computers and more than 1.5 billion users, all of whom utilize the domain name system in some way, Snowe and Nelson said. The House Energy and Commerce Committee is interested in ICANN oversight and House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Rick Boucher, D-VA, may hold a hearing this summer.
AT&T to Eshoo: Company Does Not Engage in Behavioral Advertising
AT&T Chief Privacy Officer Dorothy Attwood responded to a letter from Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-CA, seeking clarification on whether the company tracks broadband subscribers’ online activities to target advertising. In Attwood’s letter, she assured Eshoo that AT&T does not engage in behavioral advertising and said the company “has articulated at every turn what it does and does not do in the context of any behavioral advertising model that has been the subject of congressional interest.” Attwood also addressed AT&T’s relationship with Audience Science, “one of a number of online marketing firms that assist AT&T in reaching potential customers and placing AT&T’s advertisements on other Web sites.” Attwood said Audience Science does not use deep packet inspection -- but does use cookie-based methods to offer the most relevant ads to Internet users.
House Bill Would Delay Royalty Rate-Setting
The House Judiciary Committee approved legislation recently that would eliminate an exemption enjoyed by AM and FM radio stations from paying royalties to performers and record labels.
The Judiciary Committee adopted, by voice vote, a manager’s amendment, offered by Judiciary Chairman John Conyers, D-MI, and others aimed at addressing the legislation’s potential impact on radio stations. Conyers insisted the bill is not intended to put further economic distress on broadcasters and said he was open to further negotiations, but expressed frustration about the National Association of Broadcasters’ refusal to negotiate.
The manager’s amendment would delay the bill’s enactment date and reduce the amount of royalty fees radio stations would have to pay. Under the original bill, stations with gross revenues under $1.25 million would have paid a royalty fee of $5,000 a year.
Under the manager’s amendment, stations with gross revenues under $100,000 “may elect to pay” a royalty fee of $500 a year. Stations grossing between $100,000 and $500,000 a year would pay $2,500 a year, while those stations that gross between $500,000 and $1.25 million a year could elect to pay $5,000 a year. Rates for stations that gross more than $1.25 million a year or those smaller stations that choose not to pay the statutory rates would be set by the Copyright Royalty Board, if broadcasters and performers are unable to negotiate rates on their own.
In addition, the manager’s amendment would delay implementation of royalty payments for three years for stations grossing less than $5 million a year and for one year for stations that gross more. The amendment also would direct the Copyright Royalty Board judges to weigh the impact of their rate-setting on religious, noncommercial, minority-owned, and female-owned broadcasters. The compromise rates included in the manager’s amendment apparently would cover 90 percent of minority-owned stations and 77 percent of all radio stations. Judiciary ranking member Lamar Smith, R-TX, who has opposed the bill, saying it may lead to “unintended consequences,” supported the manager’s amendment because it includes “a number of improvements.”
Obama Taps Verveer, Kennard For Ambassador Slots
The White House on May 19th sent the Senate the nomination of Philip Verveer to serve as Ambassador and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Communications and Information Policy in the Bureau of Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs, and U.S. Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy. Verveer, a long-time partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher, recently moved his practice to Jenner & Block.
The Obama administration also chose former FCC Chairman William Kennard as U.S. Ambassador to the European Union. Kennard is currently a managing director at the Carlyle Group.
AT&T and Verizon Trade Assets in Declining Markets
For $2.35 billion in cash, AT&T won an auction to purchase from Verizon Wireless, certain wireless properties, including licenses, network assets and 1.5 million current subscribers in 79 predominantly rural service areas in 18 states. Private equity groups, including the Blackstone Group, Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts & Co., and the Carlyle Group, also submitted bids for the assets. The assets are being sold as part of Verizon’s acquisition of Alltel Corp. and Rural Cellular Corp. and largely overlap Verizon’s existing spectrum holdings.
AT&T is selling to Verizon, for $240 million, overlapping markets in Louisiana and Mississippi it is acquiring from Centennial Communications Corp.
Chairman Copps Suggests and NAB Rejects a Return to Shorter Broadcast License Renewal Terms
During a recent speech, Chairman Copps stated that the FCC needs “to get serious about defining broadcasters’ public-interest obligations and reinvigorating our license-renewal process” and suggested changing the current broadcast license renewal term from 8 years to 3 years. He wants to add “teeth” to the license renewal process and strengthen broadcaster public-interest obligations. NAB is strongly opposed to shortened license renewal terms for broadcast stations. It argues that Congress lengthened license renewal terms for broadcasters so they could better compete with satellite providers.
Motorola Completes Vodaphone LTE Trial and Clarifies 4G Plans
Motorola recently participated in Vodaphone’s LTE trial and at least one manufacturer met all of Vodaphone’s requirements. Vodaphone has not yet announced the winning vendor. In the meantime, Motorola is reconfiguring its LTE equipment in preparation for China Mobile’s upcoming trials. Motorola estimates its LTE development spending this year will be twice what it spent last year. Its WiMAX development costs are being reduced because it has completed most of its WiMAX research and development. Motorola estimates it will recognize between $500 and $600 million in WiMAX infrastructure revenue this year with a large percentage coming from Clearwire. LTE revenues are expected to take longer to realize since only one major LTE contract has been announced so far and that contract went to Alcatel-Lucent and Ericsson.
Motorola’s WiMAX hardware and trial LTE hardware are very similar except for different radios and software. However, Motorola’s commercial LTE hardware will be different in order to accommodate carrier preferences - CDMA operators prefer ground-based base stations with high-power amplifiers and dumb antennas and GSM operators favor remote radio heads. Motorola’s WiMAX equipment mounts most of the active electronics near the antennas.
Verizon Wireless Reveals 4G Network Details
At a developer’s conference, Verizon Wireless announced more details about its 4G network. This came as no surprise to developers since Verizon Wireless has always placed higher requirement on its CDMA phones than required by industry standards. Verizon’s 4G network will support open access but those devices will still need to meet Verizon’s stringent technical requirements. CEO Lowell McAdam stated that commercial launch of Verizon’s LTE network will take place during the second half of 2010 and it will have a nationwide footprint completed by late 2013 or early 2014. Verizon did not reveal how VoIP would be handled but an IP version of SMS will be supported by its 4G network through Verizon’s new IP multimedia subsystem architecture.
DTV Transition Education Push and Results of Soft Test
With the June 12 DTV transition deadline only a few weeks away, the FCC is in overdrive to educate the public about the transition. The FCC’s focus is on at-risk population, such as low-income individuals, minority communities, non-English speaking consumers, senior citizens, consumers with disabilities and individuals living in rural areas or tribal lands. On May 21, 2009, the FCC conducted a DTV transition soft test. The soft test indicated that an increased number of viewers are ready for the transition but many more still need assistance. In the upcoming weeks, the FCC will assist local governments with educating consumers about the DTV transition, by redesigning the dtv.gov website to make it more useful and user friendly, increasing the number of customer service operators answering the 1-888-CALL-FCC hotline, and distributing DTV public service announcements that may be used until the transition.
Development of the FCC’s Broadband Plan Will Be Complicated Undertaking
During an interview, FCC Chairman Michael Copps stated he was looking forward to developing a nationwide broadband plan, but admitted the task was likely to be one of the largest undertakings the FCC has ever completed. The FCC is developing a nationwide broadband plan as part of the broadband stimulus legislation passed by Congress. In his opinion, a broadband strategy must take into consideration the use of broadband for all kinds of issues, including energy, education, healthcare, and public safety.
INDUSTRY CALENDAR
Meetings and Events
June 1, 2009
- NTIA Seeks Nominations for Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee
- Nominations for Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee
June 3, 2009
- FCC Monthly Public Meeting
June 7-10, 2009
- 23rd International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) World Conference on Open Learning and Distance Education, Maastricht, The Netherlands
June 21, 2009
- LeadAmerica Youth Leadership Conference, Washington, D.C.
June 23, 2009
- WRC-11 Advisory Committee - Informal Working Group 4: Regulatory Issues
July 2, 2009
- FCC Monthly Public Meeting
July 15, 2009
- WRC-11 Advisory Committee - Informal Working Group 2: Terrestrial Services
- WRC-11 Advisory Committee - Informal Working Group 3: Space Services
July 19-22, 2009
- NARUC Summer Committee Meetings, Seattle, WA
July 21, 2009
- WRC-11 Advisory Committee - Informal Working Group 1: Maritime, Aeronautical and Radar Services
August 5-8, 2009
- Radio & Records: Triple A 2009 Summit, Boulder, CO
September 15, 2009
- WCAI International Symposium at 4G World, Chicago, IL
September 15-17, 2009
- WiMAX World 2009, Chicago, IL
September 23-25, 2009
- The NAB Radio Show, Philadelphia, PA
October 7-9, 2009
- International CTIA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment, San Diego, CA
October 18-21, 2009
- 2009 Technology and Standards Fall Forum, Phoenix, AZ
- CEA Industry Forum, Phoenix, AZ
October 25-30, 2009
- Cable Connection, Denver, CO
November 3-5, 2009
- WiMAX World Emerging Markets, Prague, Czech Republic
November 15-18, 2009
- NARUC Annual Convention, Chicago, UL
December 2, 2009
- Radio Ink: Forecast, New York, NY
- FCC Rulemakings / Deadlines
Broadband Stimulus Deadlines June 8, 2009
July 7, 2009
July 15, 2009
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FCC Rulemakings / Deadlines
May 28, 2009
- Comment Deadline: FCC Extends Temporary Waivers of '711' TRS Requirements for VoIP Service Providers, Seeks Comments on Technical Hurdles
May 29, 2009
- Reply Comment Deadline: Auction of 78 Broadband Radio Service (BRS) Licenses Begins October 27, 2009
- Comment Deadline: Petition for Expedited Rulemaking on Migratory Bird Collisions with Communications Towers
June 1, 2009
- Comment Deadline: NTIA Seeks Nominations for Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee
June 3, 2009
- Comment Deadline: Petition for Rulemaking to Increase Tier 4 Lifeline Funding from $25 to $30 per Month
June 4, 2009
- Comment Deadline: FCC to Collect $341.9 million in Regulatory Fees in 2009, Requests Comments on Regulatory Fee Program
- Comment Deadline: Two Petitions for Reconsideration of Rules for Assigning Traditional Ten-Digit Telephone Numbers to IP-based TRS Users
- Comment Deadline: TRS Reimbursement Rates and Contribution Factor for 2009-2010, Proposed Modifications to VRS Rates
June 5, 2009 - Comment Deadline: Petition for Reconsideration of E911 Self-Certification Provisions of ETC Forbearance Granted to TracFone and Virgin Mobile
- Comment Deadline: Comments Sought on Virgin Mobile's Compliance Plan for Participation in Lifeline Program
June 8, 2009
- Comment Deadline: FCC Begins Work on 'National Broadband Plan' Mandated by Congress
- Reply Comment Deadline: FCC to Refresh the Record on High-Cost Universal Service Support for Non-Rural Carriers
- Reply Comment Deadline: Petition for Rulemaking: Amend Rules for Travelers' Information Station (TIS) Operations
- Reply Comment Deadline: FCC Extends Temporary Waivers of '711' TRS Requirements for VoIP Service Providers, Seeks Comments on Technical Hurdles
- Comment Deadline: Petition for Declaratory Rulings on Universal Service Fund (USF) Contributions
June 11, 2009
- Reply Comment Deadline: FCC to Collect $341.9 million in Regulatory Fees in 2009, Requests Comments on Regulatory Fee Program
- Reply Comment Deadline: TRS Reimbursement Rates and Contribution Factor for 2009-2010, Proposed Modifications to VRS Rates
June 15, 2009
- Reply Comment Deadline: Petition for Expedited Rulemaking on Migratory Bird Collisions with Communications Towers
- Comment Deadline: Fourteenth Inquiry on Competition in the Mobile Wireless Marketplace
- Comment Deadline: Third Annual Satellite Competition Report
- Comment Deadline: Two Petitions for Reconsideration of Rules for Assigning Traditional Ten-Digit Telephone Numbers to IP-based TRS Users
June 18, 2009
- Reply Comment Deadline: Petition for Rulemaking to Increase Tier 4 Lifeline Funding from $25 to $30 per Month
- Comment Deadline: Denali Requests Forbearance from Unjust Enrichment Provisions of Spectrum Auction Rules
June 20, 2009
- Reply Comment Deadline: 2008 and 2009 Data Sought for Fourteenth Annual Report on Competition for the Delivery of Video Programming
- Reply Comment Deadline: 2007 Data for Fourteenth Inquiry on Competition for the Delivery of Video Programming
June 22, 2009
- Reply Comment Deadline: Petition for Reconsideration of E911 Self-Certification Provisions of ETC Forbearance Granted to TracFone and Virgin Mobile
- Reply Comment Deadline: Virgin Mobile's Compliance Plan for Participation in Lifeline Program
- Reply Comment Deadline: Petition for Declaratory Rulings on Universal Service Fund (USF) Contributions
June 29, 2009
- Reply Comment Deadline: Fourteenth Inquiry on Competition in the Mobile Wireless Marketplace
June 30, 2009
- Reply Comment Deadline: Third Annual Satellite Competition Report
July 6, 2009
- Reply Comment Deadline: Denali Requests Forbearance from Unjust Enrichment Provisions of Spectrum Auction Rules
July 7, 2009
- Reply Comment Deadline: FCC Begins Work on 'National Broadband Plan' Mandated by Congress
July 13, 2009
- Comment Deadline: Procedures to Encourage Radio Service to Rural and Tribal Communities
July 15, 2009
- Deadline: Wireless Manufacturers: Hearing Aid Compliance Reports Due
July 20, 2009
- Comment Deadline: Adjustments to 4.9 GHz Band Rules for Public Safety Broadband Use, Further Proposals
July 23, 2009
- Deadline: FCC Report to Congress Due on 911 and E911 Fees Collected by States under the NET 911 Act
August 11, 2009
- Comments Deadline: Proposed Medical Micro-power Network (MMN) Service in the 413-457 MHz Band
- Reply Comment Deadline: Procedures to Encourage Radio Service to Rural and Tribal Communities
August 19, 2009
- Reply Comment Deadline: Adjustments to 4.9 GHz Band Rules for Public Safety Broadband Use, Further Proposals
Public Safety
May 28, 2009
- Regional Public Safety Planning Committee Meeting for Region 35 in Beaverton, Oregon regarding 700 MHz
June 9, 2009
- Regional Public Safety Planning Committee Meeting for Region 19 in Cranston, Rhode Island regarding 700 MHz
- Regional Public Safety Planning Committee Meeting for Region 8 in Pomona, New York regarding 700 MHz and 800 MHz
June 11, 2009
- Regional Public Safety Planning Committee Meeting for Region 55 in Cheektowaga, New York regarding 700 MHz
June 19, 2009
- Regional Public Safety Planning Committee Meeting for Region 3 in Litchfield Park, Arizona regarding 700 MHz and 800 MHz
July 22, 2009
- Regional Public Safety Planning Committee Meeting for Region 7 in Centennial, Colorado regarding 700 MHz
Congressional Schedule
May 25, 2009
- Congress in recess for Memorial Day, returning June 1st.