In this episode of Full Spectrum, partner Tom Cohen discusses the recently held FCC Open Meeting, including a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to establish a framework to facilitate equal access to broadband internet access service by preventing digital discrimination of access.

On this episode of Full Spectrum partners Tom Cohen and Chip Yorkgitis discuss the Notice of Proposed Rule Making adopted by the Commission at its October 19 Open Meeting in its newly-commenced Open Internet (or Net Neutrality) proceeding proposing to reclassify broadband Internet access service (“BIAS”) from a lightly regulated information service to a telecommunications service regulated under Title II of the Communications Act (01:19). The Commission’s Notice proposes to adopt Open Internet rules that are very similar to those previously imposed in 2015 and largely rescinded in 2017. Additionally, Chip discusses a Second Report and Order adopted at the Open Meeting (but only released on November 1) that expands unlicensed use in the 6 GHz Band in the face of opposition from licensed incumbents by permitting very low power devices to operate in two sub-bands both indoors and outdoors, and both fixed and mobile (15:30). He also explains that the Commission continues to consider other proposals to expand unlicensed power and flexibility – both from a 2020 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and a Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that accompanies the Second Report and Order. Finally, Tom and Chip give a brief preview of the Digital Discrimination item that is on the Commission’s tentative agenda for its November 15 Open Meeting (35:25).

On today’s episode of Full Spectrum, the Kelley Drye Communications teams will discuss a number of developments from the September FCC Open Meeting. First, Tom Cohen will briefly discuss the impact of a full Commission on the heels of an election cycle. Chip Yorkgitis (3:20) will follow up to discuss two Report and Orders related to satellite and space launches. Hank Kelly (21:02) will discuss the changes the Commission made to address direct access to numbers by interconnected VoIP providers. Finally, Mike Dover (31:18) will discuss the Notice of Proposed Rule Making establishing a 5G fund for rural America.

On today’s episode of Full Spectrum, the Kelley Drye Communications team will be discussing several of the matters raised at the FCC’s August 3, 2023, Open Meeting. First (1:04), partner Chip Yorkgitis covers a Notice of Inquiry that initiates a mostly technical inquiry into how to measure non-Federal spectrum usage as a prelude to future spectrum management decisions. Second (10:19), special counsel Mike Dover covers a Sixth Report and Order which implements the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) high-cost area benefit.

On today’s episode of Full Spectrum, the Kelley Drye Communications team will be discussing several of the matters raised at the FCC’s May 18, 2023 Open Meeting. First, (1:00) partner Chip Yorkgitis will cover a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would explore how spectrum in the 42 GHz band might be made available through one of several spectrum access models which have the potential to provide solutions in this evolving space. Second, (15:12) special counsel Michael Dover will cover a Report and Order, NPRM, and Order concerning accessibility for video conferencing services and providing guidance relating to the definition of “interoperable video conferencing service” under the Twenty-First Century Video Accessibility Act.

On today’s episode of Full Spectrum, the Kelley Drye Communications team will be discussing several of the matters raised at the FCC’s May 18, 2023 Open Meeting. First (01:00), Partner Chip Yorkgitis discusses the Commission’s Report and Order expanding unlicensed uses in the 60 GHz band (57-71 GHz). Chip also (08:34) summarizes the Commission’s Report and Order declining to adopt rules to enable terrestrial mobile service in the 12.2-12.7 GHz Band and a related Further NPRM which will consider liberalizing licensed terrestrial fixed service rules in the band, and introducing unlicensed applications for the first time in this frequency range. Next (21:12), Special Counsel, Michael Dover, discusses Commission’s proposals relating to use of the 12.7-13.25 GHz Band for mobile broadband and other expanded services in a new rulemaking. Finally (31:20), Partner Hank Kelly examines the Commission’s Order, Further Notice, and Notice of Inquiry that would expand the Commission’s efforts relating to call blocking requirements to promote robocall mitigation.

On today’s episode of Full Spectrum, we continue our coverage of the Federal Communications Commission’s April Open Meeting. Specifically, Partner Chip Yorkgitis will provide an overview of the FCC’s adoption of a Policy Statement addressing spectrum management principles that will guide the Commission in future spectrum proceedings (01:50). He will also summarize a Report and Order and Further Notice of proposed Rulemaking regarding the sharing of spectrum by non-geostationary satellite constellations (12:07). On the prior episode, we discussed two items adopted by the FCC at the Open Meeting: one, the FCC’s proposed changes to the International Section 214 authorization regime applicable to providers of telecommunications services between the U.S. and other countries and, two, Commission proposals relating to expanded accessibility and transparency in the Wireless Emergency Alert program.

Full Spectrum’s FCC Open Meeting Recaps feature a first take and analysis following the FCC’s monthly Open Meetings, with an emphasis on the agenda items directly impacting our clients. On today’s episode of Full Spectrum, Senior Associate Winafred Brantl discusses the Commission's proposed significant changes to the International Section 214 regime (1:11.515). Responding to growing concerns regarding undisclosed foreign ownership of international Section 214 carriers, the FCC will conduct a one-time data collection from all international Section 214 authorization holders and has proposed a requirement for periodic renewals or reviews of international Section 214 authorizations as well. At the same time, the FCC proposes to expand the scope of information required in any international Section 214 application and to implement recurring update filing requirements. In addition, Special Counsel Mike Dover discusses the Commission's proposals relating to expanded accessibility and transparency in the Wireless Emergency Alert program (15:36.614). Subscribe for ongoing coverage of these topics and future FCC Open Meetings.

On today’s episode of the Full Spectrum podcast, attorneys from Kelley Drye’s Communications practice highlight items from the FCC’s March 16th Open Meeting. First, partner Hank Kelly discusses (0:00:58) the FCC’s adoption of a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that addresses a gap in the STIR/SHAKEN caller ID authentication regime, expands robocall mitigation requirements for all providers, adopts more robust enforcement tools, and seeks comment on additional steps to further enhance the effectiveness of the STIR/SHAKEN framework. Hank Kelly also addresses (0:09:33) the FCC’s adoption of a Report and Order requiring providers to block texts purporting to be from numbers on a reasonable Do-Not-Originate list and requiring a single point of contact for text message blocking complaints, as well as its request for comments on additional proposals to require further blocking of illegal robotexts, expand Do-Not-Call protections to robotexts, and protect consumers from getting robotexts and robocalls from multiple, unexpected callers when they provide their consent on websites for comparison shopping. Second, special counsel Mike Dover will cover (0:16:35) the FCC’s issuance of a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking which proposes to expand audio description requirements to additional market areas to ensure that a greater number of individuals who are blind or visually impaired can be connected, informed, and entertained by television programming. In addition, in the next episode of the Full Spectrum podcast, partner Chip Yorkgitis will cover the FCC’s initiation of a rulemaking in the March Open Meeting to consider establishing an innovative regulatory framework to facilitate the integration of satellite and terrestrial networks and technologies in select flexible-use spectrum bands meeting proposed criteria (between 600 and 2360 MHz) to serve commercial mobile end-user devices, what the FCC calls Supplemental Coverage from Space (“SCS”). This initiative builds on experience obtained from the grant in recent years of several ad hoc experimental licenses and other authorizations which have demonstrated the potential for interoperability between satellite and mobile services. The implementation of SCS would require several changes to the table of frequency allocations, and leverage existing spectrum lease, earth stations in motion, and other rule sets, with appropriate modifications. Chip will also address the FCC’s recent adoption of a Report and Order (prior to the Open Meeting) to bring up to date the Commission’s equipment authorization framework. Specifically, the Commission incorporated into Parts 2 and 15 of its regulations four standards established in recent years by standards-setting bodies that cover higher frequency bands, better accommodate testing of larger unintentional radiators, and otherwise update current measurement methods recognized by the rules.

This week on the Full Spectrum podcast, Communications partner Chip Yorkgitis discusses the FCC’s recent Notice of Proposed Ruling on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (0:51:-15:16), and Privacy partner Aaron Burstein discusses the recent NPRM on data security (15:17-26:49). (At the time of recording, the UAS NPRM had not yet been published in the Federal Register establishing comment deadlines. Publication occurred on February 7, 2023, setting a comment due date of March 9, 2023, and a reply comment due date of April 10, 2023.)