The FCC released its third Section 621 Report and Order late Friday, which has the potential to cost local governments hundreds of millions of dollars in cable franchise fees. Also, unlike FCC cable orders in the past 10...more
The Federal Communications Commission has proposed an expansion of its rules for Over-the-Air Reception Devices in what it says is an effort to spur the deployment of 5G infrastructure.
The FCC’s recommended changes have...more
5/7/2019
/ 5G Network ,
Broadband ,
Comment Period ,
Emerging Technology Companies ,
FCC ,
Infrastructure ,
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) ,
Local Ordinance ,
Municipalities ,
Proposed Rules ,
Public Comment ,
Public Health ,
Public Property ,
Regulatory Authority ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
State and Local Government ,
Telecommunications ,
Wireless Facilities ,
Wireless Industry ,
Zoning Laws
The Federal Communications Commission is once again seeking to usurp local authority as part of its agenda for 5G deployment. Last week, the FCC requested comments on a proposal to expand its Over-the-Air Reception Devices...more
A pair of orders by the 10th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in the litigation over the FCC’s controversial small cell order were issued Thursday. ...more
The FCC today released a Second Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that, if adopted, would allow cable operators to deduct the value of in-kind contributions from cable franchise fee payments, and would limit the authority of...more
The FCC is poised to issued two orders: a $2 billion unfunded mandate “Small Cell” order that imposes rules akin to state small cell laws (such as SB 649 vetoed in 2017 by California Gov. Jerry Brown)....more
The FCC has banned moratoria related to wired and wireless telecommunications equipment deployment. In a party-line vote Aug. 2, the FCC adopted its Third Report and Order and Declaratory Ruling, which also creates a...more
In addition to the proposed merger between Sprint and T-Mobile and its planned consolidation of cell sites, providers such as Verizon and AT&T are trading their interests in towers and other wireless deployments. ...more
5/21/2018
/ AT&T ,
Cell Towers ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Mergers ,
Municipalities ,
Property Owners ,
Sprint ,
T-Mobile ,
Telecommunications ,
Verizon ,
Wireless Industry ,
Wireless Technology
Recently, H.R. Bill 582, known as “Kari’s Law” became federal law. Kari’s Law amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require most multi-line telephone systems to be pre-configured so users may call “911” without dialing any...more
In President Donald Trump’s first State of the Union Address last night, he touched on infrastructure by discussing a proposed plan to direct at least $1.5 trillion toward infrastructure investment over the next decade. To...more
When San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo resigned from a FCC advisory committee last week, it was a move that should alert communities around the country that they are facing the imminent prospect of new federal regulations (and...more
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo’s resignation from the FCC’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee last week signals that communities around the country are facing the imminent prospect of new federal wireless regulations (and...more
The White House issued a Presidential Memorandum last week directing the Secretary of Transportation to establish an Unmanned Aerial Systems Integration Pilot Program to promote the safe operation of UAS, or drones, in...more
11/3/2017
/ Airspace ,
Aviation Industry ,
Commercial Use ,
Department of Transportation (DOT) ,
Drones ,
Emergency Response ,
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ,
Federal Pilot Programs ,
Native American Issues ,
Public Safety ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Technology Sector ,
Transportation Industry ,
Tribal Governments ,
Tribal Lands ,
Trump Administration ,
Unmanned Aircraft Systems
An FCC order that local governments, schools and the public have opposed for almost a decade was reversed by the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
The case is Montgomery County v. FCC, which had its genesis in an FCC...more
An FCC order that local governments, schools and the public have opposed for almost a decade was reversed today by the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals....more
Despite bi-partisan agreement on the urgency to invest in the nation’s infrastructure to meet fast growing demands on our roads, railroads and waterways, there has yet to materialize a bi-partisan framework for funding and...more
Does your community rent space to wireless providers on your buildings or light poles, or in your rights of way, community parks or water tanks? If so, you need to be aware that the FCC is asking...more
While Washington’s promise of a trillion dollar infrastructure program is providing a distraction, a closer examination reveals localities and local infrastructure are under attack across the board. The assault on local...more
4/14/2017
/ Clean Power Plan ,
Community Development ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Deregulation ,
Economic Development ,
Federal Funding ,
Job Creation ,
Municipal Bonds ,
Preemption ,
Public Finance ,
Tax Reform ,
Trump Administration
The roller coaster “infrastructure” ride in Washington, D.C. continues. With bi-partisan and broad stakeholder interest from both the public and private sector in an infrastructure plan, Congress continues to hold hearings...more
There is plenty of uncertainty surrounding what President-elect Donald Trump’s infrastructure plan will be. What is certain is that: 1.) things will move quickly in Washington, D.C. in the coming weeks and 2.) now is the time...more
A city granting an applicant’s request for a continuance of a public hearing over installation of a wireless tower is not a mutual agreement to toll the FCC’s “shot clock,” a federal court has ruled. In addition, a vague...more
As most prepared for the holiday season, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development converted two broadband mandate proposals into orders and published them in the Federal Register. “Narrowing the Digital Divide...more
Post-Election Opportunities for Local Government Agencies -
Last week, the nation experienced an election unlike any other in history. A major party candidate broke with his party’s governing philosophies, yet led that...more
Additional Reporting and Compliance Requirements -
The Federal Communications Commission published a Final Rule in the Federal Register on Tuesday, imposing new reporting requirements on public, educational and...more
FCC Looking to Increase Eligibility for Reimbursement -
The Federal Communications Commission is seeking comments on a proposal to expand what services are eligible for reimbursement under the E-rate eligible services...more