Commissioner Ajit Pai’s FCC moved full steam ahead on Thursday, approving a slew of measures to, among other things, institute reforms to help accelerate deployments in the 800 MHz band and allow carriers to step up their battle against robocalls.
As previously outlined here, the FCC’s action in the 800 MHz band will institute a number of changes, including:
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Allowing cellular licensees to use the same amount of transmit power across the spectrum band, regardless of whether they’re using a legacy, narrow bandwidth technology or a newer, wider bandwith technology like LTE;
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Ensuring cellular spectrum will be treated consistently with other similar commercial wireless spectrum bands in terms of rules around power measurement, out of band emissions, field strength, and discontinuance of operations;
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Preserving cellular-specific interference resolution rules and procedures;
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And eliminating “unnecessary” rules and burdens related to application filings, domestic and international coordination, and comparative renewal.
Commissioner Michael O’Reilly praised the move, but said it had taken the commission too long to get to this point.
“In permitting LTE on the band, we are in fact improving efficiency and deploying broadband and placing cellular spectrum on the same footing as other services,” he commented. “My only critique of today’s item is that the petition requesting this change was filed in 2012. The commission must ensure that its rules are current and technology neutral to promote flexible use. When they are not, it can’t take five years to update them. That being said, I’m hopeful we will move on the proposals in the Further Notice to eliminate unnecessary costly rules that may disadvantage cellular licensees as compared to other licensees as quickly as possible.”
The commission also moved to strengthen carrier efforts to prevent robocalls. The FCC said it is seeking public comment on rules that would codify the “Do-Not-Originate” initiative proposed by the commission, which allows carriers to block calls from an originating number at the request of a subscriber and block spoofed caller ID numbers associated with phone lines that do not actually dial out. The commission said a test of the concept reduced IRS scam calls by about 90 percent in the third quarter of 2016.
Public comment is also sought on how to address spoofing from international numbers, and how to further enable carriers to block illegal robocalls before they can reach consumers. Pai called the proposals the “commission’s first step toward defeating this scourge.”
Also checked off the FCC’s list at the meeting were rules to help battle contraband cell phones in prisons by streamlining the process for correctional facilities to implement Contraband Interdiction Systems (CISs) that detect and block the use of contraband wireless devices on facility grounds. Additionally, the commission adopted a Report and Order to expand broadcast stations’ ability to share a single TV channel; approved an NPRM to eliminate the Traffic and Revenue Report and seek comment on ways to streamline the Circuit Capacity Reports; and approved new rules to improve the quality and efficiency of video relay services for people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, and speech disabled.
Filed Under: Industry regulations
