🌊Implications of Proposed Submarine Cable Landing License Rules
The Federal Communications Commission ("FCC" or "Commission") takes another important step to protect the Nation's submarine cable infrastructure from threats in an evolving national security and law enforcement landscape by undertaking the first major comprehensive review of the Commission's submarine cable rules since 2001. This review seeks to develop forward-looking rules to better protect submarine cables, identify and mitigate harms affecting national security and law enforcement, and facilitate the deployment of submarine cables and capacity to the market. Among other things, the Commission proposes to adopt a three-year periodic reporting requirement for submarine cable landing licenses; in the alternative, the Commission seeks comment on shortening the current 25-year submarine cable license term or adopting a shorter license term in combination with periodic reporting. The Commission also proposes or seeks comment on codifying the Commission's legal jurisdiction and other legal requirements in its rules to provide regulatory certainty to submarine cable owners and operators. Additionally, the Commission proposes and seeks comment on appropriate applicant and application requirements to account for the evolution of technologies and facilities and changes in the national security landscape over the last two decades and to ensure the Commission has targeted and granular information regarding the ownership, control, use of a submarine cable system, and other things, which are critical to the Commission's review to assess potential national security risks and other important public interest factors. Further, the Commission seeks comment on improving the quality of the circuit capacity data and facilitating the sharing of such information with other Federal agencies. Through these proposals, the Commission seeks to ensure that the Commission is exercising appropriate oversight of submarine cables to safeguard U.S. communications networks.
Learn More🚀FCC Proposes Changes to Space and Earth Station Regulatory Fees
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) adopted a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) that seeks additional comments on revising the regulatory fees for space and earth station payors.
Learn More📡FCC Proposes New Bidding Credits for AWS-3 Spectrum Auctions
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) seeks comment on changes to its rules regarding eligibility for designated entity bidding credits in auctions for licenses in the in the 1695-1710 MHz, 1755-1780 MHz, and 2155-2180 MHz (AWS-3) bands. The Commission also seeks comment on an update to its competitive bidding rules that would align this rule with the Small Business Act.
Learn More📡New Matching Program for Lifeline and ACP Eligibility Verification
In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended ("Privacy Act"), this document announces a new computer matching program the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC" or "Commission" or "Agency") and the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) will conduct with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The purpose of this matching program is to verify the eligibility of applicants to and subscribers of Lifeline, and the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), both of which are administered by USAC under the direction of the FCC. More information about these programs is provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.
Learn More📡FCC Announces New Computer Matching Program for Lifeline Eligibility
In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended ("Privacy Act"), this document announces the re-establishment of a computer matching program that the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC" or "Commission" or "Agency") and the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) will conduct with the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Welfare and Supportive Services ("Nevada"). The purpose of this matching program is to verify the eligibility of applicants to and subscribers of the Universal Service Fund (USF) Lifeline program, which is administered by USAC under the direction of the FCC. More information about this program is provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.
Learn More🚀FCC's New Spectrum Allocation for Commercial Space Launch Operations
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) implements certain provisions of the Launch Communications Act (LCA) enacted September 26, 2024, governing the authorization and facilitation of commercial space operations in the 2025-2110 MHz, 2200- 2290 MHz, and 2360-2395 MHz bands (collectively, the LCA bands). To meet this statutory mandate, the Commission builds upon its action in the September 2023 Second Report and Order which, among other things, reallocated the 2025-2110 MHz and 2200-2290 MHz bands for non-Federal Space Operation on a secondary basis and adopted, for these two bands, space launch licensing framework. Specifically, the Commission reallocates the 2360-2395 MHz band on a secondary basis for Space Operation. Next, the Commission incorporates the 2360-2395 MHz band into its existing part 26 space launch regulatory framework that includes, for example, space launch licensing and frequency coordination rules. In order to protect critical Federal and non- Federal flight testing operations, we incorporate into our certain technical rules from our current. Finally, the Commission confirms that the specific licensing, registration, frequency coordination, and frequency coordinator selection procedures, to be refined by the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau or WTB) on delegated authority, will apply to the LCA bands.
Learn More📡Changes in Utility Broadband Alliance Membership Notice
The Department of Justice issues a notice regarding membership changes in the Utility Broadband Alliance, Inc. under the National Cooperative Research and Production Act. The notice involves the addition of several companies to the alliance, while others have withdrawn, highlighting shifts in the strategic partnerships within the telecommunications sector.
Learn More📻FCC Allocates FM Channel 260C0 to Ethete, Wyoming
This document amends the Table of FM Allotments, of the Federal Communications Commission's (Commission) rules, by allotting FM Channel 260C0 at Ethete, Wyoming, as a Tribal Allotment. The staff engineering analysis indicates that Channel 260C0 can be allotted to Ethete, Wyoming, consistent with the minimum distance separation requirements of the Commission's rules, with a site restriction of 42 km (26 miles) north of the community. The reference coordinates are 43- 22-25 NL and 108-36-28 WL.
Learn More📡WRC Advisory Committee Holds Third Meeting on April 15, 2025
This notice advises interested persons that the third meeting of the World Radiocommunication Conference Advisory Committee (WRC Advisory Committee) will be held on April 15, 2025 at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This third meeting of the WRC Advisory Committee will consider status reports and recommendations from its Informal Working Groups (IWG) concerning preparation for the 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-27). At the third meeting, the WRC Advisory Committee will continue its work to finalize the Recommendations for WRC-27 Agenda Items that do not have yet a WRC Advisory Committee Recommendation. This meeting is open to the public. The meeting will be broadcast live with open captioning over the internet from the FCC Live web page at www.fcc.gov/live. There will be audience participation available; send live questions to [email protected] during this meeting. The Commission's WRC-27 website (www.fcc.gov/wrc-27) contains the latest updated information and agendas on all scheduled meetings and Advisory Committee matters. Comments may be presented at the Advisory Committee meeting or in advance of the meeting by email to: [email protected].
Learn More📶New FCC Rules Expand 6 GHz Band for Unlicensed Device Use
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) expands unlicensed very low power (VLP) device operation to the entire 6 gigahertz (GHz) band (5.925-7.125 megahertz (MHz)). The VLP devices will operate with the same power levels and other technical and operational requirements that apply to VLP devices in the U-NII-5 (5.925-6.425 MHz) and U-NII-7(6.525-6.875 MHz) portions of the 6 GHz band. These technical and operational requirements are designed to prevent the licensed services that operate in the 6 GHz band from experiencing harmful interference. The Commission's actions will provide additional spectrum for high-throughput, low latency operations for these versatile portable devices.
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