NTIA Launches $1.8 Billion Innovation Fund |
Last week, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced the formal launch of the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund, which will invest $1.5 billion in the development of open and interoperable networks. Funded by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, this historic investment is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, aiming to drive wireless innovation, foster competition, and strengthen supply chain resilience. By demonstrating the viability of new, open-architecture approaches to wireless networks, this initial round of funding will help to ensure that the future of 5G and next-gen wireless technology is built by the U.S. and its global allies and partners –not vendors from nations that threaten our national security.
The Innovation Fund’s first Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) follows extensive public participation via a formal Request for Comment and NTIA’s January listening session, which drew nearly 200 attendees. Industry and academic representatives provided nearly 90 public comments to strengthen the Innovation Fund and ensure that it achieves its mission of opening 5G and future-gen wireless markets to innovation and entrepreneurship in the U.S., as well as by our partners and allies.
In line with feedback received through these processes, NTIA’s first NOFO aims to expand and improve testing to demonstrate the viability of new approaches to wireless like open radio access networks (Open RAN) and remove barriers to adoption. NTIA anticipates it will award up to $140.5 million during this first tranche of grants.
The first round of awards will provide for a range of R&D and testing activities in this critical field, including:
- Expanding industry-accepted testing and evaluation (T&E) activities to assess and facilitate the interoperability, performance, and/or security of open and interoperable, standards-based 5G radio access networks; and
- Developing new or improved testing methodologies to test, evaluate and validate the interoperability, performance, and/or security of these networks, including their component parts.
Later NOFOs will build upon the foundational work of this first NOFO, creating an ecosystem for wireless innovation built by the U.S. and its global allies.
The NOFO kicks off the application window for funding, with applications due on June 2nd. NTIA will begin to award the first grants in August 2023 and encourages all those interested to apply for funding. For more information, visit the Fund NOFO website.
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Capital Projects Fund Announces $540 Million Award to California |
On April 13, 2023, the Capital Projects Fund announced the award of $540.2 million to California to increase access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet to 127,000 households and businesses. The state plan will support broadband infrastructure designed, upon project completion, to deliver reliable internet service that meets or exceeds symmetrical download and upload speeds of 100 megabits per second (Mbps), speeds that are needed for a household with multiple users to simultaneously access the internet to telework and access education and health monitoring.
In accordance with Treasury’s guidance, each state plan requires all service providers to participate in the FCC's new Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The ACP helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare, and more by providing a discount of up to $30 per month. The FCC estimates that about 48 million families are eligible for the program — nearly 40% of US households.
More information about the award can be found in the award fact sheet.
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FTC Fights Illegal Robocalls Originating Overseas |
To stop these illegal overseas robocalls calls, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has implemented Project Point of No Entry (PoNE), targeting “point of entry” or “gateway” Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service providers and warning they must work to keep illegal robocalls out of the country.
Through Project PoNE, the FTC is disrupting foreign-based scammers and imposters responsible for blasting U.S. consumers with annoying and unwanted calls. Through Project PoNE, the FTC:
- Identifies point of entry VoIP service providers that are routing or transmitting illegal call traffic
- Demands they stop doing so and warns their conduct may violate the Telemarketing Sales Rule
- Monitors them to pursue recalcitrant providers, including by opening law enforcement investigations and filing lawsuits when appropriate.
The FTC can seek civil penalties and court injunctions to stop TSR violations. It can also seek money to refund to consumers who were defrauded via illegal telemarketing calls. The FTC coordinates directly with the agency’s federal and state partners, which support the program and pursue their own actions to fight illegal telemarketing robocalls.
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FCC Announces International Affairs and Space Bureau Staff |
The FCC officially launched its new Space Bureau and Office of International Affairs. At a kickoff event at the agency headquarters, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced key leadership appointments:
- Julie Kearney as Chief of the Space Bureau
- Ethan Lucarelli as Chief of the Office of International Affairs
- Ronald Repasi as Chief of the Office of Engineering and Technology,
- Joel Taubenblatt as Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
“The launch of these two fundamentally important Commission departments will succeed because of the FCC’s outstanding staff,” said Chairwoman Rosenworcel. “These hardworking, talented professionals interface with our international counterparts, modernize our satellite and orbital debris rules, review license requests for undersea cables upon which international interconnectivity relies, and much more. I thank them for their service and thank all those across the agency that worked to make this reorganization a reality.”
Once the reorganization is complete, the agency’s International Bureau will become two separate, cooperative units within the agency.
The Space Bureau will promote a competitive and innovative global communications marketplace by leading policy and licensing matters related to satellite and space-based communications and activities. Among its responsibilities, the Bureau will lead complex policy analysis and rulemakings; authorize satellite and earth station systems used for space-based services; streamline regulatory processes to provide maximum flexibility for operators to meet customer needs; and foster the efficient use of scarce spectrum and orbital resources. The Bureau will also serve as the FCC’s focal point for coordination with other U.S. government agencies on matters of space policy and governance, and collaborate with the Office of International Affairs for consultations with other countries, international and multilateral organizations, and foreign government officials that involve satellite and space policy matters.
The Office of International Affairs (OIA) will be responsible for the FCC's engagement of foreign and international regulatory authorities, including multilateral and regional organizations. OIA will also facilitate through rulemaking and licensing the FCC's development of policies regarding international telecommunications facilities and services as well as submarine cables, and advise the FCC on foreign ownership issues. In undertaking these functions, OIA will implement FCC's policies to facilitate competition and foreign investment in U.S. international telecommunications markets while ensuring, in consultation with relevant federal partners, that national security, law enforcement, foreign policy, and trade policy concerns are addressed. OIA also will be responsible for intergovernmental leadership, negotiation, and international and inter-agency representational functions. OIA will oversee and coordinate the FCC’s global participation in international and multilateral conferences, regional organizations, cross-border negotiations and international standard setting efforts. OIA will also oversee bilateral meetings with other countries and foreign government officials.
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