NTIA, DOD Launch Competition to Accelerate Open RAN Adoption |
The NTIA announced the launch of the 2023 5G Challenge in collaboration with the Department of Defense (DoD), a $7 million prize competition conducted by NTIA’s Institute for Telecommunication Sciences. The competition aims to accelerate the adoption and development of an open, interoperable, secure, multi-vendor 5G ecosystem. Such an ecosystem will spur a more competitive and diverse telecommunications supply chain, drive down costs for consumers and network operators, and bolster U.S. leadership in the wireless sector.
The challenge is part of NTIA’s support of the Department of Defense’s 5G to NextG Initiative. Contestants will create 5G equipment prototypes and then test to see if their subsystems can connect to other contestant’s equipment. Currently, this type of plug-and-play operation does not exist in the marketplace.
Applications are now open and must be submitted via email to 5gchallenge@ntia.gov by 7 p.m. ET on March 1, 2023. The largest prize of $3 million will go to the top performing contestants that work together to demonstrate network mobility.
Interested applicants are encouraged to attend an informational webinar on Thursday, February 9. 5G Challenge organizers will be presenting a program overview and answering questions. RSVP for the webinar here.
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FCC Chairwoman Responds to Members on Pole Attachments | FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel sent letters to Reps. Troy Balderson (R-Ohio), Mike Carey (R-Ohio) and David Joyce (R-Ohio) in response to their letters on pole attachments. Rosenworcel said in 2022 the FCC issued a second FNPRM on questions concerning the allocation of pole replacement costs between utilities and attachers. She said FCC staff is reviewing the record in this proceeding and will take into consideration the issues and concerns presented by all stakeholders. | | |
FCC Wireline Bureau Updates Lists of Areas Deemed
Competitive Per Business Data Services Market Tests
| The Wireline Competition Bureau issued a public notice releasing updated lists of areas served by price cap ILECs and rate-of-return ILECs deemed competitive pursuant to the competitive market tests adopted in the 2017 price cap business data services (BDS) order and 2018 rate-of-return BDS order. The results attached to this public notice as Appendices A and B are based on the FCC’s most recent Form 477 data and further supplement the previous lists the bureau released. | | |
USAC Releases National Verifier Annual Report | USAC released its National Verifier annual report and data, which provides a summary of the National Verifier and its functionality, and outlines how it meets the FCC’s key objectives to protect against waste, fraud and abuse. It also provided an update on the use and performance of the National Verifier, including a discussion of system enhancements for the Lifeline Program and Affordable Connectivity Program. | | |
9th Circuit Reverses District Court Order on California LifeLine | The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a memorandum reversing a California district court order’s granting the National Lifeline Association’s motion for judgment on the pleadings in an appeal of a 2020 California PUC requirement for wireless providers participating in the state’s LifeLine Program to offer LifeLine service at no charge to subscribers. The court ruled the $0 copay requirement for certain affordable plans is not rate regulation preempted by Section 332(c)(3)(A), because participation in California LifeLine is voluntary and service providers remain free to opt out and charge whatever rates they deem appropriate. The court remanded the case to the district court. | | |
House Commerce Committee Holds Hearing on Advancing American Innovation in Next- Gen Satellite Communication |
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chair Bob Latta (R-Oh.) held a legislative hearing on Thursday to discuss solutions to unleash American innovation in next generation satellite communications. The hearing was titled “Liftoff: Unleashing Innovation in Satellite Communications Technologies.”
Testifying witnesses included:
- Tom Stroup, President, Satellite Industry Association
- Julie Zoller, Head of Global Regulatory Affairs, Project Kuiper at Amazon
- Jennifer Manner, Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, EchoStar Corporation
- Margo Deckard, Co-Founder and COO, Lynk Global, Inc.
- Kari Bingen, Director, Aerospace Security Project and Senior Fellow, InternationalSecurity Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies
Legislation that was considered during the hearing included:
The hearing can be viewed online.
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New Congressional Antitrust Caucus Formed |
Reps. Ken Buck (R-CO) and David Cicilline (D-RI) announced the formation of the Congressional Antitrust Caucus, which will be committed to holding Big Tech and monopolies accountable, promoting healthy competition in the economy, and advocating for hardworking and law-abiding consumers and business owners.
The bipartisan Congressional Antitrust Caucus will:
- Focus on having hearings with American innovators that allegedly have been harmed by Big Tech’s practices
- Continue pushing legislation that is in line with the Department of Justice Antitrust Division efforts, including the bipartisan and bicameral Competition and Transparency in Digital Advertising Act
- Serve as a brain trust of those who oppose monopolies in the free market
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Sen. McConnell Announces Republican Committee Assignments |
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced the Senate Republican Conference Committee Assignments for the 118th Congress. The assignments have been ratified by the Republican Conference and are expected to be ratified by full Senate soon.
Commerce Committee assignments include Ted Cruz (TX, Ranking Member), John Thune (SD, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband), Roger Wicker (MS), Deb Fischer (NE), Jerry Moran (KS), Dan Sullivan (AK), Marsha Blackburn (TN), Todd Young (IN), Ted Budd (NC), Eric Schmitt (MO), J.D. Vance (OH), Shelley Moore Capito (WV) and Cynthia Lummis (WY).
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Senators Reintroduce Bill to Increase Rural Broadband Access |
Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), ranking member and chairman, respectively, of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media and Broadband, and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Deb Fischer (R-NE) reintroduced the Rural Internet Improvement Act. This bipartisan legislation would streamline and bolster U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development broadband programs and ensure that their funding is being targeted to rural areas that need it the most. Thune, Luján, Klobuchar and Fischer are all members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.
The Rural Internet Improvement Act would:
- Streamline USDA’s broadband authorities by merging and codifying the popular Rural e-Connectivity Pilot Program (ReConnect) with USDA’s traditional broadband loan and grant program
- Ensure ReConnect funding is going to areas most in need of reliable broadband service by limiting funding to areas where at least 90% of households lack access to broadband service
- Enhance the participation of all types of broadband providers in the ReConnect Program by removing unnecessary barriers
- Increase transparency by improving the challenge process in the ReConnect Program;
- Improve the coordination between USDA and the FCC on broadband programs
- Require USDA to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the FCC and NTIA to facilitate outreach to rural residents and businesses of available federal programs that promote broadband access, broadband affordability and broadband inclusion.
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