Vol. 17, No. 2
January 11, 2021
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Cloud Communications Alliance Joins as Affiliate Member
INCOMPAS today welcomed the Cloud Communications Alliance (CCA) as an affiliate member.

“With a new administration entering the White House and important issues teed up on Capitol Hill and at the Federal Communications Commission, it is vital that like-minded organizations collaborate and work to advance a pro-competition agenda,” said INCOMPAS CEO Chip Pickering. “INCOMPAS welcomes CCA as our newest affiliate member and we look forward to working with the alliance and its members toward our common goals.”

“The Cloud Communications Alliance is honored to support INCOMPAS as an affiliate member,” said CCA President Joe Marion. “We look forward to adding value to the members of both organizations by working with INCOMPAS and addition CCA’s voice on policy matters that impact our respective members.”

INCOMPAS affiliate members are comprised of non-profit and not-for-profit organizations that share the INCOMPAS commitment to ensuring competition in all aspects of the communications sector and seek to work together on key policy advocacy initiatives.
INCOMPAS Welcomes Update to Over-the-Air Reception Device Rules for Fixed Wireless Broadband Service
The FCC announced last week an update to its over-the-air reception device (OTARD) rule that puts fixed wireless broadband-only service providers “on similar competitive footing with other broadband service providers” by expanding the rule to include hub and relay wireless antennas.

“INCOMPAS welcomes and supports FCC action on updating the OTARD rules that will benefit consumers by enabling more competitive broadband," said INCOMPAS Chief Advocate and General Counsel Angie Kronenberg. “Our member companies bring competition and innovation to the broadband marketplace, including solutions that extend beyond the reach of traditional fixed options, and into many rural and underserved locations. We believe all Americans must have access to broadband connectivity and this update to the OTARD rules will help achieve that goal.”
FCC to Hold Open Meeting on January 13
The FCC issued the agenda for this month's open meeting, which will take place at 10:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, January 13. Among the items on the agenda are:

  • A public notice announcing the first round of selections for the $100 million Connected Care pilot program to provide USF support for healthcare providers making connected care services available directly to patients

  • An NPRM to allow terrestrial flexible use in the 12 GHz band without causing harmful interference to incumbent licensees; and a public notice seeking comment on competitive bidding procedures for Auction 108, an auction for flexible-use, geographic overlay licenses for counties with white spaces in the 2.5 GHz band.

Additionally, bureau, office and task force leaders will summarize the work their teams have done over the last four years in a series of presentations.

The meeting can be viewed online at www.fcc.gov/live.
Unbundling, Resale Regulation Report and Order Effective Feb. 8
The Report and Order that modernized the FCC’s unbundling and resale regulations was published in the Federal Register last week. It will become effective on February 8, with transition timelines starting on this date.

The FCC, among other things, eliminated unbundling requirements, subject to transition periods, for:

  • Enterprise-grade DS1 and DS3 loops where there is evidence of actual and potential competition
  • Broadband-capable DS0 loops and subloops in the most densely populated areas; operations support systems nationwide except for the purposes of managing remaining UNEs
  • Number portability
  • Interconnection 
  • Voice-grade narrowband loops, multi-unit premises subloops and network interface devices nationwide.