INCOMPAS News -- September 14, 2026

Vol. 22, No. 37

September 14, 2026

INCOMPAS Files Comments
on FCC Covered List and

Equipment Authorization Proposals

INCOMPAS filed comments with the FCC in response to its Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking examining additional steps to strengthen the equipment authorization program against national security risks to the communications supply chain.

"INCOMPAS members build and operate the communications networks, cloud facilities and data centers that provide the physical foundation for American leadership in artificial intelligence, and delays in obtaining necessary equipment or unnecessary duplication in authorization procedures can slow infrastructure construction and make it harder for American companies to compete at the pace the global AI race demands. INCOMPAS shares the Commission's commitment to national security and secure communications supply chains, but broad or ambiguous rules can exclude trusted products and divert resources away from infrastructure deployment without materially improving security," said Staci L. Pies, INCOMPAS senior vice president of Government Relations and Policy.

"American technological leadership and national security are mutually reinforcing. The most durable supply chain protections are those that rest on the defined process Congress established, which specify national security sources determine the risks that support Covered List entries. Adhering to that process preserves the ability of American companies to build the infrastructure on which the nation's economic and security interests increasingly depend. INCOMPAS looks forward to continuing to work with the Commission on strengthening the security of the nation's communications supply chain and the adoption of our recommendations."

In its filing, INCOMPAS highlighted several key points:

Modern communications and computing equipment rely on complex, multi-tiered supply chains. Broad or ambiguous rules risk excluding trusted products and exposing equipment-authorization applicants to liability for information they cannot independently verify.
Congress established a defined process for addressing supply chain risks: Designated national security sources make the determinations supporting Covered List entries while directing the Commission to implement, not expand, these determinations, through the equipment authorization process.
The Commission’s definition of “produced by” should remain closely tied to the underlying national security determination and should not extend the Covered List prohibition beyond the scope of that determination.
Section 302(a) of the Communications Act authorizes rules addressing the interference potential of radiofrequency devices. That authority can support software requirements tied to RF compliance, but it does not, by its terms, create general authority to regulate the provenance of every component incorporated into a device.

Learn the Path to IP Modernization During September 30 TNS Webinar

For communications service providers (CSPs), the sunset of legacy switching isn't just a maintenance headache – it's a forcing function. The networks built to support decades of TDM traffic are reaching a natural limit, and the CSPs that treat that limit as an opportunity, rather than a deadline, are the ones positioning themselves for long-term success.

Join us for the webinar Rethinking the Network: A CSP's Practical Path to IP Modernization as Kyle Trullinger, product manager for Voice Services, Communications Market at TNS, breaks down what a well-planned IP transition actually looks like on the ground, including:

How to sequence the move away from aging, multi-vendor infrastructure without interrupting service
What carrier-grade security, high availability and dedicated resources should mean in practice when evaluating cloud-based architecture
How freed-up technical staff can be redirected toward the services customers are asking for, such as advanced voice, unified communications and cloud-based collaboration.

You'll also hear about the often-overlooked aspects of modernization, including maintaining trusted communications throughout the transition, addressing evolving regulatory requirements and building a flexible network foundation that simplifies operations, improves agility and supports long-term service innovation.

Leave with a practical framework for planning your own transition from TDM to IP, assessing priorities and managing risk.

Wednesday, September 30 | 1 p.m. ET

Advanced registration required.

Can't attend?

High-Impact Networking Awaits at The 2026 INCOMPAS Show

At The 2026 INCOMPAS Show – November 1-3 in Nashville – the conversations that move your business forward won’t just happen in scheduled meetings. They’ll spark over cocktails and country music, during impromptu chats at happy hour and in the moments between high‑impact sessions.

Whether you’re exploring new partnerships, strengthening existing relationships, or staying visible in a fast‑moving market, these moments matter, so carve out time to join us for nightly networking events, grab a specialty coffee at the INCOMPAS Bar throughout the day, or meet new partners over complimentary breakfast and lunch.

Our daily networking events include:

Boots Bites & Bandwidth Welcome Reception

Sunday, November 1 | 5:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m.

Kick off The 2026 INCOMPAS Show in Music City style – with a little twang and a lot of connections. Boots, Bites & Bandwidth brings attendees together to enjoy Nashville hospitality, Southern comfort food and local libations in a casual, high-energy atmosphere that turns first handshakes into lasting partnerships. Come ready to kick up your boots and plug into everything the show has to offer.

Opening Night Reception: Turn Up the Connections

Monday, November 2 | 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

Get ready to amplify your networking and spark new conversations during our opening night reception. Meet the exhibitors shaping what’s next in communications, reconnect with industry colleagues at the INCOMPAS Bar and discover new opportunities to grow your business over food and drinks. If you’re looking to strike the right chord with a new connection, strengthen an existing relationship or simply get into the rhythm of the show, this is the place to be.

High‑Speed Honky Tonk: The Final Download Closing Party

Tuesday, November 3 | 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

As The 2026 INCOMPAS Show hits the last stretch, the energy doesn’t slow – it spikes. High Speed Honky Tonk: The Final Download closing party at Barlines in the Omni. Enjoy Southern BBQ, live music, refreshing drinks, and plenty of opportunities to celebrate with colleagues and new connections before everyone heads home.

Don’t miss conversations that aren’t on the agenda...

Receptions and parties, as well as complimentary breakfast, lunch and happy hours are open to all registered attendees.

Pies to Speak at Tarana Connecting Communities Summit

This Thursday, Staci Pies, INCOMPAS senior vice president of Government Relations and Policy, will be a featured speaker at the Tarana Connecting Communities Summit.

She will join a panel entitled "Spectrum: Sharing is Caring!" The panel will focus on CBRS "The Innovation Band," which launched just six years ago and has been an incredible success, though not everyone agrees. Staci and other panelists will discuss what CBRS has accomplished, what can be strengthened and whether increased power levels needed, or is it power politics?

Letter Urges Confirmation of Thuman Severs to FCC

INCOMPAS joined 11 other associations in a letter to Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) to express support of the nomination of Danielle Thumann Severs to serve as an FCC commissioner. The organizations urged the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation to report her nomination favorably so the full Senate can swiftly confirm her.

House to Vote on Ratepayer Protection Act

The House of Represetatives is expected vote this week on the bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act (H.R. 9340), which will advance a framework that pairs AI infrastructure growth with consumer affordability.

The bill would require state utility commissions to consider standards ensuring that data centers and other large-load customers cover the incremental generation, transmission and distribution costs associated with serving their facilities, rather than shifting those costs to households and small businesses. Lawmakers will consider the bill on suspension, requiring two-thirds voting majority to pass.

FCC Issues Tentative Agenda for September Open Meeting

The FCC issued a tentative agenda for its September 30 open meeting, where it will consider:

Modernizing the Commission's National Environmental Policy Act Rules – A report and order and FNPRM to overhaul the FCC’s outdated National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) rules, including clarifying the scope of FCC actions subject to environmental review and streamline and expedite the review process to ensure NEPA serves as a tool for informed decision-making rather than a barrier to investment, innovation and connectivity.
Enhancing the Ability of Consumers to Control Which Calls that They Wish to Receive – A report and order and FNPRM modernizing its Telephone Consumer Protection Act rules to ensure consumers have easily accessible ways to opt out of robocalls while streamlining callers’ ability to process consent revocation requests.
Unlocking Satellite Spectrum Abundance – A report and order and order of proposed modification and FNPRMs that would increase the amount of spectrum available to support innovation in the American space economy.
Unleashing the Power of Unlicensed UWB Devices – An NPRM that would modernize the rules for unlicensed ultrawideband devices, which operate under Part 15 of the FCC's rules and support a wide variety of applications, and would also create a new UWB device category for emerging applications like AI-enabled sensing.
Modernizing the 911 Framework – An NOI exploring modernization of the 911 framework to ensure the public can continue to effectively and reliably access emergency services in this era of rapid technological change.

INCOMPAS | www.incompas.org