NEBSA 2021 Annual Virtual Conference Closes
Do You Have Potential Regulatory Issues Lurking In Your Future?
Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel Named as FCC Acting Chairwoman
NEBSA 2021 Conference Keynote Speaker Announced
FCC Seeks Comment on EBS White Space Auction Procedures
FCC Approves EBS Spectrum for Tribal Areas
FCC Chairman Announces Departure
T-Mobile Uses 2.5 GHz Spectrum for Rapid 5G Expansion
Find Your Path - 2021 NEBSA Annual Virtual Conference
2.5 GHz Spectrum Allows for T-Mobile's Rapid Expansion of 5G
2.5 GHz Rural Tribal Priority Window Extended by FCC
Clark County School District Provides 48,000 Computers to Promote Online Learning
50 Million Dollars In CARES Act Targeted by FCC and IMLS to Address Digital Divide
FCC Chairman Announces Plan for $200 Million Covid-19 Telehealth Program
FCC Grants Waiver to Hawaii Department of Hawaiian Homelands
FCC Chairman Pai Launches Keep Americans Connected Pledge
Eric Smith Elected as New Chair of NEBSA by Board of Directors
FCC Summit On 5G Cancelled Due To Coronavirus
FCC Launches Rural Tribal Window Webpage
NEBSA Seeking Input Regarding Member Interests
FCC Chair Announces Major Changes to EBS
EBS Rural Benefits in Michigan Featured on National Public Radio
The FCC has just posted a “draft” decision in the rulemaking on EBS, and it expects to adopt the decision during its monthly meeting on July 10, 2019. The draft decision is available here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-358065A1.pdf.
NEBSA is pleased that the draft decision carefully protects existing EBS licenses and their service areas. It confirms that no disruption will occur to existing lease agreements. It also retains current renewal standards for existing EBS licenses which can be satisfied with either a showing of reasonable deployment and coverage or educational use.
NEBSA is disappointed, however, that the FCC does not intend to expand existing EBS licensed service areas to county boundaries, as we had requested. The draft decision also eliminates the educational eligibility standards for holding EBS licenses and removes the minimum educational use requirements. Finally, it does not contemplate a special filing window for new educational applicants. (Although the FCC order does contemplate a priority filing window for rural Native American tribal areas.) NEBSA had urged the FCC to keep “education” in EBS licensing by offering new educators an opportunity to obtain licenses through a process other than auctions, and by maintaining eligibility and educational use rules.
NEBSA will continue to explore options to affect the decision between now and the FCC meeting on July 10, and it plans to provide detailed information on the decision, and how EBS licensees can protect their interests, following the FCC’s action.