FCC Issues Tentative Agenda for June Open Meeting

The FCC issued a tentative agenda for its June 6, 2024, open meeting, where it will consider:

• Reporting on Border Gateway Protocol Risk Mitigation Progress – An NPRM to increase the security of the information routed across the internet and promote national security by requiring broadband providers to report on their progress in addressing vulnerabilities in the Border Gateway Protocol.
• Establishing a Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program – A Report and Order that would establish the Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program and provide up to $200 million in USF support available to eligible schools and libraries, over a three-year period, to defray the costs of eligible cybersecurity services and equipment and help the FCC evaluate the use of the USF to support these services and equipment.
• Letters of Credit for Recipients of High-Cost Competitive Bidding Support – An NPRM that would seek comment on changes to the rules for letters of credit required for recipients of high-cost support authorized through a competitive process.
• Amendment of the Commission’s Rules to Advance the Low Power Television, TV Translator and Class A Television Service – An NPRM regarding updates and amendments to the Commission’s rules to address advances in the LPTV Service.

FCC Chairwoman Launches Spectrum Steering Team

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced the establishment of the Spectrum Steering Team, which will lead the FCC’s efforts to develop and implement forward-looking spectrum policies and execute the National Spectrum Strategy. The Spectrum Steering Team brings together policy experts, economists and engineers from across the FCC – including the Office of Economics and Analytics, Office of Engineering and Technology, Space Bureau, and Wireless Telecommunications Bureau – to drive spectrum policy and planning efforts that will ensure U.S. wireless leadership.

At its outset, the Spectrum Steering Team will coordinate the FCC’s National Spectrum Strategy implementation efforts – including active participation in the in-depth study of 2,786 megahertz of spectrum for repurposing across key bands – and collaborate with the NTIA, federal agencies and stakeholders. The Spectrum Steering Team will be seeking input from stakeholders on how the FCC can best support the National Spectrum Strategy implementation efforts.

The Spectrum Steering Team will be co-led by Susan Mort, Deputy Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, and Ira Keltz, Deputy Chief of the Office of Engineering and Technology. Krista Witanowski, legal advisor in OET, will serve as Chief of Staff. In addition to the work of the Spectrum Steering Team, FCC leadership and staff will continue to participate as part of Interagency Spectrum Advisory Council (ISAC), which serves as the principal interagency forum for senior agency officials to advise NTIA on spectrum policy matters. Requests for meetings with the Spectrum Steering Team can be sent to sst@fcc.gov.

NTIA Seeks to Fund Innovation in Software-Defined Radio

NTIA’s new round of funding from the $1.5 billion Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund presents a unique opportunity to advance spectrum-sensing technology, in turn potentially driving more efficient use of airwaves for the public and private sectors.

Spectrum sharing is an effective way to increase commercial access to spectrum resources while protecting and enhancing government operations. Spectrum-sensing technology incorporated into a sharing system or framework could protect incumbent operators while making more spectrum available for other beneficial uses. These sensor technologies would be able to detect and identify government radio signals among all of the various radio signals and avoid interfering with them. 

One objective of this funding opportunity’s second focus area is to propel the development of advanced Software Defined Radio (SDR) technology that meets the needs of modern mobile networks. Projects funded under this initiative will target several critical advancements:

• Spectrum Sharing: Incorporate enhanced spectrum sensing into SDR platforms that, among other things, could protect incumbent government operations, promoting safe and efficient use of shared spectrum bands.
• Ease-of-Programmability: Increase programmability of SDR systems, allowing modular access to all functional subsystems.
• Energy Efficiency and Spectrum Agility: Develop wideband SDR solutions that are energy-efficient and spectrum-agile, including potential support for upper mid-band spectrum in the 7 GHz and 24 GHz bands.
• Carrier Aggregation: Create single-radio SDR solutions capable of carrier aggregation.
• Plug-and-Play Capabilities: Innovate high-powered, multi-band plug-and-play daughterboards for broader application.

The Innovation Fund has already distributed over $140 million through 17 different awards from the first round of funding. These awards will flow through network operators, universities and non-profit entities to fuel advances in disaggregated networks, network security, AI in propagation and interference modeling, and more.

NTIA’s second Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will award up to $420 million for projects that drive commercialization and innovation in open radio units. This round presents another opportunity for forward-thinking innovators to change the telecommunications landscape.

Interested spectrum sharing innovators should:

• Visit NTIA’s website to understand the detailed application guidelines
• Prepare a proposal demonstrating how your spectrum-sensing project aligns with the objectives for SDR technology
• Submit your application via the designated portal by July 10.