The Federal Communications Commission released the funding structure for its Enhanced Alternative Connect America Model (A-CAM) program. With the new offer, existing A-CAM program carriers and carriers that are still receiving legacy support will be funded for the deployment of voice and broadband-capable networks in their operating regions. NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association's Executive Vice President, Mike Romano, said that as a result of the FCC’s new offers, NTCA members have more options to deliver on a mission of universal connectivity. Meanwhile, NCTA – The Internet & Television Association has taken a staunch position against extending the A-CAM program. NCTA, Comcast, Charter, and Cox argued that operators “have made significant investments” in rural expansions and that “expanding the ACAM programs by awarding incumbent local exchange carriers a sole-source contract, with no competitive bidding process, would be a poor policy choice.”

Winning funding in the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) rural broadband program will be “trickier than we were hoping for,” said Charter CEO Chris Winfrey. “We didn’t get all the guidelines and [National Telecommunications and Information Administration] instructions that we were hoping for,” Winfrey said. Instead, some of the guidelines that have been established are “unhelpful to private capital.” Although Winfrey didn’t elaborate, this may have been a reference to rules that favor public/private partnerships.

Some Louisiana communities have never had high-speed, affordable internet access, but thanks to REV Business and the GUMBO grant program, these areas are finally getting connected. REV was established in 2020 as a combination of former telecommunications companies RTC, EATEL, and Vision Communications. With 2,790 miles of fiber and more than 60,000 customers, REV serves multiple parishes in south Louisiana including parts of Lafourche, Terrebonne, St. James, St. John the Baptist, Ascension, Livingston, and East Baton Rouge. REV is just one of the many companies throughout Louisiana taking the initiative to connect unserved communities with high-speed internet. The company's project in Lafourche Parish is complete, and soon many other projects throughout the state will bring drastic internet improvements.

T-Mobile won thousands of 2.5GHz spectrum licenses around the US in a Federal Communications Commission auction that ended in 2022. But the FCC would face "criminal penalties" if it gave T-Mobile its 2.5GHz license winnings. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel explained that the FCC's "auction authority" expired in March and so far has not been renewed by Congress, which means the agency no longer has the regulatory authority to issue spectrum licenses. Additionally, T-Mobile is enmeshed in an increasingly litigious fight with investment company WCO, and it's battling Dish Network over the fate of some of its 800MHz licenses. Further, looming over the entire situation is a highly anticipated report from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration that could have a massive impact on the future of spectrum sharing in the 3100-3450MHz spectrum band.

Mobile operators are spending less on their 5G buildouts, but that doesn’t mean that the 5G deployment phase is over. Executives at the big-three tower companies —American Tower, Crown Castle, and SBA Communications — said that the tower leasing business is still thriving because mobile operators are still expanding their 5G networks, particularly in their mid-band spectrum, where much of the 5G traffic will be carried. Along with that mid-band expansion, operators are starting to densify their networks with small cells, particularly in urban areas while filling in coverage gaps throughout the network. Jay Brown, President and CEO of Crown Castle, said that, unlike previous upgrade cycles, all big-three operators started deploying 5G simultaneously, which is why 2022's tower leasing activity was much larger than normal. However, American Tower CFO Rod Smith and Jay Brown noted that they are anticipating 5G data traffic to surge in the coming years, leading both to expect demand for tower space to accelerate.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking information on behalf of the US Department of Commerce and the US Government to support the development of an implementation plan for the US Government National Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technology (USG NSSCET). The USG NSSCET is intended to support and complement existing private sector-led activities and plans, including the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) United States Standards Strategy (USSS), with a focus on critical and emerging technology(ies) (CET). To inform the USG NSSCET implementation, including how to best partner with relevant stakeholders, NIST is requesting information that will support the identification and prioritization of key activities that will optimize the USG NSSCET implementation and further enhance the US Government’s ability to support a private sector-led, open, consensus-based international standards system, to which the US Government is an active stakeholder and participant. CET includes Communication and Networking Technologies; Semiconductors and Microelectronics; Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning; Digital Identity Infrastructure; Automated and Connected Infrastructure; Automated, Connected, and Electrified Transportation; and Cybersecurity and Privacy.

The Senate confirmed Anna Gomez to the Federal Communications Commission, breaking the deadlock at the agency that has lasted the entirety of the Biden presidency. The vote in favor was 55-43. Gomez’s confirmation comes after a protracted battle to confirm Biden’s initial pick for the commissioner seat, Gigi Sohn. As senators remained split on Sohn's confirmation, the FCC was left in a 2-2 deadlock of Republican and Democratic commissioners, limiting its agenda to items that both sides could agree on. With the arrival of Gomez, an attorney who’s previously worked in several positions at the FCC and in the private sector, the agency has the opportunity to pursue actions without the support of the Republican commissioners. That could include a push to return to net neutrality rules, which seek to prevent internet service providers from slowing or blocking service for select websites, for which President Joe Biden has voiced his support for. Still, the late confirmation and fast-approaching 2024 elections could complicate such efforts.

Reaction to Gomez Confirmation  |  Summary at Benton.org  |  Kevin Taglang  |  Benton Institute for Broadband & Society