January 6, 2023

NATE Responds to Senator Thune’s Broadband Oversight Inquiry

On Thursday, January 5, NATE responded to Sen. John Thune’s (R-SD) national broadband oversight inquiry. NATE’s response highlighted key association issues related to the deployment of broadband funds, including technology-neutral approaches to fund deployment, ensuring that “Buy America” provisions do not unduly burden NATE’s members, and concerns about the fund challenge process. You can read NATE’s response here.

NATE Signs On to Industry Letter on BEAD EHCT Provision

On Tuesday, December 20, NATE, and other key associations sent a letter to all 50 state broadband offices highlighting concerns over the Extremely High-Cost Threshold (EHCT) provision within the BEAD Notice of Funding Opportunity. NATE is concerned that if the threshold is not kept low, state funding will be confined to fiber-only options. The coalition letter, spearheaded by the Wireless Infrastructure Association, can be read here.

FCC, NTIA, FAA Urge Freeing Up Drone Spectrum

On Wednesday, January 4, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a proposal collaborated on by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FCC described the notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) to “enable wireless communications for unmanned aircraft system use in the 5030-5091 MHz band,” seeking comment on whether measures are necessary “to facilitate such use on flexible-use wireless networks.” You can read more about the NOPR here.

Biden Revives Sohn Nomination for FCC Commissioner

On Tuesday, January 3, President Biden revived his nomination of Gigi Sohn to serve as the third Democratic commissioner at the FCC. Sohn has already been through two confirmations in the Senate Commerce Committee, and when asked about whether an additional confirmation hearing will be held, a spokesperson for Commerce Chair Maria Cantwell (D-WA) said that Cantwell is “hopeful that the committee will be able to move her nomination swiftly and successfully to a full Senate vote.”