FCC Grants Extension of Transition Deadline for Certain 3.65 GHz Licensees

Last week, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau released an Order extending the deadline for certain licensees in the 3650-3700 MHz band (3.65 GHz band) to transition their existing Part 90 operations to the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS).  All licensees that would otherwise have had to transition operations between April 17, 2020 and October 17, 2020 now have until October 17, 2020.  The Bureau issued the extension in light of the COVID-19 pandemic to give licensees more time to transition, and not in response to the numerous petitions that have been filed seeking blanket and individual extension requests.  

FCC Grants STA’s to Wireless Carriers for Additional Spectrum

The FCC announced last week that it granted Verizon’s request for Special Temporary Authority (STA) to use additional spectrum to help meet increased customer demand for broadband during the COVID-19 pandemic.  This will allow Verizon to operate for sixty days in spectrum licensed to Northstar Wireless LLC and SNR Wireless License Co. in the AWS-3 Band to provide additional capacity to Verizon customers.  The FCC granted similar requests by T-Mobile and U.S. Cellular in recent days.  

Pennsylvania and West Virginia Assert Jurisdiction Over Pole Attachments

Last week the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission certified to the FCC that it regulates the rates, terms, and conditions for pole attachments, making it the twenty-second state (including the District of Columbia) to replace FCC jurisdiction over attachments to investor-owned utility poles.  Just last month, West Virginia became the twenty-first state to file its certification with the FCC over pole attachments.