Telecom Alert: Supply Chain Annual Reports Due; 2.5 GHz Band Apps Granted; 4.9 GHz Pleading Cycle; ECF Funding [Vol. XX, Issue 10]

Supply Chain Annual Reports Due March 31

Last week, the FCC’s Office of Economics and Analytics issued a Public Notice reminding providers of advanced telecommunications services that the Supply Chain Annual Reports are due by March 31, 2023 (Vol. XIX, Issue 6).  Providers must annually certify whether they have purchased, rented, leased, or otherwise obtained any covered communications equipment or service on or after August 14, 2018, or within 60 days after the date such equipment or service was placed on the Covered List.  A provider that does not have any covered communications equipment or services must file an initial report and certify as such. 

2.5 GHz Band Applications Granted

Last week, the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau issued a Public Notice announcing the grant of seven long-form applications and issuance of 29 licenses for the 2.5 GHz band auction (“Auction 108”) (Vol. XX, Issue 8).  Auction 108 made available 8,017 new flexible-use, county-based overlay licenses in the 2.5 GHZ band and raised a total of $427,789,670 in gross bids.  The licenses were granted to the city of Ketchikan, Alaska (d/b/a Ketchikan Public Utilities)’ Evolve Cellular, Inc.; Inland Cellular LLC; Inland MT LLC; Pathfinder Wireless Corp.; Skyrider Communications LLC; and Xtreme Enterprises LLC. 

4.9 GHz Band Pleading Cycle

The FCC’s Ninth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking input on questions related to the role of the band manager for the 4.9 GHz band was published in the Federal Register last week (Vol. XX, Issue 4).  In January, the Commission adopted rules establishing a comprehensive, coordinated nationwide framework for overseeing the 4.9 GHz band.  Now, the FCC seeks comments on the responsibilities of the band manager and how it should facilitate leasing to non-public safety users, as well as how to manage revenues that arise.  Comments and reply comments are due by March 30, 2023, and May 1, 2023, respectively. 

ECF Funding

The FCC announced that it is committing over $20 million in a new funding round through the Emergency Connectivity Program (the “Program”).  The Commitment will support applications from all three filing windows and will support over 90 schools, eight libraries, and five consortia.  To date, the Commission has approved over $6.6 billion in funding commitments. 

Thomas Magee, Tracy Marshall, Kathleen Slattery Thompson, Sean Stokes, and Wesley Wright also contributed to this article.