Page 149 - SAMENA Trends - February-March 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Acting Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on the biggest challenges facing the United States due
Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has shared with to increased demand for electromagnetic spectrum
her colleagues a draft order that proposes to make access. The FCC’s involvement follows its ruling last
100MHz of mid-band spectrum in the 3.45GHz- year that the 5.9GHz transportation safety spectrum
3.55GHz band available for 5G. If adopted at the would be broken up, with much of it given over to
Commission’s 17 March Open Meeting, the frequencies unlicensed wi-fi. “This Memorandum of Agreement
could be included in the Auction 110 spectrum sale, between the National Science Foundation, the National
which is earmarked to begin in early October 2021. Ms. Telecommunications and Information Administration,
Rosenworcel commented: ‘We need to deliver the 5G and the Federal Communications Commission is one
that the American people were promised. That means a step toward revitalizing the interagency coordination
5G that is fast, secure, resilient, and – most importantly process so that it once again is able to produce results
– available across the country. This important auction for American consumers and the economy,” says FCC
is a crucial step toward making that a reality. I hope acting chair Jessica Rosenworcel. “Better coordination
my colleagues will join me in supporting this proposal.’ between these agencies ultimately means more
TeleGeography notes that the next US spectrum sale spectrum and more innovation to help restore American
will be Auction 108, which will comprise frequencies in wireless leadership and build the 5G future.” “Spectrum
the 2.5GHz band. (February 24, 2021) commsupdate.com is the backbone of America’s wireless leadership, and
we applaud NSF’s investments in spectrum research
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has and development,” says Evelyn Remaley, acting NTIA
confirmed that bidding in the ‘assignment phase’ administrator. “Engaging with spectrum experts from
of Auction 107 – which included 5,684 licenses in the FCC, NTIA and the NSF on high impact, cutting-edge
the 3.7GHz-3.98GHz band – has now concluded. research is important to American competitiveness
The assignment phase, which gave the winning and spectrum sharing.” “NSF’s Spectrum Innovation
bidders the opportunity to bid for frequency-specific Initiative was created to find ways to maximize our
licenses, followed the ‘clock phase’ of the auction, nation’s limited radio spectrum resources,” says Sean
which ended on Friday 15 January, after 97 rounds L. Jones, NSF Assistant Director for Mathematical
of bidding. The clock phase generated total financial and Physical Sciences. “This agreement will provide
bids of USD80.917 billion, with all 5,684 licenses sold, enhanced access to NTIA and FCC expertise, helping us
making it the highest-grossing spectrum auction ever focus spectrum research and develop a technologically
held in the United States. The list of winning bidders sophisticated workforce at the speed this nation
is expected to be published in the coming days. FCC requires to stay at the forefront of innovation.” The
Commissioner Brendan Carr commented: ‘We should Memorandum of Agreement between the agencies is
build on this success by moving quickly with additional intended to ensure that FCC and NTIA staff can provide
5G auctions, including by moving forward this year their subject matter expertise to help ensure that NSF’s
with auctions in the 2.5GHz and 3.45GHz bands. Doing Spectrum Innovation Initiative investments in spectrum
so will further secure US leadership in 5G.’ research, infrastructure, and workforce development
(February 18, 2021) commsupdate.com are in alignment with U.S. spectrum regulatory and
policy objectives, principles, and strategies. Key
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) research areas include spectrum flexibility and agility,
has announced that it has entered into an agreement working towards near real-time spectrum awareness,
with the National Science Foundation (NSF) and and improved spectrum efficiency and effectiveness
the National Telecommunications and Information through secure and autonomous spectrum decision-
Administration to support NSF’s Spectrum Innovation making. The first key goal will be establishing the U.S.’s
Initiative. NSF launched the initiative last year to seek first National Center for Wireless Spectrum Research.
innovative advancements in research and development (February 8, 2021) traffictechnologytoday.com

After its long-delayed decision to appoint an cost of the porting process, while customers should
administrator to develop and enact mobile number expect their number transfer to take no longer than
portability (MNP), Uruguay’s Regulatory Unit of three days. In July last year, Uruguay approved Law
Communications Services (URSEC) has asked 19,889/2020 stipulating that MNP is a right for mobile
stakeholders to help with the selection process. telephony customers. CommsUpdate notes that the
Uruguay Interested parties have until 5th March to query the country’s government set up a committee of industry
process, with applications scheduled to open on 10th stakeholders two months later in order to prepare for
March and offers due the same day. Tests of the MNP the implementation of MNP. The timetable for this was
system are slated for July before a commercial launch approved last month.
on 1st October. Operators are obliged to cover the (February 24, 2021) developingtelecoms.com

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