Page 104 - SAMENA Trends - January 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital 26GHz band is one of the measures included in the
Transformation (Ministerio de Asuntos Economicos government’s Plan de Recuperacion, Transformacion
y Transformacion Digital) published its new National y Resiliencia (Recovery, Transformation and Resilience
Chart of Attribution of Frequencies (Cuadro Nacional Plan) 5G roadmap. In addition, the CNAF has reserved
de Atribucion de Frecuencias, CNAF) on 27 December a 20MHz block in the 2300MHz-2400MHz band for
Spain 2021 – incorporating the 26GHz millimeter wave industrial applications under the self-provision regime.

(mmWave) band for the first time. (Note: the CNAF is the 10MHz of this spectrum will be used by public service
regulatory framework that establishes what frequency networks for the distribution of electricity, gas or water,
bands are reserved for.) A proposed tender for the the regulator added. (January 9, 2022) commsupdate.com

Applications have opened for the third round of small- UK nations. We expect these to broadcast a range of
scale DAB radio multiplex licenses for 25 areas across radio services, ranging from grass-roots community
England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. Small- services to specialist music stations, and services
scale DAB is an innovative technology which provides aimed at minority groups and other under-served
United a low-cost way for local commercial, community audiences. Last month, listeners in areas in North-East
and specialist music services to take to the digital
England were the first to benefit from this revolution
Kingdom airwaves. The small-scale DAB program will enable in local radio as a host of new services took to the
the launch of around 200 multiplexes, covering all four airwaves. (January 24, 2022) ofcom.org.uk

The Federal Communications Commission announced executive Dean Brenner as the head of the TAC, with
that it is ready to authorize more than $1.2 billion representatives from US operators, Microsoft and
through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund to fund new NTT among the other notable names on a list of 44.
broadband deployments in 32 states. In the largest In a related statement, Rosenworcel explained “careful
funding round to date, 23 broadband providers will planning and execution” was required to maintain US
United bring broadband service to over 1 million locations. “leadership in high-priority emerging technology”. She
States The Commission also has created the Rural Broadband emphasized the importance of the nation being at the
Accountability Plan, a new effort to monitor and ensure forefront of “advancing ambitious 6G” R&D, and noted
compliance for universal service high-cost programs “the need for more spectrum” and supply chain frailties
including the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. “Thes as areas requiring the FCC’s attention. “We are starting
announcement means more connectivity is coming that work here and now by re-establishing the TAC and
to consumers, while we continue our commitment to charging it to conceptualize 6G”.
make sure that funding goes to areas that truly need (January 20, 2022) mobileworldlive.com
it,” said Chairwoman Rosenworcel. “The new Rural
Broadband Accountability Plan will speed up our audit US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair
and verification processes and for the first time make Jessica Rosenworcel proposed rules which would
public the results of verifications, audits, and speed require operators to be more proactive when reporting
and latency testing. These new measures will help network hacks, a response to recent breaches. The FCC
ensure that the providers we fund in this program will stated it aims to align its rules more closely with national
do the job.” (January 29, 2022) fcc.gov and state laws covering security lapses. Rosenworcel
explained data breaches are increasing in frequency,
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) sophistication and scale, with long-lasting effects on
reconvened a working group which will lead its consumers. A key proposal would require operators
research into technologies including AI and 6G, work to report data breaches to the FCC in addition to the
the US regulator billed as important to boosting the US Secret Service and FBI as currently stipulated. The
nation’s global competitiveness. A virtual meeting of FCC also proposed eliminating an existing seven-day
the Technological Advisory Council (TAC) is scheduled wait between operators informing the government and
for 28 February. The FCC explained the group provides the public. It is also seeking comment on whether the
it with technical expertise and guidance, and would FCC should mandate customer breach notices include
consider advanced spectrum sharing and emerging specific categories of information, which it noted
wireless technologies along with methods to restore could help ensure notifications contain actionable
internet access in the event of disruption. FCC chair information useful to consumers.
Jessica Rosenworcel appointed former Qualcomm (January 13, 2022) mobileworldlive.com

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