Jimm Phillips

Further R&D into advanced spectrum-sharing and high-band technologies could provide opportunities to better utilize the airwaves for 5G and future generations of wireless networks, GAO reported Tuesday. It suggested lawmakers consider updates to cybersecurity and privacy laws to address the implications of 5G. Lawmakers who sought the study included leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services and Intelligence committees, House Science Committee Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, and Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Bill Foster, D-Ill. The Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program’s Wireless Spectrum R&D Interagency Working Group and National Institute of Standards and Technology “identified the need for effective automation of interference detection and mediation as especially important as highly directional, active antennas become more common,” the auditor found. Policymakers could promote R&D via grants to academic and research institutions, a public-private partnership or tax credits for industry, GAO said. “For testing and development in real-world settings, new 5G test beds may be necessary, according to NIST, or it may be possible to use existing test beds.” High-band research could “help close the knowledge gaps and increase understanding of any possible health effects, including the effects of long-term exposure to high-band RF energy,” GAO said. Antenna research "could result in improved statistical modeling of antenna characteristics and the generation of data to more accurately represent signal propagation, according to NIST.” R&D generally “can be costly, must be coordinated and administered, is generally considered a long-term investment, and its potential benefits are uncertain,” the report said. “Policymakers would need to identify a new funding source for research or determine which existing funding streams to reallocate. Similarly, funding development work at new test bed facilities would involve significant costs. On the other hand, adapting existing test bed facilities would not require a significant capital outlay, but may require significant coordination.” Some R&D, cybersecurity and privacy matters involving 5G “may be addressed without any intervention from policymakers,” the auditor said: Maintaining the status quo “will likely not fully address” those issues and "may contribute to other 5G challenges,” including “national security risks.”

Two top Senate Republicans told us they expect language aimed at hindering Ligado’s L-band plan rollout to make it into a conference version of the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act currently under negotiation. What it will ultimately look like remains uncertain. The House and Senate passed NDAA versions (HR-6395/S-4049) earlier this year that included anti-Ligado provisions (see 2007200052). Iridium, National Emergency Number Association and other critics of the proposal urged leaders of the Armed Services committees to push for all Ligado language from the two versions to be kept in a combined NDAA bill.

President-elect Joe Biden’s incoming administration is likely to boost prospects for a major infrastructure spending package, supporters of increased federal broadband spending told us. They welcome that change after hopes for progress were dashed during President Donald Trump’s administration. Lawmakers in both parties are hopeful but believe questions about how to pay for the additional infrastructure will remain a major sticking point amid expectations there will still be divided control of Congress (see 2011040052).

The three Republicans vying to succeed House Commerce Committee ranking member Greg Walden of Oregon told us they intend to largely maintain his approach to telecom policymaking during the next Congress, which is expected to include more debate on net neutrality. Walden announced his retirement plans last year, sparking debate about Communications Subcommittee Republicans’ future path (see 1911260048).

Senate Commerce Committee GOP leaders are eyeing a vote to advance FCC nominee Nathan Simington to the full chamber amid likely uniform Democratic opposition and lingering uncertainties about whether there’s unanimous GOP support. FCC Republicans, meanwhile, sidestepped questions about whether they will cooperate with President-elect Joe Biden’s transition, given objections from President Donald Trump. Chairman Ajit Pai announced a national-security-heavy agenda Wednesday for commissioners' Dec. 10 meeting but avoided saying he’s acquiescing to Democrats’ calls for him to stop work on major items (see 2011180065).

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., “looks forward to voting for” FCC nominee Nathan Simington, her chief of staff, Charles Flint, told us. She raised concerns in late October about his preparedness for an initial phone conversation with her (see 2011020001). President Donald Trump cited Blackburn in a tweet urging Senate Commerce Republicans to support Simington just before his Tuesday Senate Commerce confirmation hearing (see 2011100070). She has since faced pressure from other conservative organizations, including Revolver News.

Incompas CEO Chip Pickering is hopeful this Congress enacts FY 2021 funding and a COVID-19 aid bill, despite partisan rancor. Group officials told a Thursday webinar they’re monitoring whether the Senate confirms FCC nominee Nathan Simington, plus the impact of a change to a majority-Democrat commission after President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.

The Senate Appropriations Committee proposed increases in the FY 2021 budgets for the FCC, NTIA, Patent and Trademark Office and National Institute of Standards and Technology but would leave funding for the FTC and CPB level with FY 2020. The committee’s proposed funding for the FCC to implement the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act, a broadband mapping law (S-1822), fell short of what the commission and others sought. Senate Appropriations released draft versions of its 12 appropriations bills Tuesday, before conference negotiations with House leaders on compromise FY 21 funding measures. Congress must either pass appropriations measures or another continuing resolution to extend government funding before the existing CR expires Dec. 11 (see 2010010041).

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., threatened Tuesday to place a hold on FCC nominee Nathan Simington amid dissatisfaction with his refusal to commit during a Commerce Committee hearing to recuse himself from participating in the rulemaking on its interpretation of Communications Decency Act Section 230 and his answers on other matters. Senate Commerce Chairman Roger Wicker of Mississippi and other Republicans were supportive of Simington. The nominee's confirmation prospects were expected before the presidential election to be jeopardized if Democrat Joe Biden won (see 2011020001).

House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone of New Jersey and other Democratic committee leaders are expected to ask the FCC to stand down work on any further controversial matters during a potential transition from President Donald Trump’s administration if Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s leads hold in several marginal states, communications sector observers told us. No similar call from Senate Commerce Committee Democrats is expected, since the party doesn’t have control of the chamber, and the majority in the next Congress remains in doubt (see 2011050056), lobbyists said.