Federal Jury Awards $1 Billion Against ISP Cox Communications For Copyright Infringement in 2019 Case ___________________________________________________ A federal jury in Virginia has awarded a group of music recording companies (“Plaintiffs”) a $1 billion verdict against the Internet service provider (“ISP”) Cox Communications (“Cox”), finding that Cox was contributorily and vicariously liable for copyright infringement committed […]

Yesterday, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) voted to establish the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (“RDOF”), which will distribute $20.4 billion over 10 years to support high-speed broadband deployment in rural, unserved areas through a two-phase reverse auction mechanism.  RDOF’s Phase I will begin later this year and will make up to $16 billion available […]

Four CBRS SAS Administrators Authorized for Commercial Use; 3650 Transition Period Ending; PALs Auction Scheduled for June 25, 2020 Docket No. 15-319 ___________________________________________________ On Monday, January 27, 2020, the Federal Communications Commission’s (“FCC”) Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology authorized four Citizens Broadband Radio Service (“CBRS”) Spectrum Access System (“SAS”) Administrators, CommScope, […]

The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) has adopted a number of changes to the Form 477 data collection, which includes no longer treating as confidential service providers’ minimum advertised or expected speed data for mobile broadband services. Specific changes beginning with the March 2020 Report (covering data as of December 31, 2019) include: Fixed […]

CPNI Certifications Due No Later Than March 1, 2020 ___________________________________________________ Telecommunications carriers, including interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”) providers, are required to establish and maintain systems designed to ensure they protect their subscribers’ Customer Proprietary Network Information (“CPNI”) and must file an annual CPNI compliance certification no later than March 1, 2020[1](for data pertaining […]

FCC Proposes Reallocation of 5.9 GHz Band for Unlicensed Use Notice of Proposed Rulemaking ET Docket No. 19-138 ___________________________________________________ On December 12, 2019, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or the “Commission”) adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM“) proposing to reallocate portions of the 5.9 GHz band from strictly vehicle-related communications to now dedicating spectrum to both […]

FCC’s Conditional Approval of T-Mobile and Sprint Merger Could Have a Major Impact on Rural Operators Memorandum Opinion and Order, Declaratory Ruling,  and Order of Proposed Modification      WT Docket No. 18-197   The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or the “Commission”) has issued a Memorandum Opinion and Order, Declaratory Ruling, and Order of Proposed Modification (the […]

REMINDER: Hearing Aid Compatibility Certifications Due January 15, 2020 (Filing Window Opens Thursday, January 2, 2020) ___________________________________________________ Wireless service providers (including de minimis wireless service providers) must file their annual Hearing Aid Compatibility Certifications with the FCC for the 2019 reporting period by January 15, 2020 (by midnight ET).  The filing window will open Thursday, January 2, 2020[1] and will contain a link to […]

The Federal Communications Commission (the “Commission” or “FCC”) has released a Public Notice seeking comment on proposed procedures for its auction of Priority Access Licenses (“PALs”) in the 3.5 GHz Citizens Broadband Radio Service (“CBRS”) Auction (“Auction 105”).  Bidding in Auction 105 is scheduled to begin on June 25, 2020.  The Commission will offer seven […]

Comments due September 20, 2019, Reply Comments due October 21, 2019 Last month the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on the terms of a critical next step in its high-cost program, the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (“RDOF”).  The FCC proposes to commit a total of $20.4 billion […]