Broadband has dominated the agendas of FCC Open Meetings for the past several years, and even when broadcast managed to horn in for a little attention, it was often concerning incentive auctions, a plank that is also primarily about broadband. So the three broadcast/cable items teed up for the September 2013 meeting makes it the biggest broadcast session in recent memory.
The agenda was previewed earlier as per usual, and the same items are present. It’s scheduled for Thursday 9/26/13 at 10:30 AM Eastern.
On the broadcast/cable side, the FCC will be taking a preliminary look at eliminating the 50% UHF discount when calculating national television ownership cap compliance; it will be addressing the dispute between Comcast and Bloomberg on basic cable channel neighborhood placement decisions; and it will provide a status report on the upcoming LPFM window.
From the FCC, here’s the full agenda.
1.TITLE: Acceleration of Broadband Deployment by Improving Wireless Facilities Siting Policies; Acceleration of Broadband Deployment: expanding the Reach and Reducing the cost of Broadband Deployment by Improving Policies Regarding Public Rights of Way and Wireless Facilities Siting (WC Docket No. 11-59); Amendment of Parts 1 and 17 of the Commission’s Rules Regarding Public Notice Procedures for Processing Antenna Structure Registration Applications for Certain Temporary Towers (RM-11688); and 2012 Biennial Review of Telecommunications Regulations (WT Docket No. 13-32)
SUMMARY: The Commission will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to accelerate deployment of wireless infrastructure while at the same time appropriately protecting the Nation’s environmental resources.
2. TITLE: Amendment of Section 73.3555(e) of the Commission’s Rules, National Television Multiple Ownership Rule
SUMMARY: The Commission will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding the UHF discount to its national television multiple ownership rule
3. TITLE: BLOOMBERG L.P. Complainant v. COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS LLC Defendant (MB Docket No. 11-104)
SUMMARY: The Commission will consider a Memorandum Opinion and Order to resolve a complaint by Bloomberg L.P. that Comcast Cable communications, LLC violated the news neighborhooding condition of the Comcast/NBCU transaction.
4. TITLE: Improving the Resiliency of Mobile Wireless Communications Networks
SUMMARY: The Commission will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that seeks comment on proposals to improve consumer choice and facilitate improvements to the resiliency of mobile wireless networks during emergencies.
5. TITLE: Presentation on the Status of the Low Power FM Open Filing Window
SUMMARY: The Media Bureau will present the latest update on progress towards the upcoming October 15-October 29, 2013 open filing window for applicants seeking to operate new Low Power FM radio stations.
