FCC releases final December agenda

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FCCThe five FCC commissioners will consider five items during the course of their final open meeting of 2012, but for broadcasters, it will be possible to skip the meeting and wait for 2013 for any news of particular interest.


The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 12/12/12. It will be held later than usual, at 1PM eastern, no doubt to accommodate the commissioners’ appointment with House Communications Subcommittee Chair Greg Walden (R-OR) to discuss the incentive auction program.

For those thinking about tuning into the proceedings, here’s what’s on the agenda:

1 WIRELESS TELE-COMMUNICATIONS, INTERNATIONAL AND OFFICE OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
TITLE:  Amendment of the Commission’s Rules with Regard to Commercial Operations in the 3550-3650 MHz Band.
SUMMARY:  The Commission will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to broaden its initiatives in unleashing broadband spectrum, promoting technological innovation, and encouraging investment via the creation of a shared access broadband service in the 3550-3650 MHz band for small cell use.

2 PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY
TITLE:  Facilitating the Development of Text-to-911 and Other Next Generation 911 Applications (PS Docket No. 11-153) and Framework for Next Generation 911 Deployment (PS Docket No. 10-255).
SUMMARY:  The Commission will consider an item on developing the capability for Americans to contact 911 emergency services via text messaging, and providing automatic consumer notification where text to 911 is not supported.

3 WIRELINE COMPETITION
TITLE:  Rural Health Care Support Mechanism (WC Docket No. 02-60).
SUMMARY:  The Commission will consider a Report and Order on reforming the FCC’s universal service support programs for healthcare that would expand healthcare providers’ access to broadband, especially in rural areas, while increasing overall efficiency and accountability in the programs.

4 WIRELESS TELE-COMMUNICATIONS
TITLE:  Service Rules for Advanced Wireless Services in the 2000-2020 MHz and 2180-2200 MHz Bands (WT Docket No. 12-70); Fixed and Mobile Services in the Mobile Satellite Service Bands at 1525-1559 MHz and 1626.5-1660.5 MHz, 1610-1626.5 MHz and 2483.5-2500 MHz, and 2000-2020 MHz and 2180-2200 MHz (ET Docket No. 10-142); and Service Rules for Advanced Wireless Services in the 1915-1920 MHz, 1995-2000 MHz, 2020-2025 MHz and 2175-2180 MHz Bands (WT Docket No. 04-356).
SUMMARY:  The Commission will consider a Report and Order and Order of Proposed Modification to increase the Nation’s supply of spectrum for mobile broadband by adopting service rules for 40 megahertz of spectrum in the 2 GHz band (2000-2020 MHz and 2180-2200 MHz).

5 WIRELESS TELE-COMMUNICATIONS
TITLE:  Service Rules for the Advanced Wireless Services H Block—Implementing Section 6401 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 Related to the 1915-1920 MHz and 1995-2000 MHz bands.
SUMMARY:  The Commission will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would implement the Congressional directive in the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 to grant new initial licenses for the 1915-1920 MHz and the 1995-2000 MHz bands through a system of competitive bidding.