Wireless Roundup (December 2020)
Upcoming Filing and Comment Deadlines
Upcoming Effective Dates
Upcoming Meetings and Events
New Items on Circulation
Did You Know?
Recent Wiley Client Alerts, IoT Blog Posts, Podcasts, and Articles
Upcoming Filing and Comment Deadlines
FCC Requests Comment on Methods to Dissuade 9-1-1 Fee Diversion: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) seeks comment through a Notice of Inquiry on methods to dissuade states and territories from diverting fees collected for 9-1-1 emergency services to other state programs. The Commission also seeks information regarding the effect that 9-1-1 fee diversion has had on the provision of emergency services in states that opt to divert fees. Reply comments are due December 2.
FCC Seeks Comment on Orbital Debris Petitions for Reconsideration: Replies are due December 4 on the Commission’s Public Notice requesting comment on petitions for reconsideration filed by the Satellite Industry Participants Coalition (available here), Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (available here), and Kuiper Systems LLC (available here). The petitions ask the Commission to modify several rules adopted in its April 2020 Report and Order on orbital debris.
DOD Solicits Feedback on Launching Pilot VDP: The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) will launch a pilot vulnerability disclosure program (VDP) titled, the Defense Industrial Base Vulnerability Disclosure Program, early next year. DOD seeks comment on the pilot program for vulnerability disclosure and remediation in contractor networks. Comments are due December 6.
FCC Requests Feedback on FY 2021 Regulatory Fees: The Commission seeks input on its Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking requesting feedback on regulatory fee subcategories for non-geostationary satellite orbit systems in fiscal year (FY) 2021, as proposed by several commenters. Comments are due December 10 and reply comments are due December 28.
FCC Seeks Comment on a Petition for Reconsideration on the National Suicide Hotline: Oppositions to the Petition for Reconsideration filed by Communications Equity Advocates (available here) on the July National Suicide Hotline Report and Orderare due December 2. Specifically, the Commission released a Public Notice seeking comment on the Petition, which asks the agency to require that carriers implement text-to-988 capability to communicate with the National Suicide Prevention Hotline by the same date required for voice calling to 988. Replies to an opposition are due December 14.
FCC Requests Input on Coordination in the 3.1-3.55 GHz Band: The Commission seeks comment on its Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing to implement spectrum allocation changes to the 3.1-3.55 GHz band. Among other things, the FCC requests input on how best to develop coordination mechanisms between future commercial users and federal incumbents that will remain in the band. Reply comments are due December 7.
FCC Requests Comment on Petition for Rulemaking to Expand Spectrum Availability for Small Satellites: The Commission seeks comment via Public Notice on a Petition for Rulemaking filed by Spire Global, Inc. and Kepler Communications Inc. to add a Mobile-Satellite Service allocation to the 2020-2025 MHz band and make the spectrum available for use by small satellites. Comments are due December 7.
NIST Seeks Comment on Performance Measurement Guide for Information Security: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) plans an update for NIST Special Publication (SP) 800-55 Revision 1, titled Performance Measurement Guide for Information Security. Among other things, NIST seeks input on how it can improve the performance measurement guide, along with feedback on how the guide is currently being used. Comments are due December 10 (extended from November 19).
NIST Requests Input on Telehealth Remote Patient Monitoring Security Special Publication: Comments are due December 18 on Draft NIST SP 1800-30, titled, Securing Telehealth Remote Patient Monitoring Ecosystem. NIST’s goal is to provide a solution to help secure the telehealth remote patient monitoring ecosystem. NIST states that the Draft SP will result in a publicly available NIST Cybersecurity Practice Guide that healthcare providers may use to implement a cybersecurity reference design.
FDA Seeks Comment on a Framework for Communicating Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities to Patients: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requests comment on its discussion paper titled, Communicating Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities to Patients: Considerations for a Framework. The discussion paper highlights considerations for the FDA, agency partners, and industry stakeholders to consider when informing patients and the public about cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Comments are due December 21.
Upcoming Effective Dates
There are no upcoming effective dates of interest as of the circulation of this Roundup.
Upcoming Meetings and Events
TAC Meeting: The FCC Technological Advisory Council (TAC) will meet on December 1 via a publicly available conference call. More information is available here.
NANC Meeting: The North American Numbering Council (NANC) will meet on December 3 via conference call, which will be open to the public. More information is available here.
CSRIC VII Meeting: The Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council VII (CSRIC) will meet on December 9 via videoconference, which will be available via livestream. More information, including a link to the webcast, is available here.
FCC Open Meeting: The next FCC Open Meeting is scheduled for December 10. In addition to two national security matters, the tentative agenda includes:
- Securing the Communications Supply Chain, Report and Order
- Allowing Earlier Equipment Marketing and Importation Opportunities, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
- Promoting Broadcast Internet Innovation Through ATSC 3.0, Report and Order
Draft copies of the items for consideration, as well as a link to the live webcast, are available here.
HRPG Meeting: The FCC’s Hospital Robocall Protection Group (HRPG) will meet on December 14. More information is available here, and the meeting can be viewed live here.
BDAC Meeting: The FCC’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (BDAC) will meet via conference call on December 17. This meeting is public and available via live feed. More information is available here.
New Items on Circulation
The following items of interest went on circulation before the full Commission in the past month and remain pending as of publication of this Wireless Roundup.
- Order on Reconsideration of Broadnet Teleservices LLC Declaratory Ruling (circulated November 13 by the Consumer and Government Affairs Bureau)
- TRACED Act Section 10(a) NPRM (circulated November 13 by the Enforcement Bureau)
- Amendment of Part 1 of the Commission's Rules (circulated November 13 by the Office of Managing Director)
Did You Know?
Wiley helped secure an FCC preemption win for fiber optic networks. Read about it here.
The “Telecom and Media Post-Election” Wiley webinar is available on-demand. Listen here.
Associate Tatiana Sainati has extensive experience with international contract and arbitration matters. She would be pleased to help you review and update arbitration provisions in your international agreements.
December 2: Partners Megan Brown and Duane Pozza and special counsel Sam Kaplan will host a Wiley webinar on “Privacy and Cybersecurity Post-Election.” RSVP here.
December 8: Partners Peter Hyun, Stephen Obermeier, Duane Pozza, and Antonio Reynolds will host a Wiley webinar on “Federal Consumer Protection Priorities in 2021: Reading the Tea Leaves.” RSVP here.
December 8: Associate Madeleine Lottenbach will moderate the “Evolution of Communications Infrastructure to Maximize Resilience and Flexibility – Implications for Policy Making and Regulation” session at the International Institute of Communications’ Online Annual Washington DC Conference. Learn more here.
December 9: Partners Ari Meltzer and Katy Milner and associate Meredith Singer will host a Wiley webinar on “Wireless Regulation, Spectrum, and Auctions Post-Election Discussion.” RSVP here.
December 9: Partner Kevin Rupy will moderate “The FCC’s STIR/SHAKEN Framework: Assessing Progress and Examining the Road Ahead” session at the SIP Forum’s 2020 Network Operators Conference. Learn more here.
December 10: Consulting counsel Jacquelynn Ruff will moderate the “International Cooperation and Priorities Coming out of Pandemic – the Investment, Innovation, Trade Nexus” session at the at the International Institute of Communications’ Online Annual Washington DC Conference. Learn more here.
December 15: Partner Josh Turner and associate Sara Baxenberg will host a Wiley webinar on “Telecom Infrastructure Post-Election.” RSVP here.
December 17: Partner Josh Turner will speak on the “Drone Security Panel: Keeping Your Company & Customer Data Safe in the Digital Age” at the InterDrone Online Event. Learn more here.
Recent Wiley Client Alerts, IoT Blog Posts, and Podcasts
Senate Unanimously Passes IoT Security Act, Paving the Way for the President’s Signature
DHS and Cyber: What Should Companies Expect?
Government and Industry Report: COVID Pandemic Illustrates Need for Resilience in ICT Supply Chains
The Promise of Connectivity: A Conversation with USTelecom President & CEO Jonathan Spalter
Wiley Consumer Protection Download: November 9, 2020
Privacy in Focus (November 2020)
Roundup Disclaimer: Information in the Wireless Roundup is current as of November 24, 2020. This document is for informational purposes only and does not intend to be a comprehensive review of all proceedings and deadlines. Deadlines and dates are subject to change. Please contact your relevant Wiley attorney for further information on the content of this document.
