Spectrum

Umair Javed has joined CTIA-The Wireless Association as Senior Vice President, Spectrum. In this capacity, Javed will shape and coordinate the organization’s spectrum advocacy. Javed comes to CTIA from the Federal Communications Commission. As Chief Counsel, he played a central role in shaping our nation’s spectrum policy. During his tenure, Javed helped focus the agency on identifying mid-band spectrum for 5G, oversaw one of the most successful auctions in US history, and launched the FCC’s Spectrum Coordination Initiative to enhance partnerships between agencies and the private sector.

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel shared with her colleagues final rules to ensure spectrum certainty for communications services used during commercial space launches. As private companies have assumed a vital role in the launch and operation of space satellites, scientific exploration, and transportation of astronauts both for public and commercial purposes, they need access to reliable and predictable wireless communications services and these new rules, if adopted by a vote of the full FCC, will make that resource available.

T-Mobile reported second quarter 2023 results, delivering industry-best growth in postpaid customers driven by growth in postpaid phone gross additions coupled with the lowest postpaid phone churn in the industry for the first time ever.

CTIA’s annual survey of key industry metrics finds that wireless networks support more data traffic than ever:

During an Executive Session, the Senate Committee on Commerce approved 11 bipartisan bills, including legislation aimed at protecting children’s online privacy: the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) and the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). Other important bills approved included the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, the ORBITS Act, the TICKET Act, the COOL Online Act and several manufacturing bills. These bills now head to the Senate floor.

Approved:

AT&T delivered strong second-quarter (Q2) results with profitable subscriber growth and year-over-year increases in Mobility service and broadband revenues.

Declaration Networks deploys fixed wireless access (FWA) to unserved and underserved areas. But as CEO Bob Nichols said, “Most of our networks moving forward will be fiber-to-the-home.” Declaration Networks was one of the first companies to deploy FWA using TV white spaces (TVWS) spectrum and as a participant in Microsoft’s Airband rural broadband deployment program.

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced changes to her leadership team, as well as the addition of a new Legal Advisor. Chairwoman Rosenworcel announced the departure of Umair Javed from her team and the agency more broadly. Effective as of July 20th, 2023, Priscilla Delgado-Argeris will serve as Chief Counsel, Ramesh Nagarajan will assume the role of Chief Legal Advisor, and Rashann Duvall will join the Chairwoman’s team as Acting Legal Advisor on the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and other wireline issues.

The Federal Communications Commission circulated draft rules to govern the lower 42 GHz spectrum (between 42 – 42.5 GHz). This is within the range of spectrum referred to as millimeter wave spectrum. This is one of the more unusual FCC spectrum deliberations because this spectrum is totally empty – there is nobody currently authorized by the FCC to use the spectrum band.

There are a few specific areas the Federal Communications Commission may focus on the potential and responsibility for AI in spectrum and communications networks generally: