No burning decisions specifically about radio broadcasting appeared on the FCC’s January meeting agenda today, but the commission took several actions of interest.
It unanimously adopted an order to enhance unlicensed use in the 6 GHz band for a new product category called “geofenced variable power” or GVP devices that can operate both indoors and outdoors at higher power than previously authorized devices.
“This action enables consumers to benefit from supercharged Wi-Fi and a new generation of wireless devices, from AR/VR and IoT to a range of innovative smart devices,” it said.
We reported on this pending action earlier this month. The proposal has been pushed by tech companies Apple, Broadcom, Google, Intel, Meta, Microsoft and Qualcomm. In 2024 the Consumer Technology Association told the FCC it supported the idea.
Chairman Brendan Carr said that at the recent CES show, “America’s tech industry debuted Wi-Fi 8 routers and chips for launch as soon as this year. This next generation of Wi-Fi will offer blazing fast speeds and massive bandwidth with more efficient power, higher throughput and better client-to-client communications.”
He noted that in 2020 the FCC opened 1,200 MHz in the 6 GHz band for unlicensed use. With this action he said the FCC brings more unlicensed spectrum to the marketplace “and [will] allow innovators to supercharge existing unlicensed bands. … With higher power and outdoor mobility, expect more compelling AR/VR, short‑range hotspots, automation and navigation.”
Gary Shapiro, the executive chair and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, issued an enthusiastic statement: “Unlicensed spectrum is the foundation for transformative technologies like Wi-Fi, and opening more of the 6 GHz band will supercharge the next wave of innovation, including augmented reality, virtual reality and other game-changing applications.”
Foreign ownership
Separately and unanimously the FCC also codified foreign ownership review requirements.
It said the goal was to maintain strong national security review processes while providing clarity for foreign investment.
“The agency’s longstanding foreign ownership review has helped protect against national security risks when reviewing increasingly complex ownership structures for FCC license holders, namely broadcast, common carrier wireless, and aeronautical licensees,” it said in a statement.
“Today’s action codifies many of those processes to ensure its foreign ownership requirements are clear and consistent, and to streamline the review process.”
The rules codify the policies and practices that it says the FCC has developed over the last decade to review complicated ownership structures under its Section 310(b) rules.
Foreign ownership reviews for broadcast licenses are led by the Media Bureau.
Foreign adversaries
The commission also established new rules intended to create transparency about the control of licensed entities by foreign adversaries. Again the FCC was unanimous.
“Foreign adversaries have made clear their intent to probe and penetrate vulnerabilities across our communications ecosystem,” said Carr.
“We have seen this through cyberattacks like Salt Typhoon. We have seen it in the equipment pipeline, where foreign adversary‑controlled labs could attempt to influence the testing and approval of devices bound for the U.S. marketplace.
“We have seen it in the online marketplace, where millions of prohibited devices linked to foreign adversaries were being sold to American consumers. And we have seen it at the carrier level, where entities with concerning ties to foreign governments have sought to operate in U.S. networks despite clear national‑security risks.”
Carr said the vote “sets up a clear, risk-based reporting structure that requires entities to attest to whether they are owned by, controlled by, or subject to the direction of a foreign adversary.” He called it an agency-wide effort that “builds on a year’s worth of national security initiatives and establishes a uniform system for identifying foreign adversary control across all FCC licensees and authorization holders.”
The order places each license, permit or authorization into a series of schedules, based on a variety of factors including national security risk of foreign adversary control and reporting burdens, and it imposes reporting requirements about equity and controlling interests.
The FCC said, “Today’s action, as well as those spearheaded by the commission over the past year, including establishing the Council on National Security, will strengthen the security of U.S. communications networks by tracking many of the ideas laid out in the pending bipartisan Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency (FACT) Act led by Senator Deb Fischer and moving swiftly to protect national security.”
We will watch for announcements about the paperwork impact of these foreign ownership and foreign adversary rules on broadcasters.
Meantime next month’s FCC meeting will include an agenda item specifically of interest in radio broadcasting: an application window for new FM translators for noncom educational stations.
