Strategic Improvements to Media Regulations
To quote the proverbial infomercial announcer, “But wait, there’s more!” Nearly every month...
FCC Action Generates More Local News
For those of us who follow the broadcast industry closely, seeing examples of local broadcasters...
Removing Unnecessary Barriers and Maximizing Competition in USF Auctions
In striving to bring broadband access to all unserved Americans within existing funding...
Kickstarting the FCC's Product Marketing & Import Rules
The device manufacturing sector is one of the most challenging and competitive in the...
The 3.5 GHz Auction Is Finally a Go!
At the February 2020 open meeting, the Commission is scheduled to vote on procedures for the 3.5...
More Media Modernization: Program Carriage Process & Cable Operator Interests Recordkeeping
By any measure, the FCC rules governing the U.S. media industry are not well aligned with the...
Substantive Objections to a Government 5G Wholesale Network
Over the last few months, various ideas have been floated about the offering of 5G wireless...
A Needed USF Budgetary Cap
A lot of foolish policy ideas are floated in Washington, DC, so it’s fortuitous when the federal...
Further Improving the FCC's Procedures
Muni Broadband’s Ominous Threat to the First Amendment
As a staunch supporter of limited government and free speech, I have regularly objected to...
Status Update: Fixing 9-1-1 Fee Diversion
It's now been almost ten months since my colleague, Commissioner Rosenworcel, and I penned an...
Status Update: Fixing 9-1-1 Fee Diversion
It’s been four months since my colleague, Commissioner Rosenworcel, and I penned an...
FCC Regulatory Free Arena
As consequential as the FCC can be in communications policy, it is critical for those in...
Debunking the Sinclair Agenda Myth
This week, I had the opportunity to travel to Phoenix, Arizona to observe and check in on the...
Experienced Advice for New Broadband Program
Over the years, I have spent a considerable amount of my time at the Commission focused on...
Abusing Section 1
While most former FCC Chairmen tend to take a step away for a little bit after they depart the...
Paper FCC Record: Why in the World?
While not ranking highest on the list of significant process reforms needed, the practice of...
Defining Recoverable Expenses for Rate-of-Return Providers
It’s Time to Reexamine the FCC’s Kid Vid Requirements
In the last quarter of 2017, the Commission thoughtfully teed up several, smaller-scale Notice...
Repairing the Must Vote Timing
While I previously proposed fixes to improve the circulation process by...
Thoughtfully Modernizing the Commission’s Media Ownership Rules
Last month, Chairman Pai appropriately promised at least one Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM...
How to Free Up Government Held Spectrum in the Face of Increasing Budgetary Pressure
Although the demand for wireless broadband is burgeoning, the lack of available spectrum to meet...
A Mid-Band Spectrum Win in the Making
Anyone who has spent half a minute working on wireless communications issues knows that America’...
Would Means-Testing Bring More Efficiencies to the High-Cost Program?
The American people rightfully expect that all federal programs operate as efficiently as...
International Efforts to Regulate the Internet Continue
Over the last several years, we’ve been lectured by many that the U.S. position on Internet...
Improved Staff Openness & New Priorities
One of the hallmarks of any successful organization is open, effective internal communication. ...
New Tower Marking Provision Could Use Tweaks
Having worked on numerous legislative efforts over the years, I have seen that it is not...
Taking Stock of FCC Paperwork Burdens
I am pleased that the Commission has begun to take steps to review and eliminate unnecessary...
States Must Stop Raiding 9-1-1 Fees
It is unconscionable that some states divert fees collected for legitimate and needed 9-1-1...
A Modified Delegated Authority Proposal
I have made the...
Needed: A Universal FCC Deadline Policy
For Commission rules and procedures to be truly effective, everyone needs to know with a certain...
Federal Broadband Infrastructure Spending: Potential Pitfalls
Much discussion in Washington, D.C. and elsewhere is occurring over whether there should be an...
Set Top Box Endgame
Last Thursday’s FCC Open Meeting presented an interesting turn of events for the Commission’s...
Preserve Consumer Privacy Trades
The Commission seems intent to push forward, in the coming weeks or months, with a specious plan...
Ending Cable Signal Leakage Rules for Fiber Builds
Over the last number of years, I have had the opportunity to meet with small cable providers...
A Path for Mobility Fund Phase II?
Commission leadership recently indicated that we will issue final rules for a new mobile-only...
Snapshot of Process Reform Ideas
In my two and a half years as an FCC Commissioner, I have tried to make productive suggestions...
Debunking Anti-App Claims
Unless the path is altered soon, the FCC is on course to force adoption of a set-top-box (STB)...
Defining Auto Safety of Life in 5.9 GHz
The intention of Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) systems in the 5.9 GHz spectrum...
Principles for Media Ownership Reform
Last week, in its “third go-round” with the Commission’s media ownership rules, the U.S. Court...
Improving the FCC Circulation Process
Several of my prior blog posts have highlighted process reforms that would improve both the...
Lifeline Reform: Add a Hard Budget
Why is it so easy for some people in Washington, DC to spend other people’s money? It is one...
Stop Unfairly Censoring Commissioners
As it is being applied today, the Commission’s existing rule intended to protect nonpublic...
Defending Capitalism in Communications
American capitalism, and its role in the communications industry,...
2015 World Radiocommunication Conference: A Troubling Direction
Now that the 2015 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-15) has concluded and the final...
Regulation by Citation
While most FCC enforcement actions take the form of a Notice of Apparent Liability, Forfeiture...
A Starting Point for CAF Post-ROFR Auction
A funny thing is happening on the way to enacting a reverse auction for a key portion of the...
Fixing a Problem with the Hearing Aid Compatibility Mandate
Today's wireless handsets are immensely powerful. By combining advanced communications...
Rethinking Outdated Voice Regulations
With old school ...
Improving Broadcasters' Physical Security
The Commission’s effort to require online public inspection files for most television and radio...
A Draft Pirate Radio Policy and Enforcement Statement
This past summer, when the Commission was considering an order to close several of the...
Team Telecom Reviews Need More Structure
The Commission has clarified our past broadcast foreign ownership restrictions and now needs to...
Steering into the Future with More Wi-Fi by Sharing the Upper 5 GHz Band
Earlier this year, we joined together to ...
Enacting More "Sticks": Spectrum Fees for Government Users
Wireless service and device use is exploding and more commercial spectrum – both licensed and...
Revamping Predictive Judgments & Interim Rules
In addition to setting overall timelines for Commission review of agency rules, as I previously...
Setting Timelines for Revisiting Agency Decisions
All too often, the FCC imposes rules, placing new burdens on companies and affecting the...
Accountability for Enforcement Penalties & Fines
The Commission’s enforcement procedures and actions have been receiving attention of late, but...
Problems with FCC Advisory Committees
Through this blog, I’ve raised quite a few issues with the current operations of the FCC,...
Guest Speakers & Questions at FCC Open Meetings
Over the years, Open Meetings at the FCC have taken a variety of formats. At one time, Open...
Consider a New Way to Combat Pirate Radio Stations
Everyone should agree that pirate radio stations – by any definition – are completely illegal. ...
FCC's Pre-Adoption Process Also Needs Work
I am pleased that the Chairman has now initiated a new Process Review Task Force, and there is...
AWS-3 Auction: Lessons Learned
From my perspective, the recent...
USF High-Cost Program: Best and Realistic Timelines
According to the FCC's most recent...
Fixing Flawed and Non-Existent "Editorial Privileges"
Maybe the only good thing to come from the Commission’s net neutrality proceeding is that it...
Affirmatively Expand Permissible Foreign Ownership
For decades, extensive studies and corresponding analysis have demonstrated the vast benefits of...
Driving Wi-Fi Ahead: the Upper 5 GHz Band
Today’s Wi-Fi spectrum bands are wildly popular. But with more and more people and devices...
Embrace the Internet for EEO "Widely Disseminated Rule"
As I have said previously, I believe the Internet is the greatest man-made invention in my...
Sound Principles for Lifeline Reform
Over the last few years, the Commission has taken action to reform each of its universal service...
Delegated Authority: Serious Objections and Solutions
I am fortunate to work at an agency with incredibly dedicated and talented staff. The vast...
Municipal Broadband: A Snapshot
Those who wish to preempt state laws impacting municipal broadband networks often cite up to 21...
Update on Advance Posting of Commission Meeting Items
In August, I wrote a blog post urging the...
Expanding FCC Use of Electronic Communications
Although a lot of work has been done over the last few years to integrate some aspects of our...
Lessons of the 2014 Plenipot
Last month, I was honored to join FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler as part of the U.S. delegation to the...
More Data: Pocket Dialing
In response to my recent blog...
Harmful Consumer Wireless Behavior and Practices
Today’s wireless devices are amazing tools that empower people. Our wireless phones, smartphones...
USF Contribution Factor Over Time
The chart below shows the steady increase over time in the FCC’s USF Contribution Factor, which...
Alaska: Lessons Learned
Fulfilling a commitment I made last year to its congressional delegation, I spent a portion of...
Post Text of Meeting Items in Advance
Early in his tenure, Chairman Wheeler launched a...
Most Definitely: Terminate Dormant Proceedings
Last week, the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) released a...
Disturbing Trend in USF Spending
...
Introducing the Internet to the FCC’s Contest Rule
Have you ever listened to your car radio while you were stuck in traffic and heard a super-fast...
With an Eye Towards WRC 2015
It is never too early to engage in preparations for the World Radiocommunication Conference, or...
FCC Needs to Improve its Internal 911 and IPv6 Compliance
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) sets communications rules and policies, as directed...
E-Labeling Deserves Serious Consideration
Wireless devices have changed substantially over the last two decades. Consumers have migrated...
On the Rise: Regulating Through Pilot Programs
From the good work of my staff, take a look below at the recent trend to fund pilot projects at...
TCPA: It is Time to Provide Clarity
For those that might not be familiar, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) (...
Duplication Alert: Broadband Pilot Projects
January’s...
Commissioner O’Rielly’s Thoughts on Broadcast Television JSAs and SSAs
It used to be that Americans had few choices for watching television—options included a handful...
Commissioner O'Rielly’s Blog Introduction and Views on E-Rate Reform
As the newest Commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission, it seems only appropriate...