Last Friday, I took my first official trip as FCC Chairman, visiting parts of North Carolina that were hit hard by Hurricane Helene. I met with 911 operators who handled a sixfold surge in calls during the peak of the storm, first responders who led rescue and recovery efforts, telecom workers who quickly restored communications in difficult conditions, and local broadcasters who provided vital information to their communities.
These visits only underscored the importance of robust, resilient, and affordable connectivity for Americans across the country. That is why we are taking action right out of the gate to get more spectrum into the hands of consumers—spectrum that can power new connections and innovations. We are also acting right away to protect consumers—including from the scourge of illegal robocalls—and enhance our national security.
This meeting shows that the agency will be laser focused on accelerating efforts that can get more spectrum into the marketplace. This month, we will vote to kickstart the process for reauctioning a large number of AWS-3 spectrum licenses that have sat in inventory for years. This auction will be a win-win. It brings new spectrum into play for commercial use. And the proceeds from this auction will also cover the costs of the national security initiative known as “rip and replace”—an effort that is removing untrustworthy technology, like Huawei and ZTE gear, from networks. Specifically, our AWS-3 notice of proposed rulemaking will ensure that the Commission is on track to meet its statutory obligation to complete this auction by June 23, 2026.
But wait, there’s more. In 2020, the FCC conducted the most successful auction in history when it released 280 megahertz of mid-band spectrum in the C-band for 5G. This month, we will vote on a notice of inquiry that asks whether the Commission should open up additional portions of the C-band (3.98-4.2 GHz) for more intensive use. We want to hear your views.
Jumping back to where we started in North Carolina, our February meeting will also include an action to enhance public safety. Most consumers are now familiar with the Wireless Emergency Alerts that buzz on our phones. They are proving to be a life-saving tool. Those alerts, however, can be unexpected and jarring, causing some consumers to experience alert fatigue and opt out of receiving future WEA messages altogether. Additionally, in active shooter or similar scenarios a loud alert may put a consumer in danger, undermining its very purpose. To address these concerns, we will vote on final rules that give emergency managers and consumers greater flexibility when it comes to these Wireless Emergency Alerts, which would increase public safety and reduce consumers opting out of this life-saving service.
Finally, like the players on the field this coming Super Bowl Sunday (Sidebar: I am the Commission’s number one Chiefs fan!), we are not only going on offense to drive new innovations during our February meeting, but we are also playing defense to protect consumers from unwelcome irritants. And if you thought that was a cringy transition, don’t worry, these blogs are likely to get much worse in the months to come.
Cracking down on illegal robocalls and protecting consumers from bad actors will be a top priority at the FCC. On this front, the Commission will vote this month on rules to expand the reach of Do-Not-Originate lists and strengthen our call blocking capabilities. Do-Not-Originate lists are a proven tool for blocking apparently illegal calls and our action this month will ensure that reasonable Do-Not-Originate lists are utilized by all U.S. providers in the call path.
Whereas those loud emergency alerts are life-saving tool, loud TV commercials are a frustrating headache. You’re sitting there, chilling out, and then BOOM some commercial breaks in at a high volume. I don’t like them, and I’m pretty sure you don’t either. In fact, the FCC has recently seen an uptick in consumer complaints about excessively loud commercials. Back in 2010, Congress passed a law to address this issue, but given the rise in complaints I think now is the time for the FCC to revisit the issue. Accordingly, we will consider a notice of proposed rulemaking to see if there are additional actions the Commission could take today to make sure TV viewers aren’t inundated by exceedingly loud commercials.
I’d say we’re off to a good start (and, since I’m writing this post, I am saying it). Seriously, though, I am incredibly grateful for the chance to lead this agency and I want to express my thanks and appreciation to all of the FCC staff who worked to build out a robust agenda for this Commission’s first open meeting. This is just the start of what I know will be a time of great possibility and prosperity for the communications sector and the American people.