For starters, the FCC will change its approach to mapping broadband availability
The FCC kicked off by focusing on affordability of broadband during COVID-19: The FCC held its first public meeting since the change in leadership, following the departure of Ajit Pai who was appointed by Trump in 2017. Democrat commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel is the current Acting Chairwoman. The meeting saw the launch of an Emergency Broadband Benefit Program to help low-income households struggling to pay for their broadband during COVID-19. So far $2.3bn has been made available to provide monthly discounts up to $50 for broadband and associated equipment. In the meeting, the FCC covered the steps operators need to take to enroll, and announced it will start the program by the end of the month.
The highly-criticised mapping of broadband availability will change: The Acting Chairwoman is creating a new task force to implement “long-overdue” changes to the way in which the FCC maps broadband availability. The current methodology is widely criticised as inaccurate, mainly because a district is considered as covered even if just one household receives a service. The new system will produce data for individual locations, and is likely to be adopted from 2022.
The record-breaking C-Band auction is complete: The FCC also announced the completion of the C-Band (3.7–3.98GHz) spectrum auction, which generated a record $81.2bn in proceeds (by far the highest amount ever raised in a spectrum auction in the US). All 5,684 licences offered were won, and yesterday the assignment phase was completed, adding $0.3bn to the $80.9bn raised in the clock phase. Winners are due to be announced shortly. Separately, Rosenworcel has said she supports "creativity" when it comes to spectrum management – something that is likely to make some in the mobile industry nervous.
Source: https://www.fcc.gov/news-events/events/2021/02/february-2021-open-commission-meeting
