Managing the airwaves is arguably the FCC's most important function. Nearly every commercial device that transmits a wireless signal on a radio frequency, from AM radios to satellites to 5G cell phones, must comply with our rules, from licensing to interference. The way the FCC manages and licenses the radio spectrum has changed dramatically since the agency's inception in 1934. And while today's spectrum auctions may seem logical and obvious to many, that wasn't always the case. How has spectrum management evolved over time and what has that meant for consumers and the development of technology in the U.S. and around the globe? Evan is joined by Evan Kwerel, Senior Economic Advisor in the FCC's Office of Economics and Analytics. (Disclaimer)

Going Once, Going Infinitely

It may seem like ancient history, but there was a time when one of the FCC's top priorities was making sure landline telephone service reached every American. And as technology evolves—from copper phone lines to fiber optic cables, from landline phones to 5G smartphones—so does the mission of the FCC and its various bureaus. Evan is joined by Kris Monteith, Chief of the Wireline Competition Bureau. They discuss the evolution of the Wireline Bureau's mission, the work the FCC does to bring broadband to more Americans, and updating regulations for the modern marketplace. (Note: This podcast was recorded in early 2020) (Disclaimer)

There Are Those Who Wireline

They say that every major decision made by the FCC results in litigation. And while the FCC has many lawyers across various bureaus and divisions, it's the Office of General Counsel (OGC) that represents the Commission in court. So what's it like being the FCC's chief lawyer? Evan is joined by none other than Tom Johnson, General Counsel of the FCC. They discuss their support for New York-area sports teams, what it's like to defend the FCC in court, and how OGC plays a role in nearly everything the Commission does. They also discuss how governments at the local, state, and federal level interact when it comes to telecom law, and how that interaction has evolved over time. (Disclaimer)

The FCC's Lawyer

One of the FCC's top enforcement priorities is cracking down on pirates. No, not the Pirates of the Caribbean or East Africa—we're talking about pirate radio. Across the country, FCC officials are working to identify and take action against unlicensed radio operators that illegally use the frequencies allocated for legitimate radio operators. These pirate stations pose a host of problems for public safety, including interference with emergency alerts and air traffic control. But they also encroach on those legitimate stations that made significant investments and secured the necessary regulatory approvals to obtain a license. So what is the state of pirate radio in the U.S. and how is the FCC taking it on? Evan is joined by David Dombrowski, Regional Director for Region One in the FCC Enforcement Bureau. If you have information about a pirate radio station, you can notify the FCC by calling 888-CALLFCC or filing a complaint online at https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov. Note: This podcast was recorded on June 21st. (Disclaimer)

Pirate Radio

The FCC is always adapting to new technology, and that was highlighted when the agency recently celebrated its 85th birthday. Exhibits in the Commission meeting room showed everything from a 1928 AM radio (that still works) to a 5G smartphone, spanning nearly 100 years of technology development. But as the old saying goes, "nothing is new." And it's often helpful to look back on some of the topics that dominated the FCC's attention in past decades, as they can inform its present and future. And who better to look back on the history of the FCC than Dale Hatfield, an FCC legend, former chief of the Office of Engineering and Technology, and, currently, a member of the FCC's Technological Advisory Council and a professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder in the technology, cybersecurity, and policy department. Note: This podcast was recorded on June 21st. (Disclaimer)

The FCC's Past, Present, and Future

Do you watch free, over-the-air television using an antenna? You might have seen a notice from the FCC, a local organization, or your favorite TV channel that it's time to rescan your television. As the country moves through ten phases of the "broadcast repack," some stations are switching their frequencies to make more airwaves or "spectrum" available for wireless broadband and other uses. So which consumers are affected, and what should they know to make sure they can keep watching their favorite programs without interruption? And what sort of challenges are broadcasters, TV tower crews, and the FCC facing in this massive, nationwide undertaking. Joining Evan are Jean Kiddoo, Chair of the FCC's Incentive Auction Task Force, and Hillary DeNigro, Deputy Chair of the Incentive Auction Task Force. To find out when you should rescan your TV, go to FCC.gov/TVrescan or call 1-888-CALLFCC anytime from 8:00am to 1:00am ET and press 6 for rescan. (Disclaimer)

Repacking the Airwaves: Is it Time to Rescan Your TV?

It's a cliche, but that doesn't make it any less true: technology has changed rapidly over the past few decades. And the FCC has played a role in enabling the introduction of new services that we use in our daily lives. But few people have had the unique perspective of today's guest, who has overseen these developments for, um, quite some time. Evan is joined by Julie Knapp, Chief of the Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) at the FCC. They discuss the evolution of the OET from past to present—from the brick cell phones of the 1980's to the smartphones of today. And what technologies on the horizon are most exciting to the FCC's chief engineer? (Disclaimer)

Engineering at the FCC

As the demand for broadband and mobile data grows exponentially, so does the need for broadband jobs in every part of the Internet ecosystem—from the hoodie-wearing coders in coffee shops writing software to the tower climbers who deploy cell sites to the manufacturers who make steel towers and equipment. But no matter how high the demand for service, safety and proper training must always be front and center. Evan is joined by Duane MacEntee, Executive Director of the National Wireless Safety Alliance. They discuss the safety, certification, and coordination initiatives for tower climbers. In the past, far too many climbers suffered injuries, or, in the worst cases, paid with their lives. How did the industry get from the dark times of the past to the national safety and certification standards used today? What lessons can be learned and, as the race to 5G heats up, what new education initiatives are coming down the pike? (Disclaimer)

For Tower Climbers, It's Safety First

So you want to try out a new technology? Where do you start? The FCC's experimental licensing program has played a key role in the development of new products and services—from smartphones to new 5G equipment. But how does the program work, and what sorts of technologies have come through it? Some we may be using in our daily lives. Others may have been a bit too wild to make it to market. From universities to hospitals, what sort of entities are taking advantage of this opportunity? And what should consumers and engineers know about the program? Evan discusses all that and more with Walter Johnston, Former Chief of the Electromagnetic Compatibility Division in the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology. (Disclaimer)

Experimenting with the FCC

With the broadcast repack in full swing and the race to 5G heating up, tower work is essential to getting those efforts across the finish line. Demand for tower crews is sky high—whether it's working a 50-foot cell tower or a 2,000-foot broadcast tower. And it's easy to take for granted when our cell phones and televisions work, but it's not magic or pixie dust. It's hard, often gritty, and even dangerous work that ensures America's communications services continue to work well and are upgraded as technology improves. So what efforts are underway to develop and strengthen this vital workforce, particularly when it comes to women? Evan is joined by Andy Lee of Lee Antenna and Line Service and Chairwoman of the Women of NATE (National Association of Tower Erectors) and Miranda Allen of Radio Frequency Safety International and a member of the Women of NATE Committee. (Disclaimer)

Women in Wireless

Local news is important for many reasons, but it's often said that local broadcasters are at their finest when disaster strikes. We've seen this time and again, whether it was the hurricanes in Florida, Puerto Rico, and Houston, or other crises that impacted communities across the country. And we saw it when wild fires and mud slides hit California. So, what role did broadcasting play in public safety and the response to these months-long disasters? What sort of coordination happened between TV and radio stations and first responders? For the first time, the FCC podcast hits the road as Evan is joined by Mark Danielson, general manager of the News Press Gazette Company, which owns Santa Barbara's KEYT, where this episode was recorded. (Disclaimer)

Broadcasting in Wildfires

The U.S. has made tremendous strides over the past two decades in connecting Americans to high-speed broadband. But hurdles remain, as 24 million Americans still lack access. This is particularly true for sparsely populated areas where the economics of broadband are challenging. While only 2% of urban residents lack access, that number increases to 30% for rural residents. The FCC's number one mission is the close the Digital Divide, and there are many efforts under way, including the recent "Connect American Fund Phase II" auction. How does the auction work, and what will it mean for rural America? Joining Evan is Chelsea Fallon, Director of the FCC's Rural Broadband Auctions Task Force. For more information on the auction results, check out the FCC's interactive CAF II map. (Disclaimer)

Connecting America

It's not just you—everyone is getting robocalled. By one estimate, 50% of all calls will be spam by the end of 2019. To be sure, robocalls have been a problem for decades, but it seems like recently we've gotten to a boiling point, particularly when it comes to our cell phones. How did we get here, and what's being done about it? Evan is joined by Mark Stone, Deputy Bureau Chief of the FCC's Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau. They discuss the history of robocalls, the laws that combat them, and the actions the FCC is taking to stamp them out. Is there such a thing as a "good" robocall? And what is "neighborhood spoofing?" What can consumers and companies do to avoid scams? For more information, see the FCC's guide on unwanted calls and texts. (Disclaimer)

Robocalls

With the midterm elections fast approaching, political ads are sure to be flooding your TVs and radios. The Federal Election Commission certainly has plenty of work to do, but what role will the FCC play, given that radio and television are under its jurisdiction? Evan is joined by Bobby Baker, Assistant Division Chief of the Policy Division in the FCC's Media Bureau. They discuss the FCC's political ad rules—from equal time and opportunity to lowest unit prices to the always-exciting paperwork requirements. And how did Bobby go from being a touring music man in the 70s and 80s to running point at the FCC on political ad regulations? (Disclaimer)

I'm Evan, And I Approve This Podcast

In 2013, Hank Hunt's daughter, Kari, was attacked and killed by her estranged husband in a Marshall, Texas hotel room. Kari's nine-year-old daughter was in the room and tried calling 911 on the hotel phone. She dialed 911 four times as her mother was attacked. But not one of her calls ever went through. Why? The hotel phone required guests to dial a "9" before calling outside the hotel—even for 911. Since that day, Hank has worked tirelessly—and successfully—with the FCC and Congress to change the law so that a "9" is no longer needed for 911 calls from multi-line systems like hotel phones. His efforts culminated in Kari's Law becoming the law of the land on Feb. 16, 2018. Hank joins Chairman Pai to share his story and discuss his five-year journey to enact Kari's law, including his work with the FCC. (Disclaimer)

The Personal Story Behind Kari's Law

On January 13, 2018, a false ballistic missile alert went out all over Hawaii. The message caused 38 minutes of panic and confusion until corrections were sent to residents' cell phones, televisions and radios through Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and the Emergency Alert System (EAS). When went wrong in Hawaii, and what did the FCC find in its investigation and report? While what happened in Hawaii may be an extreme example, Americans have become familiar with emergency alerts over the years—from flash flood and tornado warnings to AMBER Alerts when children go missing. What are some of the successes of the system, and what are some of the challenges? What is the FCC doing to improve WEAs, particularly when it comes to geotargeting and providing more information through the alerts? What should listeners expect when FEMA conducts a nationwide test on October 3, 2018? (Note: that test was originally scheduled for September 20). And finally, what do the latest innovations on the horizon mean for public safety? Evan discusses all that and more with Lisa Fowlkes, Chief of the FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau. (Disclaimer)

This Is Not A Drill

On September 7, Hurricane Irma struck Puerto Rico. And not even two weeks later, on September 20, Hurricane Maria followed. The damage was catastrophic, as over 90 percent of the commercial, public safety, and governmental communications systems went down. For those that remained online, fuel shortages, power outages, and other issues further strained public safety and law enforcement operations. What was the FCC's role in the wake of these storms? Evan is joined by Roberto Mussenden, an attorney in the FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, where he works to ensure that first responders can communicate with one another during emergencies. They discuss Roberto's visits to Puerto Rico, the FCC's response efforts, and where things stand almost a year later. (Disclaimer)

Puerto Rico Se Levanta

How did you first learn about the FCC? Maybe it was the court fight over George Carlin's "Seven Dirty Words." Or maybe it was the fallout from the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show. Or maybe it some other controversy. Whatever it was, there's a lot more to the FCC than the headlines might suggest. This agency has over 1,400 employees and 80 years of history. There's countless untold stories and unsung heroes, and this podcast will bring you those stories. Maybe we'll even achieve the impossible: make telecom interesting. So sit back, relax, and get to know the FCC. (Disclaimer)

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