FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL memorandum TO: The Commission FROM: Jacob Lewis Associate General Counsel SUBJECT: Briefs and Arguments Scheduled for December 2021 and January 2022 DATE: December 1, 2021 BRIEFS SCHEDULED TO BE FILED January 3, 2022 Foundation for a Beautiful Life v. FCC, No. 21-71266 (9th Cir.). Challenge to the Commission’s determination that rules for low-power radio stations will apply only to applications that were not the subject of any staff determinations as of the effective date of the new rules. January 5, 2022 City of Eugene, Or. v. USA & FCC, No. 21-661 (S. Ct.). Challenge to the Sixth Circuit’s decision affirming in part the Commission’s order Implementation of Section 621(a)(1) of the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984, 34 FCC Rcd 6844 (2019). The petitioners contend that, in upholding the Commission’s determination that the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984, 47 U.S.C. §§ 521-573, preempts state and local governments from assessing fees on cable operators for use of rights-of-way to provide non-cable services, such as broadband internet, the Sixth Circuit created an express conflict with precedent from the Oregon Supreme Court. The petitioners further contend that certiorari review is required because a future circuit court split is unlikely and the decision will have significant impact on competition in the communications industry. January 21, 2022 Nat’l Ass’n of Broad. v. FCC, No. 21-1171 (D.C. Cir.). Challenge to broadcaster disclosure requirements for programming leased by foreign government entities and agents. January 24, 2022 Consumers Research, et al v. FCC, No. 21-3886 (6th Cir.). Challenge to the Universal Service contribution factor established in Proposed Fourth Quarter 2021 Universal Service Contribution Factor, DA 21-1134 ORAL ARGUMENTS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD December 3, 2021 Viasat, Inc. v. FCC, No. 21-1123 (D.C. Cir.). Challenge to the Commission’s decision to modify licenses held by SpaceX to deploy a constellation of low-earth-orbit satellites to provide broadband service, and to the Commission’s conclusion that such satellite service would not cause harmful interference to existing direct broadcast satellite operations. December 7, 2021 Children’s Health Def. v. FCC, No. 21-1075 (D.C. Cir.). Challenge to the FCC’s January 2021 order revising the over-the-air reception device (OTARD) rule, which generally prohibits restrictions on the ability of antenna users to install or use over-the-air reception devices. The petitioners contend that the FCC’s revisions to the rule will increase antenna deployment and, by extension, harmful exposure to radiofrequency energy. January 14, 2022 Northstar Wireless, LLC v. FCC, No. 18-1209 (D.C. Cir.). Challenge to the Commission’s procedures and decision on remand from the D.C. Circuit concerning the petitioners’ claimed eligibility for bidding credits in a spectrum auction. January 25, 2022 Intelligent Transp. Soc’y of Am. v. FCC, No. 21-1130 (D.C. Cir.). Challenge the Commission’s reallocation of 45 MHz of the 5.9 GHz band for unlicensed wireless use and specification of a particular protocol (C- V2X) for intelligent transportation operations. 2