The FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau has granted special temporary authority (STA) to the Navajo Nation (located in portions of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah) to tap into more wireless broadband. 

The FCC will allow use of unassigned spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band to provide wireless broadband to its reservation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant extends for the next 60 days. 

Related: FCC Lends Spectrum to Pueblos in New Mexico 

The emergency relief STA is separate from the FCC's current application process for tribal entities to seek licensed access to unassigned 2.5 GHz spectrum. That window closes Aug. 3, 2020. 

“Tribal communities are having to adjust to the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic while already facing some of the greatest challenges caused by the digital divide that we see anywhere in the nation," said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. "As with any community—rural or urban—Tribal members are having to work from home and to rely increasingly on telemedicine and remote learning as they practice social distancing to minimize the spread of the virus on their reservations. This additional spectrum should help the leaders of the Navajo Nation meet the needs of its people during this challenging time."

Critics of the old "Team Telecom" review process--FCC commissioner Michael O'Rielly notable among them--can break out the bubbly.  

The Justice Department, on behalf of itself, and the Defense and Homeland Security Departments, said Wednesday (April 8) that they will not oppose Google's FCC application temporarily to operate a subset cable between the U.S. and Taiwan, but has conditioned its support on various security and reporting guarantees. They said that without those conditions "a direct cable connection between the United States and Hong Kong would pose an unacceptable risk to the national security and law enforcement interests of the United States." 

According to Justice, it will be the last advisory under the legacy "Team Telecom," ad hoc, government national security review. That has been replaced by a new, high-level Executive Branch review by committee of FCC license applications. The review is of foreign participation in U.S. networks and whether granting a license would be a national security threat. That new committee was established by Executive Order of the President April 4.  

Google said it was applying for the special temporary authority to meet the current international demand for traffic, a worldwide demand fueled by the current pandemic. 

If the FCC approves, Google will get a temporary license to operate a portion of the Pacific Light Cable Network system connecting the U.S. with Taiwan for six months. But that is only long as the FCC requires Google to adhere to certain obligations.  

Google (through its GU Holdings) and the agencies agreed Wednesday (April 8) on a Provisional National Security Agreement that includes notice obligations, security guarantees and reporting duties, among others. Google has committed to diversify interconnection points in Asia and deliver traffic as close to its ultimate destination "as is practicable." 

The FCC has freed up some spectrum in its inventory and granted yet another special temporary authority (STA) to help handle the broadband traffic spike due to COVID-19. 

Related: FCC Lends WISPs 5.9 GHz Spectrum for Pandemic-Driven Traffic 

The FCC said Monday (March 30) that it had freed up some unassigned 2.5 GHz spectrum to provide wireless broadband to a learning center on the reservation of the Pueblo of Zuni in New Mexico. 

Related: AT&T Gets STA for Puerto Rico, V.I. 

In addition to the emergency access to the 2.5 GHz spectrum, the FCC continues to give priority to applications from tribes for licensed access to the 2.5 GHz spectrum. That priority window is scheduled to close Aug. 3 and the temporary use of the spectrum does not affect its availability in that tribal application window.

Related: Latest News on Coronavirus Impact on TV

“Providing temporary access to this spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band is important because it will help ensure connectivity to Tribal consumers during this time of increased demand,” said FCC chair Ajit Pai in a statement. “Additional spectrum capacity is needed to address the temporary surge in broadband usage during the COVID-19 pandemic. I’ve seen the digital divide on Tribal lands, including Pueblos in New Mexico. That’s why I’m committed to finding creative solutions, like today’s grant of emergency relief, to keep Tribal lands connected.”