With grid, pipeline reliability at stake, energy sector takes on US telecom regulator

A broad cross section of the energy industry has been in battle with the Federal Communications Commission over a band of airwaves, called spectrum, that tech and telecom companies gained the right to operate their mass-market wireless devices on last year. Because this spectrum is finite, it is allocated by the federal government, with the FCC managing commercial spectrum licenses.

But the energy sector has argued that the FCC doesn’t consider criticality as it’s doling out those airwaves. And this has created a situation in which power, oil and gas companies contend that the FCC has taken actions that could harm their ability to bolster grid and pipeline reliability.

Senior editor Jasmin Melvin spoke with American Public Power Association CEO Joy Ditto about the implications of an FCC order that was adopted last year despite vocal opposition from almost every major power and gas trade group and pushback from both the Department of Energy and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Stick around after the interview for Starr Spencer with the Market Minute, a look at near-term oil market drivers.