Update: Last of the New Signal Booster Rules Now In Effect

The last of the rule revisions adopted by the FCC to help improve cell phone reception has now taken effect, thanks to a notice published in the Federal Register. This proceeding, aimed at allowing use of cellular signal boosters, last showed up on our radar here in the CommLawBlog bunker last fall, when the Commission grappled with a number of petitions for reconsideration directed to its initial Report and Order (adopted the previous year). That resulted in some tweaking of the rules. But one of those tweaks needed approval from the Office of Management and Budget, so that particular rule section has been sitting on the sidelines for the last 10 months or so. No longer! That last provision has finally received the OMB OK, so it's now in effect.

The provision in question - Section 20.21(f)(1)(iv)(A)(2) of the rules - sets out some required labeling language for Consumer Signal Boosters certified for fixed indoor operation.

Is this the end of the line for this proceeding? Not quite. In its September, 2014 decision the FCC left one loose end - whether to remove the "personal use" restriction in place for Provider-Specific Signal Boosters. That question remains pending. Check back here for updates.