The FCC will still conduct an open meeting next week whether the ongoing partial government shutdown comes to end beforehand or not – though there likely won’t be much action as no items will be voted on.  

The meeting slated for Wednesday, Jan. 30 will take place, starting at 11 a.m. instead of 10:30 a.m., the agency said Wednesday. If the lapse in funding continues through Jan. 29 the meeting will happen via a conference call and participants can listen to “audio only.” 

If the government reopens prior to that, the meeting will take place in Washington, D.C., and there will be access to a live webcast as usual, but it will still only involve announcements and items laid out in a tentative agenda released Jan. 3 will not be considered.

Though most operations at the FCC have been temporarily halted due to the partial government shutdown (the longest-ever and now in day 33), the five FCC commissioners have remained active as they’re considered essential personnel.

Work related to spectrum auctions, including the ongoing 28 GHz auction – also known as Auction 101 – also continues at the FCC since they are funded by proceeds rather than federal government appropriations.  

The 28 GHz spectrum license auction is winding down and so far has raised about $702 million in provisionally winning bids.