LA QUINTA, Calif. -- The FCC seemed more open to collaboration with states in its final NPRM for its rulemaking to possibly reclassify broadband as a Title II service, a California Public Utilities Commission staffer said during a panel Tuesday at NARUC’s meeting here. NARUC Telecom Committee Chairman Tim Schram told us Monday that the state regulator association would probably have a resolution about the FCC net neutrality rulemaking at its February meeting in Washington (see 2311130063).
LA QUINTA, Calif. -- Congress should continue “lifeblood connectivity” provided through the affordable connectivity program (ACP), Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Chairman Stephen DeFrank said in an interview at this week’s NARUC meeting. Expect broadband, universal service and pole attachments to be key issues for the state PUC in the year ahead, he said. Industry officials debated possible USF changes during a Tuesday panel.
Industry sought some edits to a sweeping update to state telecom rules under consideration at the Texas Public Utility Commission. The PUC received comments Friday to Sept. 26 proposed changes to Texas Chapter 26 substantive telecommunications rules (docket 54589). The Texas Telephone Association (TTA) commended the PUC’s "Herculean effort in crafting proposed changes to the entire chapter on telephone regulations all at once."
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel circulated two NPRMs on the 10th floor that would seek comment on requiring MVPDs to refund subscribers affected by programming blackouts due to retransmission consent negotiations and report such blackouts to the FCC within 24 hours, said a news release Wednesday. MVPDs are likely to object to the proposals, which would likely increase pressure on them during retrans negotiations. “Enough with the blackouts,” said Rosenworcel in the release. “When consumers with traditional cable and satellite service turn on the screen, they should get what they pay for,” she said. “If the screen stays dark, they deserve a refund.”
The FCC reopened the possibility of making changes to its spectrum screen, focused on mid-band frequencies, seeking comment on a 2021 petition by AT&T asking for a rulemaking (see 2309220064). Industry experts said that doesn’t mean action is necessarily forthcoming, though some believe it could be. Comments are due on the public notice Oct. 23, replies Nov. 8, in docket 23-319.
The 2024 presidential election shouldn’t, and likely won’t, deter FCC Democrats from moving forward on their policy agenda now that they're on the cusp of a 3-2 majority well over two years into President Joe Biden’s term, said lawmakers and former commission officials in interviews. Many expect a flurry of FCC activity once Democrat Anna Gomez, confirmed by the Senate earlier this month, formally signs on as a commissioner 2309070081). Multiple FCC-watchers and former officials pooh-poohed the conventional wisdom that the agency avoids major, controversial actions during election years.
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission voted 5-0 Thursday to move forward on an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANOPR) on amending state USF rules. The PUC during a livestreamed meeting approved a bid by Chairman Gladys Brown Dutrieuille to seek comment on what she said are “broad questions about the challenges of supporting voice and internet networks and services” as part of the ANOPR. The PUC postponed considering the rulemaking proposal in early August (see 2308020057). Comments on the ANOPR in docket L-2023-3040646 are due 90 days after its publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, with replies due within 120 days.
ARRL, which represents amateur operators, slammed an April petition by the Shortwave Modernization Coalition (SMC) asking the FCC to launch a rulemaking to amend its eligibility and technical rules for industrial/business pool licensees to authorize licensed use of frequencies above 2 MHz and below 25 MHz for fixed, long-distance, non-voice communications (see 2305010053). SMC defended the petition in two filings. Hundreds of amateur operators warned the proposal would be harmful to their operations (see 2307270035). Comments were posted Friday in RM-11953.
An upcoming Supreme Court decision in Biden v. Nebraska, which concerns the White House’s student loan forgiveness program, could clarify to what degree the court’s major questions doctrine (see 2302080064) could be used to challenge the actions of federal agencies such as the FCC, said HWG's Chris Wright and FCC Deputy General Counsel Jacob Lewis Thursday on a virtual FCBA panel.
California local governments removed opposition to a bill meant to streamline broadband infrastructure deployment, they said at a California Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee meeting livestreamed Tuesday. The panel cleared AB-965 and three other broadband bills passed last month by the Assembly. One senator pushed back on AB-1065, which would explicitly authorize wireless broadband providers to get support from the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) broadband infrastructure grant and federal funding accounts.