More stakeholders want acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel to begin moving forward on USF funding revisions (see 2102010059). The current mechanism is unsustainable, experts said in recent interviews. Many disagree on changes.
More stakeholders want acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel to begin moving forward on USF funding revisions (see 2102010059). The current mechanism is unsustainable, experts said in recent interviews. Many disagree on changes.
House Communications Subcommittee Democrats and Republicans cited conflicting priorities for addressing broadband in COVID-19 and infrastructure bills during Wednesday's hearing, as expected (see 2102160067). Democrats focused on their proposed $7.6 billion for remote E-rate as part of a pandemic-focused budget reconciliation package and on plans to seek broadband funding in a coming infrastructure bill. Republicans criticized aspects of those plans, citing alternatives they issued this week focused partly on streamlining regulations to speed up broadband deployment.
House Communications Subcommittee Democrats and Republicans cited conflicting priorities for addressing broadband in COVID-19 and infrastructure bills during Wednesday's hearing, as expected (see 2102160067). Democrats focused on their proposed $7.6 billion for remote E-rate as part of a pandemic-focused budget reconciliation package and on plans to seek broadband funding in a coming infrastructure bill. Republicans criticized aspects of those plans, citing alternatives they issued this week focused partly on streamlining regulations to speed up broadband deployment.
Comments support a CTA proposal to allow the limited marketing and sales of wireless devices to consumers before equipment authorization, as long as those devices aren't provided to consumers until authorized by the FCC. Many sought changes to further liberalize the rules, including raising the number of devices that would qualify for a waiver. Comments were posted Friday in docket 20-382. Commissioners approved an NPRM 5-0 in December (see 2012100069).
Comments support a CTA proposal to allow the limited marketing and sales of wireless devices to consumers before equipment authorization, as long as those devices aren't provided to consumers until authorized by the FCC. Many sought changes to further liberalize the rules, including raising the number of devices that would qualify for a waiver. Comments were posted Friday in docket 20-382. Commissioners approved an NPRM 5-0 in December (see 2012100069).
The FCC has taken several actions in recent years to curb Illegal robocalls, with a multipronged approach to stop bad actors, lawyers told Incompas Tuesday. They said providers should adopt a mitigation program that best suits their network and is reasonably expected to reduce robocalls. “It’s all about flexibility,” and any bump in the road needs to be addressed quickly, said Gunnar Halley, Microsoft assistant general counsel. The FCC should consider taking a moment to pause and see how its efforts are panning out, said Sheba Chacko, BT Americas chief regulatory counsel.
The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction continues to get criticism about certain winning bidders’ ability to deliver broadband and the speeds they bid on (see 2101190069). One of the “biggest elephants in the room” has been whether fixed wireless providers can deliver the gigabit-tier service they bid on, IdeaTek Telecom Chief Innovation Officer Daniel Friesen told an Incompas event Tuesday: “We’re confused because we don’t see that the market has the type of scalable technology, especially in rural areas.” Friesen said it's surprising the full $16 billion from Phase I wasn't awarded. Even with potential market failures, the auction was an overall success, said Brian Regan, Starry vice president-legal, policy and strategy. There are “certainly issues” with FCC broadband data, and the money would have been better targeted if the maps were better, he said: “The FCC did the best it could with what it had.” It's important to see how broadband maps are used during Phase II of the auction, said Mammoth Networks CEO Brian Worthen. “What we don’t want to do is lock down a [census] block so that future funding in that area is not going to happen,” Worthen said. Commissioner Geoffrey Starks acknowledged earlier in the day that broadband mapping is a key part of ensuring unserved and underserved areas are covered. He expects quick action to complete new maps.
House Majority Whip James Clyburn of South Carolina confirmed Wednesday he will again seek $100 billion in broadband funding as part of coming infrastructure legislation, as expected (see 2011200056). The House Commerce Committee, meanwhile, proposed $7.6 billion in E-rate remote learning funding as part of its portion of the coming COVID-19 budget reconciliation measure. It’s bringing the bill up for a committee markup Thursday, also as expected (see 2102090079). Commerce Democrats’ decision to fast-track consideration of the measure drew committee Republicans' ire.
Reclassify broadband as a Communications Act Title II service, advocates urged the FCC in a petition for reconsideration in docket 17-108 Tuesday. Petitioners are Common Cause, the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, United Church of Christ, National Hispanic Media Coalition, New America’s Open Technology Institute and Free Press. Santa Clara County, California, and its Central Fire Protection District also filed a petition, arguing the commission "wholly failed to consider public safety" when it repealed net neutrality. Incompas and Public Knowledge filed similar petitions in the past week (see 2102080061). The FCC didn't respond to a request for comment.