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Protection District also filed a petition, arguing the commission "wholly failed to consider public safety" when it repealed net neutrality.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.

FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks' top priority for the next few weeks is ensuring as many people as possible can access the $3.2 billion emergency broadband benefit program. He told Incompas Tuesday it could reach more low-income households and communities of color than any other program to help close the digital divide (see 2102090079). It's important to broadly publicize the program and encourage ISPs to participate, he added.

House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., hoped the COVID-19 aid package Democrats are aiming to pass via budget reconciliation includes additional E-rate funding. Pallone emphasized during an Incompas event the committee’s part of the pandemic bill, which it intends to mark up Thursday, is unlikely to address other telecom matters. More broadband money is almost certain to make it into additional economic aid measures and an infrastructure bill targeted for later this year, Pallone said.

Reconsider net neutrality rules, Public Knowledge petitioned for FCC reconsideration Monday. Incompas filed similar last week (see 2102050042). The commission "failed to follow proper procedure" when it issued a public notice to "refresh" the record rather than adopt an NPRM, PK argued. "In its rush to get its deregulatory orders out the door, the commission cut many procedural corners," said Kathleen Burke, PK policy counsel, in a statement: "This alone provides ground for the FCC to reopen and reverse its previous determinations."

Reconsider net neutrality rules, Public Knowledge petitioned for FCC reconsideration Monday. Incompas filed similar last week (see 2102050042). The commission "failed to follow proper procedure" when it issued a public notice to "refresh" the record rather than adopt an NPRM, PK argued. "In its rush to get its deregulatory orders out the door, the commission cut many procedural corners," said Kathleen Burke, PK policy counsel, in a statement: "This alone provides ground for the FCC to reopen and reverse its previous determinations."

Adopting final service rules for the 12 GHz band will probably take the FCC at least 18 months, with more engineering and other study needed, experts said Monday during an Incompas webinar. Commissioners approved an NPRM 5-0 in January (see 2101130067) at the last meeting under then-Chairman Ajit Pai. Experts said comments will help the FCC decide what action to take.

Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and others cited the 25th anniversary Monday of the Telecom Act’s signing as a jumping-off point for a range of communications and tech policy proposals for this year, including the need for more broadband funding in coming legislation. Some noted the importance of the ongoing debate over revamping Communications Decency Act Section 230, enacted as part of the 1996 law.

California’s net neutrality law still faces industry challenge after DOJ notified (in Pacer) the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of California Monday that it moved to voluntarily dismiss the case (see 2102080059). Judge John Mendez soon afterward dismissed (in Pacer) and closed case 2:18-cv-02660, but not USTelecom, ACA Connects and other industry associations’ separate suit in case 2:18-cv-02684 before the same judge. Democrats applauded DOJ's withdrawing.

California’s net neutrality law still faces industry challenge after DOJ notified (in Pacer) the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of California Monday that it moved to voluntarily dismiss the case (see 2102080059). Judge John Mendez soon afterward dismissed (in Pacer) and closed case 2:18-cv-02660, but not USTelecom, ACA Connects and other industry associations’ separate suit in case 2:18-cv-02684 before the same judge. Democrats applauded DOJ's withdrawing.

Reinstate broadband internet access service's Title II telecom service classification and reestablish net neutrality rules, Incompas asked the FCC in a docket 17-108 filing emailed Friday. Larger providers have "the incentive and ability to harm competition and consumers as they have done in the past and will continue to do so in the future" if the commission doesn't reinstate the rules under Communications Act Title II, Incompas said in its petition for reconsideration on the commission's 2017 net neutrality repeal (see 2101070067). "It's time for the FCC to right a wrong, look to the future, and listen to the overwhelming majority of Americans who support bipartisan open internet protections," said CEO Chip Pickering.