The FCC’s NPRM on AI and robocalls that commissioners approved Wednesday saw numerous changes from its draft version, beyond the addition of a notice of inquiry (see 2408070037). Incompas and the Cloud Communications Alliance asked the FCC to move parts to a NOI, citing the lack of specific proposals (see 2408050029). “The item itself is seemingly more of an investigation into the state of AI technologies rather than a series of specific proposals,” they said.
FCC commissioners on Wednesday unanimously approved an NPRM aimed at reducing unwanted AI robocalls, as expected (see 2408050029). Commissioner Nathan Simington raised concerns about part of the notice, with which he would only concur. Responding to concerns that Incompas and Cloud Communications Alliance raised, officials said some questions were moved to a notice of inquiry. Commissioners during their open meeting approved 5-0 a pair of other items (see 2408070047).
FCC commissioners are expected to approve at Wednesday's open meeting, largely as circulated, a draft NPRM aimed at reducing unwanted AI robocalls. Industry officials active in the proceeding predicted few tweaks based on the limited number of ex parte filings in docket 23-362.
Representatives of Incompas and the Cloud Communications Alliance urged the FCC to restructure an NPRM as a notice of inquiry. The NPRM considers consumer protection against AI-generated robocalls. The draft doesn’t “identify or propose any specific technology, making it virtually impossible to meaningfully weigh costs and benefits,” the groups said in a filing posted Thursday in docket 23-363: If, based on comments received, the FCC "commits to specific implementation requirements in a subsequent Report and Order, the two-week window for comment on a public draft would provide industry with insufficient time to respond to detailed proposals or to weigh the costs and obligations associated with deploying AI technologies in their voice service networks.” In addition, the groups said they discussed the importance of IP interconnection to the success of FCC-adopted robocall mitigation and call authentication efforts. The associations met with aides to the five commissioners and staff from the Consumer and Governmental Affairs and Wireline bureaus. Commissioners will vote on it Wednesday (see 2407170055).
Reps. Nikki Budzinski, D-Ill., and Mike Carey, R-Ohio, led filing of a House companion to the Secure and Affordable Broadband Extension Act (S-4317) Tuesday in a bid to give the FCC’s lapsed affordable connectivity program $6 billion in stopgap funding for FY 2024. Senate Communications Subcommittee Chairman Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., filed S-4317 in May after he unsuccessfully attempted to attach identical language to the FAA reauthorization package (see 2405090068). The measure would couple the stopgap ACP funding with changes to the program’s scope and eligibility rules. Affordable Broadband Campaign spokesperson Gigi Sohn praised Budzinski and Carey for filing S-4317’s House companion. In a statement, Sohn said, “There is no excuse not to move this legislation forward.” Also praising the lawmakers were the ACLU, Common Sense Media, Incompas, National Digital Inclusion Alliance, National Lifeline Association, New America’s Open Technology Institute and Public Knowledge.
Congressional GOP leaders demanded Thursday that the FCC and other independent agencies adhere strictly to its narrowed leeway of interpreting federal laws following the U.S. Supreme Court’s June Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo decision and other recent rulings that rein in federal agencies (see 2407080039). House Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington and Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer of Kentucky pressed the FCC, FTC and Commerce Department to understand the “limitations” Loper “set on your authority” given it overruled the Chevron doctrine. Meanwhile, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr pooh-poohed critics of Loper who argue it hamstrings regulatory agencies. Communications-focused lawyers at an Incompas event eyed a range of legal challenges to recent FCC actions that could face improved prospects because of Loper.
An FCC proposed handset unlocking NPRM will likely receive unanimous approval at the commissioners' open meeting Thursday, probably with minimum tweaks, lawyers and others in the proceeding told us. Currently, among the national carriers, only Verizon is subject to broad unlocking requirements, though T-Mobile faces some owing to its Mint Mobile and Ultra Mobile acquisition. The notice proposes all mobile providers unlock a consumer’s handset 60 days after it's activated.
Open network architecture is a flourishing trend beyond 5G and open radio access networks, speakers said Wednesday during a Broadband Breakfast webinar. The wholesale model has worked for the middle mile and in wireless, Incompas President Angie Kronenberg said: “It’s exciting to see the discussion now happening about last-mile connectivity and fiber.”
Broadcast groups demanded that the FCC acknowledge their industry’s increasing competition with tech companies and loosen regulations. Meanwhile, the Free State Foundation and Public Knowledge seek more spectrum, according to reply comments filed by Monday’s deadline in docket 24-119. The comments will inform the 2024 State of Competition in the Communications Marketplace report to Congress (see 2406070001)
Officials with the 12 GHz for 5G Coalition remain hopeful that FCC action in coming months will allow use of the lower 12 GHz band for fixed-wireless deployments, they said in interviews. In addition, should the FCC act soon, the band could still play a part in some state proposals under the broadband equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program, the officials said. The coalition had hoped for action early in 2024 (see 2312270045).