Industry groups clashed with consumer advocates and wireless providers whether E-rate should be used for self-provisioning services to students, in replies posted Wednesday in docket 21-31 on a Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition's petition to temporarily support remote learning (see 2101260055). That would raise "practical, financial, and legal issues that are too complex," and funding should be used to support existing services, said Verizon. USTelecom, NTCA and NCTA agreed. ACA Connects said its members "readily install wireline service within days of getting an order," and it "exceeds the performance of mobile wireless service." A coalition of advocacy groups, including New America, Public Knowledge, Consumers Reports, Common Sense, Benton Institute for Broadband & Society and Access Humboldt, disagreed: Verizon's argument is "self-serving" and "willfully ignores the Herculean efforts many school districts have already undertaken" to connect students during the pandemic. Schools should be given the flexibility to "use hybrid approaches tailored to local circumstances," like fixed wireless services that "authenticate students directly to the school's network," the groups said. Approve the use of fixed wireless services because they can be deployed "very quickly," the Wireless ISP Association urged. Incompas agreed: Allow "hotspots, mobile wireless towers, or equipment that can reasonably be expected to support remote learning." UScellular and the National School Boards Association echoed that. "Setting aside support for any technology should be rejected in favor of permitting people to choose services that best suit their educational needs," said UScellular. Allow E-rate funds to be used for remote learning beyond the pandemic because "not all students will be able to reenter the classroom when doors reopen on day one," said Zoom.
The Biden administration should take more action on universal broadband access, trade groups wrote the White House Thursday. Reports about children doing their homework in parking lots due to a lack of broadband access are a "national tragedy," and the federal government should invest more in broadband and 5G infrastructure, per Incompas, NTCA and the Wireless Infrastructure Association. The groups asked the administration to increase "transparency and accountability by relying on verifiable maps that comply with Congress’ recently passed Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act." They support "any effort" to build on the $3.2 billion emergency broadband benefit program.
The Biden administration should take more action on universal broadband access, trade groups wrote the White House Thursday. Reports about children doing their homework in parking lots due to a lack of broadband access are a "national tragedy," and the federal government should invest more in broadband and 5G infrastructure, per Incompas, NTCA and the Wireless Infrastructure Association. The groups asked the administration to increase "transparency and accountability by relying on verifiable maps that comply with Congress’ recently passed Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act." They support "any effort" to build on the $3.2 billion emergency broadband benefit program.
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.