Industry and advocates asked the FCC for some flexibility in its affordable connectivity program outreach grants and to prioritize nonprofit organizations, in comments posted Thursday in docket 21-450. The FCC also sought comments on its proposed pilot program to boost enrollment among households in public housing communities and on how to determine eligibility for an up to $75 monthly benefit for households living in high-cost areas.
Gabriella Novello
Gabriella Novello, Assistant Editor, is a journalist for Communications Daily covering telecommunications and the Federal Communications Commission. She joined the Warren Communications News staff in 2020, after covering election integrity and the 2020 presidential election at WhoWhatWhy. She received her bachelor's degree in journalism with a minor in health promotion at American University. You can follow Novello on Instagram and Twitter: @NOVELLOGAB.
FCC commissioners held their monthly meeting Wednesday at the agency’s new headquarters for the first time, making it the first in-person meeting for commissioners since the COVID-19 pandemic caused the agency to shift to remote work. "We hope to use today's open meeting as a first step toward welcoming the agency and the public into our new building," Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said at the meeting, which was also in part held virtually. Media and the public couldn't attend in person.
Few changes are likely to be made to the FCC’s draft Further NPRM on pole replacement disputes and notice of inquiry on digital discrimination in broadband access, aides told us. The items are expected to be unanimously approved during Wednesday’s commissioners' meeting.
The FCC’s forthcoming broadband consumer labels should be “simple, consistent, and easy for consumers to use,” said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel Friday during the agency’s first virtual public hearing on the labels (see 2203100059). Current disclosures “are not consistent from carrier to carrier, so it’s really hard to compare service and prices,” Rosenworcel said, and there’s “no time to waste” given Congress’ one-year deadline to adopt new labels.
Industry, state officials and advocacy groups disagreed how the FCC should proceed in adopting new broadband consumer labels, in comments posted Thursday in docket 22-2 (see 2201280038). Industry disagreed whether certain information should be required or optional, while state officials and advocacy groups called for strong enforcement and regular publishing of the labels online and on consumer bills. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) required the FCC to adopt labels and hold public hearings on the issue (see 2201270030).
The transition from the FCC’s emergency broadband benefit program to the affordable connectivity program has been largely smooth for most providers, said Wireline Bureau staff and industry during an FCBA webinar Wednesday (see 2111230058). Some providers said it was challenging to meet the transition deadline, and they're now focused on increasing enrollment.
A draft FCC Further NPRM to seek comment on resolving pole attachment and replacement disputes would expedite the broadband deployment to come through programs funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, industry experts told us. Commissioners will consider the draft during the agency's March 16 meeting, which would seek comment on several concerns raised in a 2020 NCTA petition and costs associated with pole replacements or attachments (see 2007170023).
States have a “really big job ahead of them” as they prepare for NTIA’s broadband, equity, access and deployment program (BEAD), said NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield during a webinar with the Fiber Broadband Association Friday. The groups unveiled a playbook with recommendations for states as they prepare for NTIA’s forthcoming notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) on the $42.5 billion program, funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which Bloomfield said will serve as a “valuable resource.”
Congress and the FCC “need to make permanent a lot of the regulatory relief” and waivers that “enabled a real spike in telehealth usage,” said Commissioner Brendan Carr during a virtual symposium Thursday recognizing broadband access, adoption and use as a social determinant of health. The FCC has “got to make sure that we get affordable internet connections to every community,” Carr said.
A draft FCC notice of inquiry seeking comment on how to combat digital discrimination could shed light on the issue's severity, given the limited information currently available, public interest organizations told us. Commissioners will consider the item during its March 16 meeting (see 2202220069). Some advocates disagree how the FCC should define the term and say ISPs may push back on claims they may be engaging in digital discrimination.