House Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., requested a GAO review Wednesday of the effects of the FCC's plan to move USF funds to the Treasury Department as early as this year. “Advancing universal service is one of the core tenants of the FCC’s mission, and any transfer should only follow close review and rigorous oversight,” Welch and Pallone said in a letter to Comptroller General Gene Dodaro. “We are concerned that the FCC seems poised to transfer the entire fund without having run a public process to assess the consequences of its action.” The GAO review should in part examine what controls the FCC has in place for the planned funding transfer and its process for analyzing potential obligations on USF that would result from the transfer. Democratic National Committee Vice Chairman Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., and other House Democrats previously urged FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to reconsider the USF funds transfer plan (see 1709130058). The FCC and GAO didn't comment.

House Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., requested a GAO review Wednesday of the effects of the FCC's plan to move USF funds to the Treasury Department as early as this year. “Advancing universal service is one of the core tenants of the FCC’s mission, and any transfer should only follow close review and rigorous oversight,” Welch and Pallone said in a letter to Comptroller General Gene Dodaro. “We are concerned that the FCC seems poised to transfer the entire fund without having run a public process to assess the consequences of its action.” The GAO review should in part examine what controls the FCC has in place for the planned funding transfer and its process for analyzing potential obligations on USF that would result from the transfer. Democratic National Committee Vice Chairman Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., and other House Democrats previously urged FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to reconsider the USF funds transfer plan (see 1709130058). The FCC and GAO didn't comment.

Critics of the FCC’s net neutrality order say it reveals problems with Chairman Ajit Pai’s proposed Office of Economics and Data (OED). Supporters of keeping in place the 2015 rules said the recently approved order appears to rely on industry analysis rather than the commission's existing economists, and it’s not clear that putting economists in a single office would have meant a more rigorous, independent examination of the economic implications. Supporters of the Pai moves on net neutrality said making the FCC more focused on economics will take time. The FCC hasn't released the Dec. 14 order (see 1712140039).

The FCC provided clarification Wednesday on requirements for handsets used to test whether an area already has 4G LTE service or should qualify for Mobility Fund II support. The FCC said it will require that the handsets used are “officially supported by the latest versions of industry-standard drive test software” and “engineering-capable and able to be unlocked and put into diagnostic mode to interface with drive test software.” The FCC is also requiring that all tests be run using three devices, at least one of which uses the Android operating system. The agency said some commenters asked it to limit the cost of approved handsets to cut the costs of testing. “Handset acquisition costs are likely to be relatively small when compared to the total cost of testing and submitting challenges,” the commission said. “The record lacks evidence that handset acquisition costs will reduce challenger participation.” Test results are due Jan. 4. The FCC also adopted procedures for challengers to request access to Universal Service Administrative Co. challenge process portal. The order was by the Rural Broadband Auctions Task Force and Wireless and Wireline bureaus.

The FCC provided clarification Wednesday on requirements for handsets used to test whether an area already has 4G LTE service or should qualify for Mobility Fund II support. The FCC said it will require that the handsets used are “officially supported by the latest versions of industry-standard drive test software” and “engineering-capable and able to be unlocked and put into diagnostic mode to interface with drive test software.” The FCC is also requiring that all tests be run using three devices, at least one of which uses the Android operating system. The agency said some commenters asked it to limit the cost of approved handsets to cut the costs of testing. “Handset acquisition costs are likely to be relatively small when compared to the total cost of testing and submitting challenges,” the commission said. “The record lacks evidence that handset acquisition costs will reduce challenger participation.” Test results are due Jan. 4. The FCC also adopted procedures for challengers to request access to Universal Service Administrative Co. challenge process portal. The order was by the Rural Broadband Auctions Task Force and Wireless and Wireline bureaus.

Lawmakers focused on artificial intelligence technology filed legislation Tuesday, the day a Senate Communications Subcommittee hearing focusing on AI algorithm issues that could require congressional action. Lawmakers and industry witnesses cited the need for the federal government to encourage U.S. AI industry development, given involvement of foreign governments in expanding their countries' sectors.

Lawmakers focused on artificial intelligence technology filed legislation Tuesday, the day a Senate Communications Subcommittee hearing focusing on AI algorithm issues that could require congressional action. Lawmakers and industry witnesses cited the need for the federal government to encourage U.S. AI industry development, given involvement of foreign governments in expanding their countries' sectors.

Lawmakers focused on artificial intelligence technology filed legislation Tuesday, the day a Senate Communications Subcommittee hearing focusing on AI algorithm issues that could require congressional action. Lawmakers and industry witnesses cited the need for the federal government to encourage U.S. AI industry development, given involvement of foreign governments in expanding their countries' sectors.

The FCC pushed back the launch of a Lifeline national verifier of consumer eligibility for the low-income USF support program, citing the need to address security issues. The initial implementation of the national verifier, scheduled this month in six states, is being postponed until "early 2018," said a Wireline Bureau public notice Friday in docket 11-42.

The FCC pushed back the launch of a Lifeline national verifier of consumer eligibility for the low-income USF support program, citing the need to address security issues. The initial implementation of the national verifier, scheduled this month in six states, is being postponed until "early 2018," said a Wireline Bureau public notice Friday in docket 11-42.