Jenner & Block elects lawyers to the partnership, including Jacob Tracer, member of Content, Media and Entertainment Practice focusing on "intellectual property and complex commercial disputes," and Camillie Landron, member of Communications, Internet and Technology Practice, working on FCC spectrum and other telecom issues and with the "space and satellite industries."

U.S. District Court in Burlington extended a freeze on net neutrality litigation until April 15 or when the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals resolves suits on California’s net neutrality law, whichever happens first. The court agreed Friday to a stipulation filed earlier that day by defendant Vermont and plaintiffs ACA Connects, CTIA, NCTA, USTelecom and the New England Cable & Telecommunications Association. Case 2:18-cv-167 would have resumed Jan. 3 (see 2111150060).

Satellite, wireline, wireless and broadcast industry groups almost uniformly opposed FCC proposals for stricter network resiliency requirements, in comments posted in docket 21-346 through Friday. Providers work voluntarily to share information and preserve their networks, so the FCC should “avoid unnecessary and burdensome additional regulation” said NTCA, similar to NAB, USTelecom and others. The FCC “shouldn’t take an overly prescriptive approach to unpredictable and highly variable events,” said the Competitive Carriers Association.

The U.S. is in the midst of a huge run of fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) deployments by broadband providers, though its reach will remain outside a significant part of the country, an ACA Connects webinar heard Thursday. Many providers are transitioning to fiber, but that transition is focused on profitable areas and leaves behind minority communities, some said.

Providers, local governments and advocates welcomed FCC-proposed rules for the $14.2 billion affordable connectivity program, in comments posted Thursday in docket 21-450. Some raised concerns about potential implementation challenges as the agency shifts from the $3.1 billion emergency broadband benefit program and urged the commission to allow flexibility for EBB providers and enrolled households during the transition.

ISP groups may file briefs Feb. 23 on New York’s appeal of a lower court rejection of the state’s broadband affordability law, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Wednesday. The court granted three requests by ACA Connects, the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association, and CTIA, NTCA, USTelecom and New York State Telecommunications Association in case 21-1975 (see 2112060042).

Broadband and housing advocates want more FCC scrutiny over multi-tenant environments and the deals MTE building owners make with providers, said replies posted Monday in docket 17-142 (see 2110210053). Some said exclusivity agreements could hamper enrollment efforts in the upcoming $14.2 billion Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). MTE trade groups rejected additional regulation.

The Electronic Privacy Information Center and the National Consumer Law Center urged the FCC to look closely at small carriers before deciding on their deadlines for implementing Stir/Shaken rules. The Competitive Carriers Association said carriers acting in good faith need maximum time. In May, the FCC agreed to move up the deadline a year for some small carriers to June 30, 2022, but asked about which should still benefit from the later deadline (see 2105200072). “Because of the ongoing plague of fraudulent robocalls that are still bombarding our telephone lines, we urge the Commission to take an aggressive response in regulating the providers that are bad actors,” EPIC and the NCLC said. “Only permit extensions to providers who have a history of strict compliance with all of the Commission’s requirements,” they said: “Compel participation in a more robust monitoring regime of providers who are dumping the dangerous calls into the American telephone network and impose penalties on providers who transmit these providers’ calls.” Shorten the deadline only for “bad actors,” CCA said: “The challenges that prompted the Commission to grant additional time for small providers are still present. An added complication that some small carriers are wrestling with is the implementation of the" rip-and-replace program "which may require substantial changes to their networks and adds an additional hurdle to compliance.” ACA Connects also cited challenges small providers face. “In no event are ACA Connects members inclined to wait until the last minute to get the process underway,” the group said. “A sudden curtailment of the STIR/SHAKEN deadline would disrupt current plans that were developed on the basis of the June 30, 2023, deadline, which could increase overall implementation costs as providers rush to find solutions they can implement on a compressed timeline.” Comments were due Friday and posted Monday in docket 17-97.

Vermont and ISP groups agreed to extend a freeze on net neutrality litigation until Jan. 3 or when the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals resolves suits on California’s open internet law, whichever happens first. Defendant Vermont and plaintiffs ACA Connects, CTIA, NCTA, USTelecom and the New England Cable & Telecommunications Association filed a stipulation Wednesday at U.S. District Court of Vermont. Case 2:18-cv-167 could resume Monday if the court doesn’t extend terms of a previous order (see 2105030047).

President Joe Biden plans to sign “very soon” the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (HR-3684) once “the congressional members” involved in getting the measure through both chambers “come back” from a weeklong recess, meaning it likely won't happen until at least Nov. 15, White House Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Monday. The House voted 228-206 Friday to agree to the Senate-passed version of HR-3684, which includes $65 billion for broadband (see 2108020061). The Senate approved the bill in August (see 2108100062). The measure will make “high-speed internet affordable and available everywhere in America,” Biden said Saturday. “No parent should have to sit in a parking lot of a fast food restaurant so their child can do their homework because they have no” other broadband connection. Senate Communications Subcommittee Chairman Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., touted HR-3684 as “the most significant investment in our nation’s infrastructure in generations,” including for broadband. “Every community -- regardless of zip code -- needs and deserves access to reliable, affordable, high-speed internet, and with today’s action we take a giant step toward making that a reality,” said House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D- N.J., Friday. Communications stakeholders praised House passage, including ACA Connects, American Library Association, Connect Americans Now, Fiber Broadband Association, Free Press, Frontier Communications, Incompas, Internet Innovation Alliance, National Governors Association, NTCA, Public Knowledge, TechNet, Wireless Infrastructure Association, Wireless ISP Association and WTA.