Public Knowledge (PK) and the Communications Workers of America (CWA) warned that the FCC would violate the Communications Act if it abandons universal service in favor of speeding copper retirement. In a joint filing posted Tuesday, the groups reminded the FCC that in the Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act of 2017, Congress found that “maintaining quality voice service to rural America remains essential even in the Internet Age.”

The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) and industry disagreed on whether there are any steps that the FCC should take now to spur adoption of next-generation 911. All agreed that regulators should move cautiously, echoing initial comments (see 2508050042). Reply comments were due last week in docket 21-479 on the Further NPRM that commissioners approved 4-0 in March (see 2503270042).

Some top lawmakers indicated in recent interviews that they lack a clear plan to fund next-generation 911 tech upgrades, months after Congress decided against allocating future spectrum auction revenue for them in the budget reconciliation package, previously known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (see 2507080065). NG911 advocates said they expect that the lack of an alternative will come up during Tuesday's House Communications Subcommittee hearing on public safety communications issues. The hearing is also likely to address a looming legislative renewal of FirstNet that must happen before the existing mandate expires in February 2027 (see 2509030058).

Most commenters emphasized the importance of flexibility and developing rules that will accommodate change in comments on a next-generation 911 Further NPRM that commissioners approved 4-0 in March (see 2503270042). Initial comments were due Monday in docket 21-479. The FNPRM proposes updates to the agency’s 911 reliability rules, extending those that cover legacy 911 networks to service providers that control or operate critical pathways and components in NG911 networks.

AT&T called on California lawmakers Tuesday to grant it and other carriers relief from carrier of last resort (COLR) obligations. A state bill, AB-470, is "only focused on COLR relief in those well-served areas or areas with no population," said Terri Nikole Baca, AT&T vice president of legislative affairs, during a California Senate, Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee hearing. The "idea of a COLR obligation is outdated," she argued. Meanwhile, the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and The Utility Reform Network (TURN) urged the committee to maintain its nearly 30-year-old rules.

President Donald Trump signed off Friday on the revised budget reconciliation package, previously known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, restoring the FCC’s spectrum auction authority for the first time since it lapsed in March 2023. The measure, which ultimately mirrored the Senate’s version, mandates an 800 MHz spectrum auction pipeline but exempts the 3.1-3.45 GHz and 7.4-8.4 GHz bands from potential reallocation (see 2507030056). The National Emergency Number Association and WISPA separately aired grievances with Congress failing to act on the groups’ policy priorities via reconciliation.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr on Monday called for communications providers and power companies to work together in the aftermath of hurricanes and other natural disasters. Other speakers at the FCC's hurricane resiliency roundtable noted that communications between the domains have improved, highlighted by the work of the Cross-Sector Resiliency Forum (see 2504250050), which launched after Hurricane Michael in 2018.

The 911 calling landscape is changing rapidly, and while challenges remain, advances could make emergency calling more effective, Intrado said in its annual “State of the 9-1-1 Industry” report, released Tuesday. “Advancements in location technologies are greatly improving the data available to 9-1-1 telecommunicators, though challenges persist in attaching more comprehensive and precise location information -- now in three dimensions, not just two -- for emergency assistance requests,” the report said. “The rise of low earth orbit communication satellites has opened a tremendous opportunity to expand emergency communications coverage across the globe.”

Wireless carriers are asking the FCC to trim old regulations and focus on flexible approaches in response to a March Further NPRM on wireless location accuracy. Public safety groups, including the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials, want the FCC to put more emphasis on providing dispatchable location information (see 2506060031). Comments were due Friday in docket 07-114, and most were posted Monday.

The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials on Friday urged the FCC to address “dispatchable location” information as it reconsiders rules for wireless calls to 911. APCO filed in response to a March Further NPRM on wireless location accuracy, approved in a 4-0 vote by commissioners. Comments were due Friday in docket 07-114.