All filed comments support a late October petition by CTIA and the Competitive Carriers Association (see 2211010056) seeking changes to rules in the FCC’s new mandatory disaster response initiative (MDRI). Replies to oppositions were due at the FCC Tuesday, after the deadline was delayed in December (see 2212190040). FCC commissioners approved the rules in July (see 2207060070)

The Nebraska Public Service Commission voted 4-0 at a virtual meeting Tuesday to set a 2023 schedule and release application materials for Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund (CPF) support under the Nebraska Broadband Bridge Program (NBBP). The PSC opened docket CPF-1 to administer $80 million in grants last month (see 2212130067). The Nebraska commission “finds that the application materials and program guide previously developed for the NBBP should be utilized to the maximum extent in the CPF grant cycles,” said Tuesday’s order. “However, because the CPF grant program contains additional goals and objectives which must be met in accordance with federal funding guidelines, certain adjustments to the application requirements and program guidance have been made.” Also, the PSC tweaked the application template and program guide due to issues seen in the last NBBP cycle, it said. The PSC will accept applications from Feb. 9-24. The PSC in the next week should schedule a workshop, due to the application materials’ complexity, suggested Commissioner Tim Schram (R) at the meeting. Chair Dan Watermeier (R) said in a news release that already having the NBBP helped the PSC "move quickly in setting up the CPF grant application process” and "prior NBBP applicants should find the CPF application process similar." The PSC is down one member because Commissioner Crystal Rhoades (D) won an election in November to become Douglas County clerk of the District Court. Gov. Jim Pillen (R) must appoint someone to fill the remainder of Rhoades’ term, which ends Jan. 7, 2027.

All four FCC commissioners expressed support Wednesday for proposed rules to more precisely route wireless 911 calls and texts to public safety answering points through location-based routing (LBR). The NPRM wasn’t controversial while before commissioners, though industry is expected to weigh in during the comment period (see 2212200064).

The FCC’s final order approving new outage reporting rules, approved 4-0 Thursday (see 2211170051), addresses at length concerns raised by CTIA and other industry commenters, based on a side-by-side comparison with the draft order. Because of a field hearing after the commissioners meeting Thursday, FCC staff didn’t have a press briefing on changes to the items while on the 10th floor. The order was released Friday.

With an FCC commissioner vote scheduled for Thursday on improving the delivery of outage information to public safety answering points (see 2210270067), a few tweaks remain possible to the FCC’s approach, industry officials said. The 10th floor is still considering filings made at the end of last week seeking a few changes to the draft order, officials said. APCO filed late last week and other filings were expected (see 2211100051).

APCO urged the FCC to ask for a substantial amount of data from carriers in its reporting forms for the new mandatory disaster response initiative (MDRI). CTIA counseled flexibility and the need to keep data confidential. CTIA and the Competitive Carriers Association also petitioned the FCC for partial reconsideration of the FCC’s MDRI order and additional clarity (see 2207070060).

Washington, D.C.’s, 911 center did little in response to recommendations in an October audit that found the Office of Unified Communications (OUC) failed in many months to meet national standards for getting timely help to callers, said a follow-up report Friday. Of 31 recommendations, OUC completed one, made “minimal progress” on 24, and “no observed progress” on two, said the Office of D.C. Auditor (ODCA): OUC still faces issues identified in the original audit, “including call-taking confusion, glitches in dispatch operations, and insufficient management follow-up on after-action reviews.”

The House passed the Spectrum Innovation Act (HR-7624) and three other telecom and tech bills Wednesday night, drawing praise from lawmakers and some stakeholders. The chamber voted 336-90 for an en bloc package that included HR-7624 and two of the other bills, the Reporting Attacks from Nations Selected for Oversight and Monitoring Web Attacks and Ransomware from Enemies Act (HR-4551) and Safe Connections Act (HR-7132). Lawmakers voted 416-12 for the Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID–19 Act (HR-4040). HR-7132 and HR-7624 "provide our nation’s mobile networks with the spectrum resources necessary to provide next-generation wireless technologies, promote wireless innovation, fund important public safety priorities like Next Generation 9-1-1, and ensure that phone contracts cannot be used to perpetuate abuse when survivors and abusers share a phone contract," said House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and Communications Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle, D-Pa. "The bipartisan bills passed today will enhance spectrum management, strengthen public safety communications tools" and "secure our networks from countries like China," said House Commerce ranking member Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and Communications ranking member Bob Latta, R-Ohio. Matt Mandel, Wireless Infrastructure Association senior vice president-government and public affairs, praised lawmakers for "prioritizing America’s leadership in wireless network innovation by voting to make more spectrum available for commercial and shared use" via HR-7624. The measure would renew the FCC's auction authority through March 31, 2024, and authorize sales of 3.1-3.45 GHz spectrum licenses. "Making additional Federal spectrum resources available for commercial use will provide significant benefits for the industry, the economy, and most importantly, consumers," said Competitive Carriers Association President Steve Berry: HR-7132 "will help survivors of domestic violence remain connected."

Public safety groups and carriers continue to clash on what actions, if any, the FCC should take to ensure use of location-based routing (LBR) to 911 call centers. The disagreement surfaced in replies to a June public notice, approved by commissioners 4-0 (see 2206080040). T-Mobile warned that no consensus is emerging as a result of the record refresh.

Public safety groups urged the FCC to push for more use of location-based routing (LBR) to 911 call centers, in response to a June public notice, approved by commissioners 4-0 (see 2206080040). T-Mobile said how industry addresses the issue should be voluntary without the imposition of new FCC rules. AT&T and T-Mobile said implementation has to be done carefully and takes time.