NARUC draft resolutions on FCC spectrum auction authority and the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) got support from some industry and other groups ahead of this week’s state utilities regulators’ meeting in Washington, D.C. In an interview last week, Nebraska Public Service Commissioner Tim Schram (R) said it’s critical to use auction revenue to fully fund the FCC’s Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program, which repays federally funded carriers required to “rip and replace” equipment from Chinese vendors that may pose a security risk.

The National Emergency Number Association said Friday it’s making available for 911 call center use four public service announcements to promote “the rewarding and meaningful jobs available in the emergency-communications field.” The PSAs “can be used in recruiting and hiring efforts to reach candidates and educate them about the benefits of a career in 9-1-1,” NENA said. “We want to attract the best and brightest individuals to our profession, and these videos highlight how our first responders make a huge difference in people’s lives,” said NENA CEO Brian Fontes.

Tennessee became the first state to integrate FirstNet with AT&T’s emergency services IP networks for all 911 call centers statewide, AT&T said Wednesday. “This is a major step forward for public safety as Tennessee leads the way to become the first state in the nation to implement full wireless backup through FirstNet … to all 9-1-1 call centers statewide,” the carrier said: “Wireless backup means that even during the toughest strains and worst-case scenarios, network connectivity will be available so that every Tennessean can know that 9-1-1 telecommunicators will answer their call.”

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.”