The 911 grant program should target funds to proofs of concept in urban, suburban and rural areas, while requiring interoperability, APCO commented this week on revised implementation rules proposed by NTIA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (see 1709200043). Also in docket NTIA-2017-0002, some state and local agencies urged the agencies not to exclude certain areas from grants. The 2012 Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act made $115 million available from the Public Safety Trust Fund for the 911 grant program, which funds improvements to 911, E-911 and next-generation 911 services and applications. NTIA and NHTSA plan to award NG-911 grants in FY 2018, which started Oct. 1 (see 1701200026).

A trade bill landed in British Parliament Nov. 7 that would lay the groundwork for a post-Brexit United Kingdom to be a part of more than 40 existing EU trade agreements as an individual entity, and a customs bill changing duties on goods is expected to be introduced to Parliament soon, the UK Department for International Trade (DIT) announced. The trade bill would establish an independent UK Trade Remedies Authority (TRA), ensure the UK government has legal abilities for gathering and sharing trade information, and enable the UK to independently join and implement the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), including the revised GPA. The TRA would be authorized to provide analysis of trade remedies imposed in other countries or territories, and of the impact of such measures on UK producers and exporters, the bill text says. The bill would enter into force on the day Parliament passes it.

The FCC majority engaged in “direct attack on consumers and small business” during Chairman Ajit Pai’s 10 months, said Commissioner Mignon Clyburn in a news conference Wednesday preceding a briefing from the Voices for Internet Freedom coalition. In both events, Clyburn castigated Pai and the FCC majority for “hypocrisy” and a stream of policies she said favor large companies. “This is a sad path,” Clyburn said. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, Democratic National Committee Deputy Chairman Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., were also critical of the FCC majority. Net neutrality is “a justice issue, a civil rights issue,” Khanna told the event. FCC leadership is “fixated on billion dollar public companies and what it best for their bottom line,” Clyburn said. Congress held a hearing on net neutrality Wednesday (see 1711010052).

The FCC majority engaged in “direct attack on consumers and small business” during Chairman Ajit Pai’s 10 months, said Commissioner Mignon Clyburn in a news conference Wednesday preceding a briefing from the Voices for Internet Freedom coalition. In both events, Clyburn castigated Pai and the FCC majority for “hypocrisy” and a stream of policies she said favor large companies. “This is a sad path,” Clyburn said. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, Democratic National Committee Deputy Chairman Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., were also critical of the FCC majority. Net neutrality is “a justice issue, a civil rights issue,” Khanna told the event. FCC leadership is “fixated on billion dollar public companies and what it best for their bottom line,” Clyburn said. Congress held a hearing on net neutrality Wednesday (see 1711010052).

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters Tuesday he now expects the bill he and Senate Communications Subcommittee ranking member Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, have begun circulating on easing barriers to 5G and other broadband deployments will come up at the committee markup after the one expected to happen this month. Thune previously told us he had hoped to have the legislation ready for the committee's early November executive session, which could happen as soon as Nov. 8 (see 1710270058 and 1710300022). A draft we obtained includes language that would require state and local governments to sync their shot clocks for granting siting permits. The legislation also would direct the GAO to study broadband deployments on tribal lands. A committee spokesman said there isn't a set timeline for Thune and Schatz to formally file their bill. CTIA Senior Vice President-Government Affairs Kelly Cole praised the draft as “modernizing how wireless networks are deployed.”

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters Tuesday he now expects the bill he and Senate Communications Subcommittee ranking member Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, have begun circulating on easing barriers to 5G and other broadband deployments will come up at the committee markup after the one expected to happen this month. Thune previously told us he had hoped to have the legislation ready for the committee's early November executive session, which could happen as soon as Nov. 8 (see 1710270058 and 1710300022). A draft we obtained includes language that would require state and local governments to sync their shot clocks for granting siting permits. The legislation also would direct the GAO to study broadband deployments on tribal lands. A committee spokesman said there isn't a set timeline for Thune and Schatz to formally file their bill. CTIA Senior Vice President-Government Affairs Kelly Cole praised the draft as “modernizing how wireless networks are deployed.”

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters Tuesday he now expects the bill he and Senate Communications Subcommittee ranking member Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, have begun circulating on easing barriers to 5G and other broadband deployments will come up at the committee markup after the one expected to happen this month. Thune previously told us he had hoped to have the legislation ready for the committee's early November executive session, which could happen as soon as Nov. 8 (see 1710270058 and 1710300022). A draft we obtained includes language that would require state and local governments to sync their shot clocks for granting siting permits. The legislation also would direct the GAO to study broadband deployments on tribal lands. A committee spokesman said there isn't a set timeline for Thune and Schatz to formally file their bill. CTIA Senior Vice President-Government Affairs Kelly Cole praised the draft as “modernizing how wireless networks are deployed.”

An FCC draft item would begin an overhaul of the Lifeline USF program subsidizing providers of broadband and voice service to low-income consumers. Three orders would aim to crack down on "waste, fraud and abuse" and two notices would propose to adopt an annual funding cap and seek ways to better target support to those most in need. They would also target funding to facilities-based providers, not resellers. The actions and proposals were contained in a combined draft that Chairman Ajit Pai put on the tentative agenda Thursday for the Nov. 16 commissioners' meeting (see 1710260049).

The Democrat leading the race to be New Jersey governor by a wide margin supports ISP privacy rules. The position, which seems to counter President Donald Trump’s repeal of FCC broadband privacy rules, raised ISP eyebrows and Free Press praise. Meanwhile, gubernatorial candidates in Virginia laid out detailed plans to expand broadband, with the Democrat urging better data and the Republican seeking deregulation to spur private sector deployment. A state cable association said both Virginia candidates need to study, and a municipal advocate said he’s not excited by either’s broadband platform.

The FCC plans Nov. 16 votes on media ownership and ATSC 3.0, as expected, (see 1710250049), and wireless and wireline infrastructure and cable items, Chairman Ajit Pai blogged, although drafts of the items have not yet been issued. Commissioners also will vote, as expected (see 1710100063), on the next phase of the FCC's spectrum frontiers initiative, setting aside high-frequency spectrum for 5G. The order would make available another 1,700 MHz of high-frequency spectrum “for flexible terrestrial wireless use while providing 4 gigahertz for core satellite use,” Pai said. The FCC approved the first order under ex-Chairman Tom Wheeler in July 2016 (see 1607140052).