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)
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."