The FCC will vote Nov. 17 on rules aimed at improving the delivery of outage information to public safety answering points by requiring operating service providers (OSPs) and covered 911 providers to “utilize special diligence to obtain and maintain up-to-date contact information for each 911 special facility they serve,” said a draft report and order released Thursday. The FCC also announced that it won't be pursuing an inquiry into the agency's reliance on Nielsen ratings in a draft broadcast order on updating the publication used to determine broadcast DMAs (see 2210260081).
The FCC approved 4-0 Thursday an NPRM that proposes new rules to make the emergency alert system and wireless emergency alerts more secure. Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said the rulemaking is one part of the FCC’s current focus on making systems more secure. FCC officials said, as expected (see 2210250057), there were only minor changes over what Rosenworcel proposed, FCC officials said.
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel confirmed Thursday she has received a letter from acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen asking that the agency mandate voluntary protections for radio altimeters agreed to by Verizon and AT&T in the C band (see 2206170070) for 19 other providers who bought spectrum in the record-setting auction. “I have seen the letter” and “we are in discussions with our colleagues at NTIA,” Rosenworcel told reporters after the FCC meeting. Commissioner Brendan Carr said he was happy to look at FAA concerns, but believes the time to raise new objections has passed.
FCC commissioners approved 4-0 Thursday, as expected (see 2210240047), an order launching a notice of inquiry on the 12.7 GHz band. The agency also cleared a plan to extend USF support to eligible mobile and fixed carriers in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and an NPRM addressing Stir/Shaken caller ID authentication standards. Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel acknowledged she had circulated an item focused on the 4.9 GHz band (see 2210260064).
The Nebraska Public Service Commission heard telecom complaints Wednesday about network reach, reliability and customer service at Windstream, Frontier Communications and Lumen’s CenturyLink. Commissioners and staff heard customers’ negative experiences -- and grilled companies -- at the hearing, which was for the PSC’s telephone service-quality investigation in docket C-5303/PI-240.
5G is happening, but more slowly than hoped, especially for companies that will use the new generation of wireless to transform their business, said Andreas Mueller, Bosch chief expert-IoT communication technologies, Wednesday during day two of New York University’s in-person and virtual Brooklyn 6G Summit, also sponsored by Nokia. Other speakers said industry is already looking to 6G.
Broadband mapping experts raised concerns about the FCC’s methodology and processes for developing its new broadband availability maps. During a Wednesday Broadband Breakfast webinar some questioned how the data will affect how NTIA allocates broadband, equity, access and deployment program funding (see 2209060059).
The FCC will tackle 911 calling at its Nov. 17 commissioners' meeting, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said Wednesday. The agenda is light, with only a broadcast item and an enforcement action also set for a commissioner vote. Drafts are expected to be released after Thursday's meeting.
Wisconsin officials promised Tuesday to take big strides to close the state’s digital divide. Local governments should engage with the state on plans for NTIA’s broadband equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program and do more to increase participation in the federal affordable connectivity program (ACP), said Wisconsin Public Service Commission Chairperson Rebecca Cameron Valcq at a partially virtual broadband forum co-hosted by NTIA and the Wisconsin PSC: “We cannot leave any part of our state behind.”
House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik of New York and Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., filed the Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act on Tuesday on bid to counter the influence of the Chinese government and other foreign governments on U.S. telecom infrastructure. Stefanik’s office cited the U.S. government’s Monday filing of charges against two Chinese intelligence officers with attempting to obstruct the DOJ’s criminal investigation into Huawei (see 2210240059) as an impetus for filing the measure now. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner, D-Va., and House Commerce Committee ranking member Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., separately raised concerns about the Chinese government’s interference.