The Wi-Fi Alliance, NCTA and others urged the FCC to reject a request that it stop certifying low-power indoor (LPI) devices in the 6 GHz band, sought by the Utilities Technology Council and others (see 2112080058). Utilities supported the stay, citing the results of recent field tests by Southern Co.
Terminating voice service providers operating IP networks may use session initiation protocol code 603 in addition to SIP codes 607 and 608 to meet the immediate call blocking notification requirement beginning Jan. 1, said an FCC order unanimously adopted last week and released Tuesday (see 2106070051). And a Further NPRM seeks comment on the use of SIP code 603 and whether it should be allowed permanently or for a defined period.
Judges grilled a Public Utility Commission attorney on why the PUC thought it could stop fully funding Texas USF (TUSF). At a livestreamed hearing Wednesday, the 3rd Texas District Court of Appeals in Austin heard an appeal by the Texas Telephone Association (TTA), Texas Statewide Telephone Cooperative, Inc. (TSTCI), Lumen and Windstream (case 03-21-00294-CV). The rural telcos are challenging the Travis County District Court in Austin dismissing their lawsuit against the PUC for not raising the TUSF surcharge on consumer bills to fully fund USF (see 2107130041). Gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke (D) supported the lawsuit Tuesday.
Commerce Committee leaders believe there’s a strong chance the Senate can confirm NTIA administrator nominee Alan Davidson before the 117th Congress' second session begins in January, after the panel advanced him Wednesday on a bipartisan voice vote, as expected (see 2112140074). Ranking member Roger Wicker of Mississippi and other Republicans are, meanwhile, beginning to push for the panel to hold another confirmation hearing for Democratic FCC nominee Gigi Sohn in 2022 if the committee doesn’t move forward this month on a vote to advance her, as is generally expected. Commerce didn’t include Sohn in Wednesday's markup amid resistance from several committee Democrats (see 2112090058).
Experts debated the benefits of fiber versus fixed wireless at Fierce Technology’s virtual Digital Divide Summit Tuesday. Kevin Smith, vice president-technology, said Verizon is going big on 5G, but everything depends on fiber. “Only fiber can meet skyrocketing user demands for fast, efficient bandwidth while providing huge capacity and ultra-quick response times,” he said.
Companies seeking to attach communications facilities to Connecticut utility poles urged the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to adopt a fast dispute resolution process. In other comments posted Monday, pole owners asked PURA to protect their due process rights and encourage settlements.
DOJ is weighing the enforcement potential around AI-related discriminatory practices, Assistant Attorney General-Civil Rights Kristen Clarke said Tuesday. The Civil Rights Division is bolstering AI enforcement, education, outreach and interagency coordination, Clarke told an NTIA listening session. AI has potential to perpetuate historical discrimination against marginalized communities through the use of web browsing activity, social media and app usage, she said: Consumer data is fed into “specialized algorithms” used to make critical decisions impacting everyday lives, including employment, banking, law enforcement, housing, credit and more. She called the intersection of AI and civil rights a “rapidly evolving policy and legislative landscape.”
Citing a GAO report identifying fraud risks in E-rate's competitive bidding process, FCC commissioners during a meeting Tuesday unanimously approved an NPRM to establish a central online bidding portal and seek comment on requiring additional documentation from applicants (see 2111300047). The NPRM had a tweak that Commissioner Brendan Carr sought. Members also adopted 4-0 an NPRM on revising the commission’s non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) fixed satellite service (FSS) spectrum sharing rules and proposals to improve emergency alert system accessibility.
The Senate Commerce Committee is expected to advance for a floor vote NTIA administrator nominee Alan Davidson with bipartisan support on Wednesday despite some panel Republicans' last-minute misgivings. The GOP concerns could make it more difficult for chamber leaders to quickly move to a final floor vote. Davidson got no significant fire from Commerce members during his confirmation hearing earlier this month amid a more intense focus on Democratic FCC nominee Gigi Sohn (see 2112010043). The committee’s executive session on Davidson, the Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act (S-3309) and other Biden administration nominees begins at 10 a.m. in 253 Russell (see 2112090058).
Speakers at an FCBA webinar said AI and machine learning use among financial and other companies raise questions of basic fairness, privacy and other issues that must be resolved. Speakers warned Monday there are no easy answers and current laws were passed before an era of big data.