An FCC Further NPRM on gateway providers and curbing illegal robocalls got a mixed reaction in comments posted through Monday in docket 17-59. Several questioned whether the proposed rules are duplicative. Most backed ending the foreign provider prohibition, which the commission paused enforcement on during the proceeding.
Iowa Utilities Board Chair Geri Huser pushed back on wireless industry concerns that the state commission is angling to expand its telecom authority through draft statutory changes that the IUB plans to propose to the legislature. At the board’s virtual workshop Monday, Lumen and wireless officials repeated some of their legal and policy concerns from written comments about possibly adding wireless and interconnected VoIP to the state definition of telecom service provider (see 2112010048).
Legislators plan to attach cyber incident reporting language to a legislative vehicle in the near future, Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Gary Peters, D-Mich., told us last week after bipartisan language was dropped from the National Defense Authorization Act (see 2112070067). The office for Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., denied Democrats’ claims that Republican “dysfunction” led to a bipartisan agreement falling apart last-minute.
A draft FCC NPRM on establishing a centralized online portal for E-rate's competitive bidding process and setting additional documentation requirements for applicants is likely to be approved during the agency’s meeting Tuesday, officials told us. That’s despite recent criticism from some E-rate advocates and questions about potential implementation challenges for the proposed portal (see 2111300047).
FCC nominee Gigi Sohn said her connection to Locast won’t affect her views on broadcast issues, in her written responses to the Senate Commerce Committee. She promised to operate in an independent and fair manner on all issues if confirmed.
Issues from the retransmission consent regime and carriage agreement contractual terms such as most-favored nation (MFN) clauses could be the focus of a forthcoming FCC proceeding on carriage headwinds faced by independent programmers. Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has said the agency would look into carriage issues, commonly called hurdles by programmers and allies, and the effect of streaming on the video market (see 2111180047). NCTA didn't comment Friday.
The FCC is under growing pressure to set a starting date for the 2.5 GHz auction, as the 3.45 GHz auction draws to a close. Analysts said questions remain about who will bid for the spectrum, even given the relatively strong performance of the 3.45 auction, the third-highest in FCC history. Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel says the FCC is likely to move forward after the current auction, which is in its final stage (see 2111180047). The agency didn’t comment Friday.
5G has little chance of replacing fiber in many areas because of the relative cost of wireless, speakers said Thursday during a TelecomTV virtual conference. Speakers agreed fiber builds will continue at a rapid pace globally.
The U.S. is in the midst of a huge run of fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) deployments by broadband providers, though its reach will remain outside a significant part of the country, an ACA Connects webinar heard Thursday. Many providers are transitioning to fiber, but that transition is focused on profitable areas and leaves behind minority communities, some said.
Providers, local governments and advocates welcomed FCC-proposed rules for the $14.2 billion affordable connectivity program, in comments posted Thursday in docket 21-450. Some raised concerns about potential implementation challenges as the agency shifts from the $3.1 billion emergency broadband benefit program and urged the commission to allow flexibility for EBB providers and enrolled households during the transition.