FCC Draft Would Up Devices OK Preauthorization

That draft would limit to 12,000 RF devices that can be imported for presale. An NPRM had sought comment on allowing 4,000 (see 2102120049). “Comments proposing 12,000 devices generally state the larger limit would account for the number of potential retailers throughout the country based upon the estimated numbers of 'big box' stores and wireless provider locations, among others,” the draft said now.

As product development cycles accelerate, “new marketplace models and assessment tools have emerged that rely on individual interest to fund products, optimize production, and match imports to anticipated sales,” the equipment draft order says: “The rules we are adopting will allow manufacturers to better use these tools to quickly deploy new technologies and devices to consumers while ensuring that communications equipment subject to equipment authorization continues to meet our stringent program requirements.” It noted “in some instances, developments in the modern device marketplace have outpaced those in our equipment authorization regime.”

On tap is a draft order combining wireless emergency alert “presidential alerts” with Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator alerts into a “national alerts” class that can be distributed regionally or nationwide. Accompanying this is a Further NPRM asking about deletion, redefinition or replacement of some emergency alert system codes and seeking comment about the idea of an ongoing display and notification of EAS messages. The commission said FEMA had recommended modifying the emergency action notification event code to “emergency, alert, national” or replacing it with a new “national emergency message” code since the EAN code “has no meaning or significance to the public.” The agency said FEMA recommends a persistent EAS display until the alert expires or is canceled, and would seek comment on such issues as how to transmit multiple or overlapping alerts if one was persistently active.

A draft order would establish an online portal on the FCC's website for private entities to submit information about suspected robocalls or spoofing violations directly to the Enforcement Bureau, says a fact sheet. The draft defines a “private entity” as an entity that's not an individual person or a public entity. Consumer complaints will continue to be filed through a separate, informal complaint process. Required would be the name of the reporting private entity and contact information, caller ID information displayed, the phone number called, the date and time of the call or text, the service provider of the reporting entity, and a description of the call or text.

LPFM, Telehealth

The draft order on two low-power FM petitions for reconsideration in docket 19-193 doubles down on the agency’s rejection of requests to increase the power limits for LPFM. “We dismiss as procedurally infirm the request to reconsider the decision not to increase the maximum power of LPFM stations,” the draft says, denying and dismissing a petition from a group of LPFM industry officials. The draft order also rejects a recon petition from broadcaster Foundation for a Beautiful Life, which argued that changes to LPFM technical rules shouldn’t apply only to applications that hadn’t been acted upon.

The commission received more than 200 Connected Care applications, and winning projects would receive support for 85% of the cost of eligible services and equipment, says a fact sheet. The program wouldn't follow the traditional funding year period for the Rural Health Care Program, the draft says, and participants will instead need to “pay careful attention to any dates contained in official Pilot Program correspondence and on the Commission and USAC webpages” to ensure compliance. The draft order requires participants to follow the competitive bidding process for funding requests. The draft order waives the monthly invoice requirement, but all invoices must be submitted to Universal Service Administrative Co. “by the invoice deadline for the RHC program.”

Eligible services would fall under four categories: patient broadband access, healthcare provider broadband data connections, connected care information services and certain network equipment. Network equipment purchases are eligible for reimbursement because it's “necessary to make broadband services functional,” the draft item says. Such purchases are also “necessary to make a connected care information service functional,” the item says. The program excludes devices, network deployment, network construction between healthcare providers, internal connections for providers or connectivity services between healthcare sites. Participants would be prohibited from using USAC support to buy services and equipment that pose a national security threat.

A draft NPRM would seek comment on whether to revise rules on equipment now exempted from the equipment authorization requirements “to no longer permit this exemption for equipment on the Covered List.” It asks to revoke current authorizations. A section on auctions asks whether applicants should have to certify that their bids don’t rely on equipment from a company deemed a national security threat.

The draft NOI proposes to ask “how the Commission can leverage its equipment authorization program to encourage manufacturers who are building devices that will connect to U.S. networks to consider cybersecurity standards and guidelines.” The Office of Engineering and Technology and Office of Economics and Analytics established dockets 21-232 and 21-233. “We explore steps we can take to further the Commission’s goal of protecting our communications networks from communications equipment and services that pose a national security risk or a threat to the safety of U.S. persons beyond the commission’s universal service programs,” the draft says.

The FCC released a draft NPRM seeking comment on a proposal it authorize devices used to mark fishing equipment for use on the maritime navigation system. The NPRM would seek comment on to what extent the 1900-2000 KHz band is used “to support fishing operations, and what obstacles prevent heavier spectrum usage.” It asks about other spectrum that could be used and the extent of “unauthorized deployment” in the band. The draft notes the inquiry was required under the FY21 National Defense Authorization Act. The Wireless Bureau established docket 21-230 Thursday for filings here.