USTelecom asked the FCC to grant broadband providers forbearance from Communications Act Section 214 requirements if it reclassifies broadband as a Title II service, meeting separately with aides to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioners Nathan Simington and Brendan Carr. Imposing Section 214 requirements on broadband providers would "undermine innovation and investment in the broadband marketplace," the group said in an ex parte filing posted Thursday in docket 23-320. While USTelecom continued opposing the commission's proceeding on Title II reclassification, it also asked that the FCC limit any obligations to "requiring broadband providers to have an international Section 214 authorization to enter the marketplace" (see 2310190020). Verizon raised similar concerns in a meeting with staff of the Wireline Bureau, Wireless Bureau, Office of International Affairs, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, and Office of General Counsel.
Meagan Foster, former chief of staff for Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., and former staffer at NTCA and USTelecom, joins Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies as senior principal with tech focus … Cable One elevates Ken Johnson to chief operating officer ... Metronet promotes Joe Salerno to senior director-business development ... Ericsson promotes Rebecca Rohr to chief compliance officer, succeeding Jan Sprafke, departing “to pursue other opportunities” … FuboTV adds Neil Glat, Sportfive, also former NFL, to its board ... CommentSold, video commerce platform, hires Filip Vítek, ex-Flaconi, as executive vice president-AI and data ... Incompas creates AI Center with MLC Strategies’ Mignon Clyburn, former FCC commissioner; Colin Crowell, The Blue Owl Group managing director; Rob Hale, Granite Telecomm CEO; Milo Medin, Google vice president-access and wireless services; and Robert Robbins, University of Arizona president, as advisers.
Industry widely opposes the FCC's proposal to adopt additional reporting requirements for providers as part of the commission's efforts to combat digital discrimination. Commissioners sought comment on an NPRM proposing to adopt annual reporting and internal compliance program requirements following a November order adopting rules to curb discrimination (see 2401310052). Comments were posted Tuesday in docket 22-69. Consumer advocates and state officials urged the FCC to adopt the proposed requirements and establish an Office of Civil Rights within the commission.
USTelecom and NCTA want the FCC to abandon its proposal to reclassify broadband as a Communications Act Title II telecom service, the organizations said in a joint letter posted Monday in docket 23-320 (see 2401180042). "Regulating usage-based billing is unnecessary and would only serve to eliminate options for consumers," they said. USTelecom and NCTA said regulation is "unnecessary" because there is "no evidence that network operators exercise market power in negotiating interconnection agreements." The proposed bill-and-keep model would also be "affirmatively harmful" to consumers because "forbidding ISPs from charging for interconnection would exert upward pressure on consumer broadband prices," they said.
NARUC’s Telecom Committee approved a proposed resolution Monday aimed at forestalling U.S. phone number exhaustion. Also during state utility regulators’ meeting in Washington, telecom industry officials urged state commissioners to join them in calling on Congress to renew funding for the affordable connectivity program (ACP). Another panel flagged pole attachment issues remaining after a December FCC order (see 2312130044).
U.S. manufacturers will make almost 90% of the equipment purchased through NTIA's broadband, equity, access and deployment program, the agency said Friday as it announced its final build America, buy America (BABA) waiver for the program (see 2308220081). "If it can be made in America, it should be made in America," said NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson in a post on X. The waiver is "tough and pragmatic," he said.
Industry associations called for a voluntary cyber trust mark program during a meeting with aides to FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks. Commissioners are set to vote on a cyber mark program March 14 (see 2402210057). “There is broad support in the record for the idea that flexible, voluntary, risk-based best practices are the hallmarks of IoT security as it exists today and as it is being developed and iterated upon around the world,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 23-239. Groups at the meeting were CTA, the Connectivity Standards Alliance, CTIA, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, USTelecom and the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers.
USTelecom appoints Ainslie Lane, from the International Organization for Migration, as manager-government affairs … Talkdesk cloud contractor hires Zscaler’s Albert Caravelli as senior vice president-alliances and partners ... Aqua Comms, provider of global subsea connectivity services, announces immediate departure of CEO Jim Fagan, and names Chief Network Officer Andy Hudson as his acting replacement ... Jonathan Adelstein, ex-Digital Bridge and former CEO-Wireless Infrastructure Association, says he has joined Vertical Bridge, tower and wireless infrastructure provider, as senior adviser.
Mitigating practices that could speed the country toward phone number exhaustion is a priority item for state officials ahead of NARUC’s Feb. 25-28 meeting in Washington, commission officials told us. The state utility regulator association is planning a vote during the meeting on a proposed resolution from Telecom Committee Chair Tim Schram. It urges the FCC “to provide updated guidance on how states should bring forward cases of telephone number resource mismanagement or suspected robocalling using rented telephone numbers to the Commission using the audit process” from Section 52.15(k) of the Telecom Act.
USTelecom CEO Jonathan Spalter urged the Senate Wednesday to pass the House-approved Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act (HR-7024). The act includes language that extends a tax statute allowing businesses to fully deduct the purchase price of eligible assets. Some other communications industry groups are urging Senate leaders to attach language from the Broadband Grant Tax Treatment Act (HR-889/S-341) to HR-7024 (see 2401260073). First filed in 2022 (see 2209290067), HR-889/S-341 would amend the Internal Revenue Code, allowing broadband grants enacted via either statute not to be counted as gross income. “This is a crucial time for the broadband sector as we work alongside NTIA and state broadband offices as they allocate $42 billion in [broadband equity, access and deployment] funding toward projects aimed at ensuring every American has access to modern broadband service,” Spalter said in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.; Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.; Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore.; and ranking member Mike Crapo, R-Idaho. “While BEAD funding will help offset the high cost of many broadband projects that could not otherwise be built, providers will be required to invest substantial private capital to see these projects completed. Fully expensing capital equipment in the year it is purchased will free-up the essential additional resources needed to deploy fiber in rural and hard to reach areas.”