Network and information security is a Biden administration priority, said Ruth Berry, White House National Security Council digital technology policy director. The need to secure the entire network "could not be higher" due to risks from untrustworthy equipment vendors such as Huawei and the lack of competition and diversity in the telecom supply chain, she said at a Wednesday European Telecommunications Network Operators Association/USTelecom webinar. Europe sees progress on network cybersecurity issues, and many opportunities for common rules, from the EU-U.S. Trade and Technology Council (TTC), said Thibaut Kleiner, director-policy, strategy and outreach, European Commission communications networks, content and technology directorate. Another international concern is that online platforms and apps are generating increasing network costs, noted ETNO Director General Lise Fuhr. Kleiner said the COVID-19 pandemic was a "stress test" for European networks, and it showed that the regulatory framework hasn't harmed quality or reliability. It's fair to ask who should pay for network upgrades such as 5G, he said, but the EU hasn't reached the point where it needs to intervene in the relationship between telcos and platforms. The emergence of the "splinternet" is very worrying, said Kleiner: The EU continues to support ICANN and its internet governance and infrastructure, and hopes to publish Europe's vision for the internet sector's future at month's end. USTelecom President Jonathan Spalter welcomed the U.S. government push to establish an alliance for the future of the internet, which will address data privacy, data security, cybersecurity, competition policy and other issues. The original optimistic vision of the internet "is now in flux" as shown by misinformation, internet shutdowns and use of the network by autocrats, Berry said. The alliance is expected to launch in coming weeks, she noted: It will let governments recommit to original internet principles of openness, security and more, and will enable a global conversation on how to push back against challenges. The U.S. agrees with the EU that the global community should continue to manage the internet's fundamental infrastructure, without undermining the multistakeholder approach, she said. Another "burning issue" is the semiconductor supply chain, Kleiner noted: The EU Chips Act (see 2201100033) will align with a U.S. initiative.
Some disagreement continued on an FCC Further NPRM aimed at gateway providers and curbing illegal robocalls, in replies Tuesday in docket 17-59 (see 2112130046). Gateway providers should be required to implement Stir/Shaken technology and robocall mitigation, said the National Association of Attorneys General. Extend the requirement to all providers and "enhance [the FCC’s] existing regime,” said USTelecom, which NCTA echoed. Verizon backed requiring all providers to certify a robocall mitigation plan and said the FCC shouldn't "mandate a burdensome stir/shaken obligation for intermediate providers." AGs backed a shorter implementation compliance deadline of within 30 days of Federal Register publication. The Voice on the Net Coalition backed Twilio's suggestion that providers blocking calls "should be subject to transparency and redress requirements." Impose a "know or should have known standard" on providers that may be trafficking in illegal calls, said the Electronic Privacy Information Center and National Consumer Law Center. Consider a "performance-based safe harbor" for providers that "meet or exceed a high standard of compliance," said YouMail. There are still some "misgivings about various aspects of this approach” because “we already have difficulty knowing who is an originator vs. an intermediate provider vs. a caller,” said ZipDX. Limit "any and all obligations” adopted in this proceeding to “foreign calls using U.S. numbers," said iBasis.
Senators and industry officials are eyeing a laundry list of policy matters they want Alan Davidson to prioritize once he becomes NTIA administrator. The Senate confirmed Davidson Tuesday on a bipartisan 60-31 vote, as expected (see 2201050056). The chamber voted 64-30 Monday to invoke cloture on Davidson (see 2201100058).
Provider participation in the FCC’s affordable connectivity program is likely to be at a higher level than for the emergency broadband benefit program, we’re told (see 2112090061). Some industry groups said more providers may elect to participate since the new program is designed to be longer term than EBB.
Industry and deaf and hard of hearing advocates asked the FCC to let IP relay providers recoup costs for outreach and marketing to users from the Telecom Relay Service Fund, in comments posted Tuesday in docket 03-123 (see 2108050038). The move to establish a new compensation methodology stemmed from a 2018 petition for rulemaking by T-Mobile, the sole remaining IP relay provider.
U.S. District Court in Burlington extended a freeze on net neutrality litigation until April 15 or when the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals resolves suits on California’s net neutrality law, whichever happens first. The court agreed Friday to a stipulation filed earlier that day by defendant Vermont and plaintiffs ACA Connects, CTIA, NCTA, USTelecom and the New England Cable & Telecommunications Association. Case 2:18-cv-167 would have resumed Jan. 3 (see 2111150060).
Satellite, wireline, wireless and broadcast industry groups almost uniformly opposed FCC proposals for stricter network resiliency requirements, in comments posted in docket 21-346 through Friday. Providers work voluntarily to share information and preserve their networks, so the FCC should “avoid unnecessary and burdensome additional regulation” said NTCA, similar to NAB, USTelecom and others. The FCC “shouldn’t take an overly prescriptive approach to unpredictable and highly variable events,” said the Competitive Carriers Association.
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.
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).
Don't replace call blocking notification requirements with session initiation protocol code 603, the American Bankers Association, ACA International, American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management, Credit Union National Association, Mortgage Bankers Association, and National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions told staff of FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington, said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 17-59. ABA, ACA International, AAHAM, CUNA, MBA, the American Financial Services Association, National Council of Higher Education Resources, and Student Loan Servicing Alliance had a similar meeting with staff of Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. The groups opposed SIP code 603 because it doesn't "provide sufficient information to alert the caller to the reason for the uncompleted call." They asked the FCC to require that voice service providers implement SIP code 607 and 608 by a specific date while providing "periodic status reports stating the progress that providers have made toward adopting operational standards" if USTelecom's petition for reconsideration is granted (see 2111180078).