Senate Commerce Committee Democrats are considering proposing $45 billion of the $83.1 billion the chamber allocated to the panel for its portion of the coming budget reconciliation package (see 2108100062) be used for next-generation 911 and broadband. House Commerce Committee leaders, meanwhile, are gearing up for a planned Sept. 13 markup of the panel’s reconciliation priorities. That measure is likely to draw from broadband and NG-911 language in the Leading Infrastructure for Tomorrow’s (Lift) America Act (HR-1848), lobbyists told us.

Aerospace Corp. hires Audrey Allison, former Boeing vice president-global spectrum management; she joins Center for Space Policy and Strategy as senior project leader ... Cable Center CEO-President Jana Nelson Henthorn retiring, effective year-end and remaining on the board as immediate past president ... Vivint Smart Home announces DLA Piper’s Daniel Garen as chief ethics and compliance officer.

The FCC needs to “diligently move forward” on RF exposure rules “specific” to wireless power transfer devices, or the U.S. risks “losing its leadership role in the WPT industry,” said an Energous filing posted Monday in docket 19-226. “Commission action is needed to enable U.S. companies and consumers to realize the substantial benefits that can be derived in the near term from the further deployment of WPT technologies.” Energous electronics manufacturer customers are “clamoring for access to its technology for deployment in the U.S. market” for enabling wireless charging of devices over distances of more than 1 meter (39 inches), it said. But until the FCC acts on the WPT issues raised in its 2019 RF NPRM, U.S. WPT developers such as Energous “will be unable to satisfy the needs of the U.S. electronics industry,” it said.

The FCC needs to “diligently move forward” on RF exposure rules “specific” to wireless power transfer devices, or the U.S. risks “losing its leadership role in the WPT industry,” said an Energous filing posted Monday in docket 19-226. “Commission action is needed to enable U.S. companies and consumers to realize the substantial benefits that can be derived in the near term from the further deployment of WPT technologies.” Energous electronics manufacturer customers are “clamoring for access to its technology for deployment in the U.S. market” for enabling wireless charging of devices over distances of more than 1 meter (39 inches), it said. But until the FCC acts on the WPT issues raised in its 2019 RF NPRM, U.S. WPT developers such as Energous “will be unable to satisfy the needs of the U.S. electronics industry,” it said.

California’s public advocate wants a delay in updating state LifeLine wireless minimum service standards until the California Public Utilities Commission considers the impact of the federal Lifeline MSS increasing Dec. 1 to 18 GB. By failing to acknowledge the federal MSS increase, the CPUC's Aug. 6 proposed decision could mean customers lose federal support, warned the agency's independent Public Advocates Office (PAO) in comments posted Friday. California’s proposal also includes automating the renewal eligibility process and updating specific service amounts. AT&T raised concerns about how much the state plans to replace federal support for wireline services that don’t meet federal broadband minimum standards.

The FCC unanimously approved an order and NPRM on FY2021 regulatory fees released Thursday, shelving a proposed increase to broadcaster fees (see 2108260050), adopting subcategories of non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite regulatory fees based on system complexity, and seeking comment in docket 21-190 on getting regulatory fees from tech companies and unlicensed device manufacturers in the future. A proceeding on extending the payer base of fees is likely to be a struggle, said Pillsbury broadcast attorney Scott Flick, who represented state broadcast associations in the reg fee proceeding. “Almost any result would be better than the current approach,” he said.

The FCC unanimously approved an order and NPRM on FY2021 regulatory fees released Thursday, shelving a proposed increase to broadcaster fees (see 2108260050), adopting subcategories of non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite regulatory fees based on system complexity, and seeking comment in docket 21-190 on getting regulatory fees from tech companies and unlicensed device manufacturers in the future. A proceeding on extending the payer base of fees is likely to be a struggle, said Pillsbury broadcast attorney Scott Flick, who represented state broadcast associations in the reg fee proceeding. “Almost any result would be better than the current approach,” he said.

The FCC unanimously approved an order and NPRM on FY2021 regulatory fees released Thursday, shelving a proposed increase to broadcaster fees (see 2108260050), adopting subcategories of non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite regulatory fees based on system complexity, and seeking comment in docket 21-190 on getting regulatory fees from tech companies and unlicensed device manufacturers in the future. A proceeding on extending the payer base of fees is likely to be a struggle, said Pillsbury broadcast attorney Scott Flick, who represented state broadcast associations in the reg fee proceeding. “Almost any result would be better than the current approach,” he said.

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will investigate how Frontier Communications investment plans could affect service quality, decided commissioners at a partially virtual Thursday meeting. The PUC voted 5-0 to proceed with a broad inquiry into the meaning of the company’s “virtual separation.” Commissioners resisted Frontier officials' efforts to narrow the probe’s scope.

The FCC proposed a $5.13 million fine Tuesday for alleged illegal robocalls tied to the 2020 general election. The fine was proposed against John Burkman, Jacob Wohl and JM Burkman & Associates, and sets a new record for a violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the FCC said. Commissioners OK’d the notice 4-0. It’s the first action “where the FCC was not required to warn robocallers before robocall violations could be counted toward a proposed fine, per Congress’ recent amendment of the TCPA,” the agency said. Those cited allegedly made 1,141 illegal robocalls to wireless phones without prior express consent. The calls “used messages telling potential voters that, if they vote by mail, their ‘personal information will be part of a public database that will be used by police departments to track down old warrants and be used by credit card companies to collect outstanding debts,’” the FCC said. The investigation followed consumer complaints and concerns raised by a nonprofit organization, the agency said. Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel thanked the Ohio Attorney General’s Office for helping gather evidence and build a case: “This kind of collaboration is vitally important in our work to combat illegal robocalls and I look forward to future collaboration like this with other law enforcement partners nationwide.” The company didn't comment.