Stakeholders objected to proposed FCC Lifeline actions in a draft item on the agenda for next Thursday's commissioners' meeting, with many against a possible move to eliminate low-income funding support for resellers. Wireless industry parties, civil rights advocates, tribal groups and others voiced concerns about the combined draft orders and notices, in meetings and filings posted Wednesday and Thursday in docket 11-42.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's policy of releasing draft items for monthly meetings improves transparency and public understanding of planned actions, said FCC leadership and to most stakeholders and observers we interviewed. “The Open Meeting plays a critical role in the work we do and generally serves as the platform for our consideration of the most high-profile proposals,” said Pai in a statement to us. "It is simply good government.” GOP colleagues Mike O’Rielly and Brendan Carr back the new practice. O'Rielly said it leads to better feedback and outcomes. Pai recently floated the possibility of also releasing text of items on circulation among commissioners; O’Rielly endorsed the idea.
In the Nov. 1 Customs Bulletin (Vol. 51, No. 44), CBP published notices that propose to revoke and modify rulings and similar treatment for free-wheel bicycle cogs and cassettes.
Officials working for FCC Chairman Ajit Pai have often used Twitter to slam news critical about the commission, according to our eight-month review of social media activities. Also unlike at DOJ, the FTC and NTIA, FCC aides using their government Twitter accounts regularly praise the substance of reporting that sheds a positive light on the agency under Pai. Some of the negative tweets may not abide by best practices, FCC responses to our Freedom of Information Act requests show.
Local government officials are trying to be heard as FCC Chairman Ajit Pai seeks to end barriers to broadband deployment through rulemakings and an industry-dominated committee. With the FCC moving at a “dizzying pace,” local governments feel they must grab on or risk getting left behind, said Andy Huckaba, a Republican city council member in Lenexa, Kansas, and one of three local officials on the 30-member Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee. The full members and another four local officials serve on BDAC working groups with several dozens of others. In other interviews, local and state officials raised concerns about what BDAC membership says about FCC willingness to listen to governments, but some said they feel included.
The FCC must make certain universal service funding is “adequate and predictable” to support broadband in rural areas, said Senate Communications Subcommittee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., at a hearing Tuesday on advancing rural IoT opportunities. To thrive, IoT technologies must have reliable and secure broadband services, Wicker said, urging the FCC to collect accurate information on broadband programs before making new funding decisions. Funding should be targeted to “communities in need,” he said.
The 911 grant program should target funds to proofs of concept in urban, suburban and rural areas, while requiring interoperability, APCO commented this week on revised implementation rules proposed by NTIA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (see 1709200043). Also in docket NTIA-2017-0002, some state and local agencies urged the agencies not to exclude certain areas from grants. The 2012 Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act made $115 million available from the Public Safety Trust Fund for the 911 grant program, which funds improvements to 911, E-911 and next-generation 911 services and applications. NTIA and NHTSA plan to award NG-911 grants in FY 2018, which started Oct. 1 (see 1701200026).
Ajit Pai’s first 10-plus months as FCC chairman featured contentious public interactions with congressional Democrats and favorable treatment from Republicans. Democratic lawmakers we spoke with insisted their animus overwhelmingly involves the FCC’s policy agenda. At the agency itself, Pai oversees many split votes as he pursues his deregulatory agenda (see 1711070024 and 1711050001).
The FCC must make certain universal service funding is “adequate and predictable” to support broadband in rural areas, said Senate Communications Subcommittee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., at a hearing Tuesday on advancing rural IoT opportunities. To thrive, IoT technologies must have reliable and secure broadband services, Wicker said, urging the FCC to collect accurate information on broadband programs before making new funding decisions. Funding should be targeted to “communities in need,” he said.
FCC leadership said release of draft items for monthly meetings is a big success, improving transparency and public understanding of planned actions. “The Open Meeting plays a critical role in the work we do and generally serves as the platform for our consideration of the most high-profile proposals,” said Chairman Ajit Pai in a statement to us. "It is simply good government to make public the text of the items we will be considering there.” GOP colleagues Mike O’Rielly and Brendan Carr back the new practice. O'Rielly said it leads to better feedback and outcomes. Pai recently floated the possibility of also releasing text of items on circulation among commissioners; O’Rielly endorsed the idea. Others haven't weighed in.