At least two draft wireless spectrum bills are under development on Capitol Hill, though a bill led by House Communications Subcommittee ranking member Mike Doyle, D-Pa., appears to be closer to a formal introduction, said wireless industry lobbyists in interviews. Doyle is looking to file his bill this week, while staffers for Sens. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., and Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., are meeting with stakeholders to revise their draft bill, lobbyists said. A Senate aide confirmed Gardner and Hassan were partnering, given Hassan’s burgeoning interest on telecom issues.

At least two draft wireless spectrum bills are under development on Capitol Hill, though a bill led by House Communications Subcommittee ranking member Mike Doyle, D-Pa., appears to be closer to a formal introduction, said wireless industry lobbyists in interviews. Doyle is looking to file his bill this week, while staffers for Sens. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., and Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., are meeting with stakeholders to revise their draft bill, lobbyists said. A Senate aide confirmed Gardner and Hassan were partnering, given Hassan’s burgeoning interest on telecom issues.

Curbing cost of reviews by tribal governments is a major wireless industry push as the FCC looks at ways to speed siting of wireless facilities. Chairman Ajit Pai has focused on tribal issues, making a trip to the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) mid-year conference for a June 14 speech and meetings with tribal leaders (see 1706140028). But signs are the tribes are digging in, presenting a tricky issue for the FCC as it addresses siting rules.

The retirement of an FCC security official involved in a physical altercation with a reporter last month was announced at commissioners' meeting Thursday, where new security policies involving the news media were put into effect. The retirement of Administration Security Operations Center Head Fred Bucher was planned before the May incident with CQ Roll Call Senior Writer John Donnelly and isn’t related, an FCC spokesman told us. Reporters covering the June meeting were for the first time issued bright orange badges marked “PRESS,” and the event included a noticeably more visible security presence, similar to what was in place last month when the commission considered controversial agenda items involving net neutrality.

The retirement of an FCC security official involved in a physical altercation with a reporter last month was announced at commissioners' meeting Thursday, where new security policies involving the news media were put into effect. The retirement of Administration Security Operations Center Head Fred Bucher was planned before the May incident with CQ Roll Call Senior Writer John Donnelly and isn’t related, an FCC spokesman told us. Reporters covering the June meeting were for the first time issued bright orange badges marked “PRESS,” and the event included a noticeably more visible security presence, similar to what was in place last month when the commission considered controversial agenda items involving net neutrality.

FCC commissioners approved 3-0 a notice of inquiry on ways to improve broadband deployment, competition and innovation in residential and commercial multiple tenant environments (MTEs). Commissioners also unanimously approved a payphone order and NPRM that would waive certain auditing and reporting duties while the agency considers eliminating the requirements. Both Wireline Bureau items were adopted at the commissioners' meeting Thursday.

FCC commissioners approved 3-0 a notice of inquiry on ways to improve broadband deployment, competition and innovation in residential and commercial multiple tenant environments (MTEs). Commissioners also unanimously approved a payphone order and NPRM that would waive certain auditing and reporting duties while the agency considers eliminating the requirements. Both Wireline Bureau items were adopted at the commissioners' meeting Thursday.

The FCC is still considering how to address rates for video relay services and other telecom relay services, with the VRS/TRS funding year expiring June 30, parties to the proceeding told us. "As far as I can tell, they're still trying to figure out what they're going to do," said an industry representative Wednesday. Both Sorenson Communications and smaller VRS rivals -- which have made conflicting rate proposals -- are concerned about possible agency actions. "We are continuing to work to resolve the issues," an FCC spokesman emailed.

AUSTIN, Texas -- CBP Acting Commissioner Kevin McAleenan will raise the need for a worldwide unique facility identifier when he travels to Brussels in early July for a meeting of the World Customs Organization policy council, Valerie Neuhart, acting director of CBP’s Office of Trade Relations, said on June 21. McAleenan will be joined in the effort by representatives from Canada and Mexico, who have also been in discussions with CBP about harmonizing unique facility identifiers, she said, speaking during a panel discussion of upcoming ACE priorities at the American Association of Exporters and Importers annual conference.

A Tuesday Senate Appropriations Financial Services Subcommittee hearing on the FCC FY 2018 budget focused largely on the direction of the commission under Chairman Ajit Pai, with subcommittee Republicans highlighting policy issues Pai championed. Democrats raised concerns with the future of 2015 net neutrality rules and Congress' rollback of ISP privacy rules. President Donald Trump's administration proposed last month that the FCC budget be cut by $18 million, to $322 million, after years of the agency maintaining $340 million in annual funding. The FCC's budget justification document noted a planned reduction of more than 100 employees (see 1705230041).