The $54.2 billion Chips and Science Act, signed into law in August (see 2208090062) will be significant for how industry will look down the road, experts said Tuesday during a USTelecom webinar. The act includes $1.5 billion to spur open radio access networks. Experts also said they don’t expect big future moves from the FCC on ORAN, after a 2021 notice of inquiry.
USTelecom urged Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) to sign a broadband bill to streamline the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) grant review process. The legislature last week passed AB-2749, which would set a 180-day shot clock for the California Public Utilities Commission to decide CASF applications (see 2208260050). Newsom should “sign the bill as soon as possible to ensure there is no delay in getting Californians access to broadband,” a USTelecom spokesperson said Monday. The Electronic Frontier Foundation withdrew its opposition and is now neutral on AB-2749 after it was amended earlier this month, EFF Legislative Associate Chao Jun Liu emailed Monday. EFF earlier raised concerns including that the shot clock could limit competition.
Industry continued to disagree whether the FCC should revisit its cost allocation framework for utility pole replacements or attachments, in reply comments posted Monday in docket 17-84 (see 2206280066). Central to the debate was whether pole owners directly benefit from pole replacements and how much information owners should be required to disclose to requesting attachers.
California bills to require wireless eligibility for California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) grants and to fund the 988 mental health line passed the legislature Thursday and will go to Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) for signature. As California legislators head into their final week, several communications bills on broadband, social media and free inmate calls await floor votes (see 2208120039).
Maine intends to move for summary judgment on all remaining counts in telecom groups’ challenge of the state’s ISP privacy law, Attorney General Aaron Frey (D) said Wednesday at the U.S. District Court of Maine. Frey asked the court to set a prefiling conference no sooner than Sept. 19 in case 1:20-cv-00055. ACA Connects, CTIA, NCTA and USTelecom challenged the Maine law.
The FCC Enforcement Bureau redesignated USTelecom as the registered consortium for the industry-led robocall traceback group, said an order Monday in docket 20-22 (see 2206060058). USTelecom is "honored that the FCC recognizes our important role in this work," said Vice President-Policy and Advocacy Josh Bercu.
Low-income and community advocates supported consumer groups' petition to require low-cost broadband plans for all Californians. The California Public Utilities Commission received responses Wednesday to an amended petition in docket R.20-02-008. As they did earlier this month on the original petition (see 2208020033), ISPs warned that the state could risk losing broadband funding if the CPUC modified an April decision on rules for the state’s $2 billion last-mile federal funding account (FFA). Granting the petition "would ensure that the families who need access to affordable and reliable internet the most would finally be able to receive it without having to choose between paying their bills, grocery shopping or paying their internet bill,” said Alliance for a Better Community, a social justice nonprofit. “It would also aid in ending preferential treatment for high income broadband users over the needs of low-income users." LA-Tech.org, a nonprofit that helps low-income people find tech internships, also supported the change: "Low Income communities could be priced out of reliable broadband internet, depriving them of equitable access to health services and remote job opportunities.” If the CPUC fails to protect affordability, “the state risks funding high-speed broadband infrastructure projects that do not result in affordable service for unserved and underserved communities,” said the Institute for Local Self-Reliance: Reject any provider arguments to “wait to study the problem or collect data.” USTelecom countered that the “amended petition is procedurally improper” because it “fails to demonstrate new facts, materially changed circumstances, or misconceptions of law or fact.” Contrary to the public interest, the consumer groups' proposed changes would delay FFA implementation and discourage participation, which would make it harder for the state to use federal American Rescue Plan Act funding, the industry group said.
Industry disagreed whether the FCC should impose additional requirements on certain voice service providers to combat illegal robocalls (see 2207150053). Some agreed with a proposal to impose additional measures on intermediate providers, in comments posted Thursday in docket 17-97. Others sought flexibility as providers continue to implement Stir/Shaken caller ID authentication.
California legislators killed a social media bill that would have held platforms civilly liable for addicting children, after opposition from the web industry and free-speech advocates. But some other controversial internet bills made it through Friday’s cutoff for fiscal committee votes. Bills on broadband, free inmate calls and the 988 mental-health hotline also advanced to floor votes.
USTelecom asked the FCC to define digital discrimination as "intentional" instead of relying on a "disparate impact standard," in a meeting with an aide to FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr. It would "contravene Congressional intent" in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, USTelecom said, per an ex parte filing posted Thursday in docket 22-69. The "existence of a digital divide does not equal digital discrimination and the two should not be conflated," the group said: The IIJA "makes no findings that broadband providers have engaged in digital discrimination." The FCC could consider "further streamlining the Section 214 requirements for discontinuing outdated, legacy services and preempting unreasonable permitting processes and non-cost-based rights of way fees," USTelecom said, and should reject calls for a "strict formula on what an appropriate return on investment is for a provider."