CLECs want the FCC to protect their access to the business data services market by denying a petition from USTelecom to remove a mandate that incumbent LECs provide transport network services to CLECs as an unbundled network element (UNE). The latest smaller-carrier opposition to USTelecom's petition for forbearance from requiring ILECs unbundle and resell access to some of their networks came in responses posted in docket through Monday 18-141 to an April 15 public notice with supplemental business data services statistics. CLECs contend that BDS data is limited and there was insufficient time to comment.
The House Task Force on Rural Broadband is a positive step toward improving internet connectivity in unserved areas of the U.S., but will need to come up with concrete legislative recommendations to be an effective policy player, communications sector officials and lobbyists told us. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., led formation of the group, which he announced Monday. President Donald Trump in late April agreed with top congressional Democrats to pursue $2 trillion in spending on broadband and other infrastructure projects (see 1904300194). The task force is one of several Capitol Hill pushes on broadband legislation, though some remain skeptical about the prospects for an overarching infrastructure funding bill.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., is limiting privacy talks to his working group of six (see 1905010198). That comes amid jockeying from Senate Judiciary Committee and Banking Committee chairmen.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is considering an item addressing the 2.5 GHz band for the June 6 commissioners’ meeting, industry officials said Monday. The agency should hold off further action on the band until a full record is established on the educational broadband service (EBS), the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition and others said Monday in a letter to the commission.
The FCC shouldn't go it alone on updating orbital debris regulations but should coordinate with other agencies, numerous satellite interests said in docket 18-313 replies last week. The Commerce Department in initial comments asked the FCC to pause the rulemaking proceeding (see 1904080033). But commenters didn't reach consensus on issues like orbital spacing between large constellations and how best to assess risk.
Prospects again seem iffy for Rhode Island lawmakers to stop 911 fee diversion this session. Advocates told us they’re trying to build momentum outside the State House. The House Finance Committee plans Wednesday to hear testimony on H-5933 by Rep. John Lyle and four other Republicans. House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello (D) told us the matter should be taken up in the budget process, and only if Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) edits her proposed budget that doesn't end the practice. Similar Republican bills failed in previous sessions under a Democratic political trifecta.
There’s room for TV stations to improve electronic newsroom technique (ENT) captions, said representatives of consumer groups at an FCC-hosted forum on local news captioning Friday. Broadcasters described in-company captioning audits and efforts to internally police caption quality. Advocates from the National Association of the Deaf, Gallaudet University and other consumer groups said more should be done.
House Intellectual Property Subcommittee Chairman Hank Johnson, D-Ga., is crafting legislation designed to combat frivolous trademark applications, a growing issue with Chinese companies. “We’re exploring specific ideas now, and we’ll be drafting the legislation at some point in the near future,” Johnson told us after a subcommittee hearing Thursday. It featured Patent and Trademark Office Director Andrei Iancu.
Commissioners disagreed on the significance of an NPRM reallocating the 1675-1680 MHz band for 5G, approved 5-0 at Thursday's meeting. Ligado, which wants to combine the spectrum with other bands it controls, has pushed for the NPRM, but still has work to do before it can make 40 MHz available for 5G. The company is hoping for FCC action this summer on its broader license modification proposal, officials said. The band must be shared with weather satellites.
CenturyLink, which may sell its consumer business, is also looking with interest at the coming FCC Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. It's "initiated a strategic alternatives process for its Consumer business and has engaged external advisors to assist in the review," the telco said Wednesday. "The Company does not plan to modify its normal operations or investment patterns in these businesses while it undertakes this review." The carrier is "comfortable operating this business for the long term, but the strategic review will help us better understand whether there are opportunities to better maximize the value of this asset," said CEO Jeff Storey.