Wireless technology companies, satellite operators and a host of broadcast industry entities pitching ATSC 3.0-based methods responded to the FCC Public Safety Bureau’s call for partners to test ways to deliver wireless emergency alerts without using cell towers, according to comments filed in docket 22-160 by Monday’s deadline. “In some cases, mobile networks can be disrupted by the very emergency to which a WEA pertains,” said NAB. “A successful partnership with the Bureau could further bolster the case for ATSC 3.0 abroad” and encourage manufacturers to include 3.0 chips in their phones, said Sinclair’s ATSC 3.0 subsidiary One Media. Qualcomm, Skylo Technologies, PBS, 5G broadcast company XGen and others suggested their own solutions.
CTIA appeared to get some of what it sought on a robotexting order that FCC commissioners approved last week, which was posted in Tuesday’s Daily Digest. Opponents of tough new rules closing the lead generator loophole appeared to strike out. That decision led Commissioner Nathan Simington to a partial dissent. The Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy had asked the FCC to seek further comment (see 2312040028), an approach Simington endorsed (see 2312130019).
New Jersey privacy legislation will go to the Assembly floor, despite opposition from tech and business groups, the chamber’s Judiciary Committee decided Monday. In a 4-0 vote, with one abstention, the panel advanced the proposal with amendments. One change increased the time businesses would have to cure violations to 18 months, from six in the original bill (A-1971/S-332). Industry groups especially objected to the bill's creation of a rulemaking process at the Department of Law and Public Safety’s Consumer Affairs Division.
Merger guidelines released Monday will provide greater transparency into FTC and DOJ antitrust enforcement, but regulators will continue to base cases on facts and the law, the agencies said Monday.
NTIA's Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee is expected to vote Tuesday on a report that largely endorses the sometimes controversial approach to spectrum sharing used in the citizens broadband radio service band. Yet it also calls for improvements in how the CBRS model works. In addition, CSMAC will vote on a report from its 6G Subcommittee during a busy end-of-year meeting.
House Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, Communications Subcommittee Chairman Bob Latta of Ohio and 14 other panel Republicans are charging NTIA with ignoring Congress’ intent in the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act by allowing states to regulate broadband rates via rules for participation in the broadband equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program. Rodgers and Latta were among GOP leaders who criticized the FCC Friday for giving Congress “deeply misleading” information about its implementation of IIJA’s affordable connectivity program (see Ref:2312150068]).
Louisiana is the first state to get full NTIA approval of its initial proposal for the broadband, equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program. NTIA approved volume 2 of the state's plan, the agency said Friday. On a videoconference with reporters Thursday, outgoing Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) said he has no concerns that Gov.-elect Jeff Landry (R) “will depart from the commitment that we have made in our submission.”
Industry and consumer groups clashed on whether the FCC should reclassify broadband internet access as a Title II service under the Communications Act in comments posted through Friday in docket 23-320 (see 2310190020). Commenters against reclassification warned that it would stifle innovation and competition. Supporters said the proposal would ensure consumers have equal access to broadband ahead of anticipated federal broadband deployment programs.
Twenty-seven Senate and House Democrats in a letter Friday urged the FCC to reinstate the collection of broadcaster equal employment opportunity data, seconding a Dec. 11 call for urgent action from Commissioner Geoffrey Starks and Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y. (see 2312110067). Although broadcasters were anticipating an EEO item since a 2021 Further NPRM (see 2306020056) and Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said one was in the works during the 2022 NAB Show (see 2204250067), it hasn’t materialized. “In 2021, after nearly 20 years, the FCC took the important step of soliciting comment on how to recommence this important data collection using Form 395-B,” said the lawmakers' letter. “It is now time for the Commission to follow through.”
Four lead Republicans on the House and Senate Commerce committees and their Communications subpanels raised major concerns Friday with the FCC’s “deeply misleading” claims about the affordable connectivity program's efficacy. Some lobbyists think this is a problem given the Biden administration’s push for Congress to appropriate an additional $6 billion to fully fund the initiative through the end of 2024 (see 2310250075). Estimates peg ACP as likely to exhaust its initial $14.2 billion tranche from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act during the first half of 2024 (see 2309210060).