The order and NPRM on regulatory fees is expected to include changes from the draft intended to accommodate the concerns of VHF TV stations, said broadcast industry and FCC officials in interviews this week. The NPRM is likely to include language proposing possible regulatory fee relief for entities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, an FCC official noted. The order is to be approved before Wednesday's commissioners’ meeting, and unanimous approval is expected (see 2005080046).
Some telecom companies taking part in the FCC Keep Americans Connected pledge are warning of mounting KAC costs -- hundreds of millions of dollars so far -- from not disconnecting subscribers for unpaid bills during the pandemic. Analysts said in interviews this month they don't expect expenses to be material -- for now. Chairman Ajit Pai asked telecom providers to extend their pledges through June (see 2004300044).
Facebook should take a hands-off approach to content moderation, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr told us in arguing the company's new oversight board injects political bias and lets the platform avoid responsibility. Carr criticized the board in a series of tweets, calling it Facebook "speech police" and arguing most members have left-leaning bias. Facebook and several board members didn’t comment Tuesday.
The pandemic is making the case for next-generation 911 while complicating some deployments, state emergency number officials and others told us this month. “Our migration schedule is completely destroyed,” said Colorado State 911 Program Manager Daryl Branson. COVID-19 hot spot New York City plans to roll out text-to-911 next month and is still targeting 2024 to complete a NG-911 project proposed three years ago.
Verizon is reopening many of the company stores shuttered due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chief Financial Officer Matt Ellis said at a MoffettNathanson virtual conference Monday. The carrier was down to 30% of stores open, which increased to 40% last week and is expected to hit 50% in June, he said. T-Mobile executives also said more stores are coming online in some locations based on state guidelines. While 80% of T-Mobile and 70% of Sprint stores closed, business as usual will return at a different rate in different parts of the country, said CFO Braxton Carter. The two companies combined earlier this year.
Broadband-only providers' statutory right to pole attachments isn't a significant issue because there are so few such providers and it's easy enough for them to expand their offerings beyond that to get pole attachment rights. That's according to a Federalist Society panel Monday about the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit's Mozilla remand. There were no pro-Title II panelists, and such allies didn’t comment immediately. That title is part of the Telecom Act.
Chairman Joe Simons suggested the FTC is examining Zoom’s privacy practices in light of COVID-19 concerns (see 2005070044). During a Monday teleconference with the House Consumer Protection Subcommittee, Simons didn’t directly link the company to any specific agency effort but said the agency monitors major events in the news media. “If you’re reading about it in the press, then you can be assured that either we’re looking at it already, or if we’re not, we will as a result of that media attention,” he responded to questions from Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Calif., about Zoom. The company didn’t comment.
Broadcasters and industry analysts expressed in interviews this month cautious optimism about the economy ramping up from the COVID-19 slowdown. They touted cost-saving measures while declining to offer forecasts.
The FCC could act on CTIA and Wireless Infrastructure Association proposals for more changes to wireless infrastructure rules designed to accelerate siting of towers and other 5G facilities (see 1910300027) at commissioners' June 9 meeting, industry and agency officials said in interviews this and last week. The regulator wrapped up a comment cycle last year, with support from CTA and other industry groups and widespread opposition from local government groups (see 1911210054). That opposition continues.
Higher call volume for IP captioned telephone services and video relay services during the COVID-19 pandemic, plus longer call times, increased wait times, we heard. That has left some in the hearing loss community isolated and frustrated. Consumer advocacy groups, industry and the FCC are working to respond, stakeholders said in interviews.