Geoffrey Starks, in his maiden industry speech as an FCC commissioner, Wednesday took on Chairman Ajit Pai on USF and other issues. Starks spoke during a Partnership for Progress on the Digital Divide event. “Lifeline is a program that I deeply believe in,” Starks said. “It’s called Lifeline for a reason.” Users need the program for a job or to connect with loved ones, he said.
The House Commerce Committee moved forward with a Wednesday hearing on the Leading Infrastructure for Tomorrow’s (Lift) America Act (HR-2741) despite the simultaneous torpedoing of talks between President Donald Trump and top Capitol Hill Democrats on a plan to pay for additional spending on broadband and other infrastructure projects. HR-2741 would allocate $40 billion for broadband projects, offer $12 billion in grants for implementing next generation-911 technologies and $5 billion for federal funding of a loan and credit program for broadband projects. Democrats first filed the bill in 2017 (see 1706020056).
Low-power FM and noncommercial educational broadcast interests expressed general support in comments posted through Tuesday in docket 19-3 for FCC-proposed changes to processes for licensees to apply for NCE and LPFM licenses during filing windows. They also suggested some tweaks. “Most of the changes proposed are inconsequential for most existing operators or most prospective operators,” said LPFM broadcaster Jeff Sibert, president of Park Public Radio. “Substantial reform is needed to address significant short-comings in the NCE and LPFM service.”
From more promotion of text-to-911 to better credentialing and verification of contractors, interested parties had an array of suggestions related to the FCC wireless resiliency cooperative framework. That's especially in light of recent hurricanes, in docket 11-60 replies this week. Industry groups have said the agency shouldn't impose new mandates and should rely on the voluntary approach that's working (see 1904300140).
The House Commerce Committee is set to get dueling feedback from communications sector stakeholders Wednesday on broadband provisions in the Leading Infrastructure for Tomorrow’s (Lift) America Act (HR-2741). The bill, refiled last week, would allocate $40 billion for broadband projects, $12 billion in grants for implementing next-generation 911 technologies and $5 billion for a loan and credit program for broadband projects. Democrats first filed the bill in 2017 (see 1706020056). The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. in 2123 Rayburn.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham is “agnostic” about whether a new agency should replace the FTC as primary privacy enforcer, the South Carolina Republican told reporters Tuesday. “I’m agnostic until you prove to me that they’re not the right agency,” he said when asked about consumer groups’ call for a new agency.
The FCC likely won’t move forward quickly to impose rules requiring carriers meet a new vertical location (z-axis) accuracy metric for indoor wireless calls to 911, industry officials said Tuesday. Monday, APCO said the FCC should drop plans to impose the metric and focus instead on dispatchable location solutions (see 1905200025). But there was no common thread to public safety comments. Other first responders said requiring a 3-meter metric will help. Comments were posted through Tuesday in docket 07-114.
There’s no guarantee DOJ will follow the FCC’s lead and approve T-Mobile’s buy of Sprint, analysts wrote investors this week. The agencies have been coordinating their work on the deal (see 1905200051). “DOJ has a different statutory mandate than the FCC,” a department official said Tuesday. Review of the transaction is still “a very fluid situation” even though the two regulators are “typically aligned on telecom-related merger decision,” said Wells Fargo’s Jennifer Fritzsche.
The California Public Utilities Commission is taking a fresh look at communications, said members and staff at a commission meeting livestreamed Monday. Commissioners want to better understand future communications needs so they can determine the right role for the state regulator. They highlighted network issues during wildfires and low access among rural and low-income populations as possible issues.
The White House soliciting evidence of anti-conservative bias by tech platforms (see 1905160059) is a “good thing,” Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said last week. Asked about concerns over the administration's requesting information like citizenship status, Hawley told reporters it doesn’t seem much different from congressional offices collecting information for voluntary complaints. “It sends a signal to tech companies that [the White House is] paying attention, and it’s a good thing to be paying attention to.”