The FCC voted 3-1 to approve the 2018 quadrennial review NPRM, with Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel dissenting in part and Chairman Ajit Pai accusing her of not making “a good-faith attempt to reach consensus.” Though the NPRM text wasn’t released, Media Bureau Chief Michelle Carey and Commissioner Mike O’Rielly confirmed changes to the draft were made to change the way questions are phrased, as expected (see 1812110058). They said the changes were stylistic, not substantive.
Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel accused FCC colleagues of regulatory “doublespeak,” in a decision clarifying text messages are a lightly regulated Communications Act Title I service. Members approved the declaratory ruling 3-1 over her dissent, as expected (see 1812050019). Commission staff couldn't identify any instances where lightly regulating wireless texting would have better prevented spam, and groups that generally back regulation cried foul. Members separately approved a reassigned number database order targeting some unwanted robocalls, with safe harbor from liability (see 1812120026).
A potential fight is brewing over whether 211, 611, 911 or an all-new three-digit number should be designated for a National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Each has backers and detractors, in docket 18-336 comments posted Tuesday. Comments were due as the FCC looks at implementation of August's National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act (see 1808140037).
Parties backed an FCC effort to improve 911 calling and location accuracy, noting technical challenges. There was broad support for proposals to implement Kari's Law requirements requiring 911 direct dialing from multiline telephone systems (MLTS) in larger enterprises. Industry resisted some potential regulations, particularly on a Ray Baum's Act (see 1812110052) mandate to consider requiring "dispatchable location" information is conveyed with calls to responders. Telecom and VoIP providers, equipment makers, public safety entities, enterprise groups and others filed over 30 comments in docket 18-261 through Tuesday on an NPRM (see 1809260047).
MARINA DEL RAY, California -- Consumers are in the driver’s seat on where and how they watch video, but the landscape is far from settled, said executives at a Parks Associates conference Monday.
Critics of a satellite repurposing and secondary-market airwaves sale plan used replies on opening the C band to buttress the case for the FCC taking a different approach. The earliest replies last week in docket 18-122 featured big satellite companies pushing for their market plan to clear up to 200 MHz for other use (see 1812070041) while attacking T-Mobile asking the commission to hold an auction and possibly sell even more. Now, more recent but still early replies posted this week through Tuesday afternoon suggest sharing satellite's spectrum with broadband services, possibly across the entire band's 500 MHz swath.
Google algorithms have no political slant, and the company has no current plans to launch a Chinese version of Search, CEO Sundar Pichai told the House Judiciary Committee. He played down fears other Google products carry the same security risks as Google-Plus (see 1812100054).
Much attention during Tuesday's House Communications Subcommittee hearing on implementation of the Repack Airwaves Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Services (Ray Baum's) Act FCC reauthorization and spectrum statute focused on language to aid the broadcast incentive auction repacking process, as expected (see 1812070040). Industry witnesses praised the act and highlighted areas where additional Capitol Hill action may be needed to improve implementation, also as expected (see 1812100049). The FCC also got implementation comments (see 1812110025).
The FCC appears close to inserting an industry safe harbor into a draft order on the agenda for commissioners' meeting Wednesday to create a reassigned number database, officials told us Tuesday. "I expect it to happen," said an agency official, who hadn't seen actual language. Commissioner Brendan Carr's office asked that such a safe harbor be added, said another, who's hopeful the change would occur.
The 2018 draft quadrennial review NPRM remained in flux Tuesday after a host of changes to tone and language suggested mainly by the offices of Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Mike O’Rielly, FCC officials told us. Both offices sought changes intended to make the draft more “neutral” but differed on specific edits, officials said. Though one said the final item likely won’t include many changes proposed by Rosenworcel’s office, it wasn’t clear Tuesday how she will vote. “We’re combing through the changes and the commissioner is still considering it,” said an aide to Rosenworcel.