Repacking delays won’t get worse in later phases as broadcast gear manufacturers claimed, said FCC Media Bureau Video Division Chief Barbara Kreisman at an FCBA Mass Media Committee event Tuesday. She said the FCC has been doing all things representatives from Dielectric, Stainless and other companies suggested, and the agency’s actions will prevent delays from snowballing down the line. “All their suggestions for flexibility are things we’re already being flexible on,” Kreisman said.
Expect to hear from consumer groups, industry and privacy law experts at the Feb. 27 data privacy hearing (see 1902080051), Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., told us. A tech lobbyist and two industry officials said the committee is considering the Internet Association and the Interactive Advertising Bureau for testimony. The industry people said a potential third witness is former FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz, part of a group that discussed privacy with committee members in January (see 1901240036). The committee hasn't confirmed witnesses, a spokesperson said Tuesday.
A caller ID spoofing NPRM set for a vote at the Thursday commissioners’ meeting is expected to be approved unanimously, industry and FCC officials said. That's especially important given consumer and Capitol Hill concerns about robocalls, officials said. The provisions implement part of the Ray Baum's Act legislative package, signed last March (see 1803230038)
Both upcoming House hearings on T-Mobile's proposed buy of Sprint are likely to tackle antitrust-related issues even though the Communications and Judiciary Antitrust subcommittees will convene separate panels (see 1902060062), lawmakers and communications sector officials said in interviews. Communications' hearing is 10 a.m. Wednesday in 2123 Rayburn. The Judiciary Committee confirmed it's postponing Antitrust's planned Thursday hearing, as expected (see 1902110046). The committee is said to be eyeing a March makeup date.
NARUC's Telecom Committee unanimously cleared an amended Lifeline resolution urging the FCC and Universal Service Administrative Co. ensure the national verifier accesses state databases required to automatically check users are eligible. USAC is responding to concerns and committed to making the NV work, South Dakota Commissioner Chris Nelson told us after the vote.
Ditching the requirement to notify VoIP users it won't work without power and eliminating supposedly outdated reporting requirements were among suggestions by telecoms, the cable industry and others for the FCC's 2018 biennial review of telecom regulations. Comments in seven dockets, which had been due Jan. 17 (see 1812180002), were posted Monday due to an extension from the partial federal shutdown.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday directing federal agencies to “prioritize investments” in artificial intelligence R&D. The American Artificial Intelligence Initiative promotes long-term research, access to federal data, novel AI applications and AI skills training for the federal workforce.
Telecom interests advised the FCC to encourage wireless network resiliency improvements through coordination with electric utilities, going easy on mandates. Utilities urged more telecom sector engagement with state and local authorities, and greater network protections, including through backup power. Comments were posted in docket 11-60 through Monday on a Jan. 3 Public Safety Bureau public notice seeking ways to increase such coordination amid emergencies (see 1901030037). Some telco and cable parties cited their backhaul efforts, responding to a Dec. 10 PN (see 1812100027).
The 1996 Telecom Act was a success but needs an update to connect those still unserved, former FCC officials and industry representatives agreed Sunday on a Telecom Staff Subcommittee panel. It’s unlikely to happen this Congress due to political divisions, they said. Former FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn and Gigi Sohn, former aide to ex-Chairman Tom Wheeler, urged states to stand up. Some state officials responded that pre-emption makes that difficult.
Clearing C-band through a mix of sale of spectrum by satellite operators and an overlay auction of terrestrial mobile licenses is meeting some skepticism. Spectrum and satellite consultant Tim Farrar blogged Saturday that no side in the band-clearing debate is seemingly interested in compromise, though the sale-overlay auction mix is obvious. Michael Calabrese, director of the Wireless Future Program at New America, said even if the idea were practical, it would "be just another fig leaf [justifying] an unnecessary and unjustifiable windfall" for satellite operators.